John Robertson (footballer, born 1964)

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Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football biography John Grant Robertson (born 2 October 1964) is a Scottish professional football coach and former player. Robertson played as a striker for Newcastle United, Dundee and Livingston, but he is best known for his two spells at Heart of Midlothian totalling about 18 years, where he is the club's all-time leading goalscorer. He has since managed Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Hearts, Ross County, Livingston, Derry City and East Fife.

Playing career

Hibernian attempted to sign Robertson as a teenager but he asked for time to think the deal over; after Hibs refused, he signed for Heart of Midlothian along with school friend and fellow future internationalist Dave Bowman. Robertson eventually earned the moniker "The Hammer of Hibs" (in addition to his more standard nickname "Robbo") as he scored a record 27 goals in Edinburgh derby matches.[1] In 1986, 20 league goals from Robertson helped Hearts to the brink of a league and cup double. A 27 league game unbeaten run ended with two Albert Kidd goals for Dundee in the last six minutes of the season allowing Celtic to overtake them to win the title. A week later, Hearts lost 3–0 to Aberdeen in the cup final.[2] He scored 106 goals in 202 Hearts league games in this spell at Tynecastle Park.

He left Hearts to play for Newcastle United in April 1988. Robertson failed to score in 14 Newcastle competitive first team games and returned to Hearts in December of that year, and remained there for the next decade. In 1998 Hearts won the Scottish Cup with Robertson an unused substitute, earning him his only senior medal as a player. In this second spell at Hearts he scored at a much less prolific rate compared to his first spell, with this time 106 goals in 310 league games. After an earlier loan spell with Dundee scoring once in 4 league games, he left Tynecastle that summer. He joined Livingston as a player-coach, scoring 14 goals in 41 league games.

Robertson was also a Scottish international, playing on 16 occasions for Scotland. He made his debut against Romania in 1990, scoring in a 2–1 win. He missed out on selection for the UEFA Euro 1992 due to a hernia injury.[3]

Coaching career

Inverness Caledonian Thistle (first spell)

Whilst playing for Livingston, Robertson became involved in the coaching side of the game.[4] He left the club in season 2002–03 to become manager of Inverness Caledonian Thistle where he guided the Highland team to the SPL for the first time in their history.

Heart of Midlothian manager

In November 2004 he returned to Hearts as head coach and despite two cup semi-finals and a good season in Europe as well as finishing fifth in the league, he was sacked in May 2005.

Ross County and Livingston

Robertson was appointed manager of Scottish First Division team Ross County in June 2005, but left by mutual consent after four months.[4] He was then appointed manager of Livingston in February 2006,[4] but was sacked in April 2007 after finishing sixth in the First Division.

Derry City

Robertson was appointed by League of Ireland side Derry City in July 2007. He took club out of the relegation battle to a safe mid table position and also won the FAI League Cup and qualified for the Setanta Cup before being dismissed by the new chairman and board of directors at Derry, and replaced by former Derry boss Stephen Kenny.[5] In 2009, Robertson coached strikers at Scottish Premier League clubs Dundee United and Kilmarnock. In March 2010, Robertson helped coach the strikers at Hearts on a non-contract basis.

East Fife

Robertson was appointed manager of East Fife in October 2010. In September 2011, his East Fife side knocked SPL club Aberdeen out of the Scottish League Cup at Pittodrie Stadium. On 1 March 2012 it was announced that Robertson had left East Fife.[6]

Inverness Caledonian Thistle (second spell)

In June 2017, Robertson returned to Inverness Caledonian Thistle as manager.[7][8] On 24 March 2018, the club won the Scottish Challenge Cup. In the 2018/19 season, Inverness qualified for the promotion playoffs but were beaten in the semi-finals by Dundee United.[9] Dundee then made an approach for Robertson, but this was rejected by Inverness.[9] Inverness finished second in the 2019–20 Scottish Championship, which was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10]

In June 2020, his contract with Inverness was extended by two years.[10] Robertson was placed on compassionate leave in February 2021, with Neil McCann given caretaker charge of the team in his absence.[11] Robertson returned to Inverness in May 2021 as sporting director, with a new manager to be appointed (Billy Dodds).[12] Dodds was sacked in September 2023, and Robertson was placed in caretaker charge of the Inverness first team until Duncan Ferguson was appointed later that month.[13][14] He left the club in November that same year.

Ross County Return

In June 2025, Robertson returned to Dingwall to join Don Cowie's coaching staff.[15] He was made interim manager in August 2025, after Cowie left the club.[16][17][18]

Career statistics

Club

[19][20][21][22][23]

Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Scotland League Scottish Cup League Cup Europe Total
1981–82 Heart of Midlothian First Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 – – 1 0
1982–83 23 21 3 0 2 0 – – 28 21
1983–84 Premier Division 35 15 2 1 7 4 – – 44 20
1984–85 33 8 5 2 5 1 2 2 45 13
1985–86 35 20 5 4 3 1 – – 43 25
1986–87 37 16 6 2 1 0 2 1 46 19
1987–88 39 26 4 2 3 3 – – 46 31
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
1988–89 Newcastle United First Division 12 0 – – 2 0 – – 14 0
Scotland League Scottish Cup League Cup Europe Total
1988–89 Heart of Midlothian Premier Division 15 4 3 0 0 0 1 0 19 4
1989–90 32 17 3 4 1 1 0 0 36 22
1990–91 31 12 1 0 3 1 3 3 38 16
1991–92 42 14 6 4 3 2 0 0 51 20
1992–93 42 11 4 3 3 1 4 0 53 15
1993–94 36 8 3 1 2 2 2 1 43 12
1994–95 31 10 5 3 2 1 0 0 38 14
1995–96 33 12 5 1 2 1 0 0 40 14
1996–97 27 14 3 2 5 3 1 0 36 19
1997–98 21 6 2 0 2 0 0 0 25 6
1997–98 Dundee First Division 4 1 0 0 0 0 – – 4 1
1998–99 Livingston Second Division 36 13 5 2 3 1 – – 44 16
1999–00 First Division 5 1 1 0 0 0 – – 6 1
Total Scotland 558 229 66 31 47 22 15 7 686 289
England 12 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 14 0
Career total 570 229 66 31 49 22 15 7 700 289

International appearances

Scotland national team[24]
Year Apps Goals
1990 2 2
1991 3 0
1992 3 0
1993 3 0
1995 5 1
Total 16 3

International goals

Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 12 September 1990 Hampden Park, Glasgow {{ Template:Yesno alias = Romania flag alias = Flag of Romania.svg flag alias-1859 = Flag of the United Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia (1859 - 1862).svg flag alias-1862 = Flag of the United Principalities of Romania (1862–1866).svg flag alias-1866 = Flag of Romania.svg flag alias-1947 = Flag of Romania (January-March 1948).svg flag alias-1948 = Flag of Romania (1948-1952).svg flag alias-1952 = Flag of Romania (1952-1965).svg flag alias-1965 = Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg flag alias-naval = Flag of Romania.svg flag alias-naval-1860 = Flag of the United Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia (1859 - 1862).svg flag alias-naval-1862 = Flag of the United Principalities of Romania (1862–1866).svg flag alias-naval-1866 = Flag of Romania.svg flag alias-naval-1922 = Naval Ensign of Romania (1922–1947).svg flag alias-naval-1947 = Flag of Romania (January-March 1948).svg flag alias-naval-1948 = Flag of Romania (1948–1952).svg flag alias-naval-1950 = Naval Ensign of Romania (1950–1952).svg flag alias-naval-1952 = Naval Ensign of Romania (1952–1965).svg flag alias-naval-1965 = Flag of Romania (1965–1989).svg link alias-naval = Romanian Naval Forces flag alias-air force = Flag of the Romanian Air Force (obverse).svg flag alias-air force-1947 = Flag of Romania (January-March 1948).svg flag alias-air force-1948 = Flag of Romania (1948–1952).svg flag alias-air force-1950 = Flag of Air Force of Romania (1950-1952, obverse).svg flag alias-air force-1952 = Flag of Air Force of Romania (1952-1965, obverse).svg flag alias-air force-1965 = Flag of Romania (1965–1989).svg link alias-air force = Romanian Air Force flag alias-army = Flag of the Romanian Land Forces (Obverse).svg flag alias-army-1859 = Flag of the United Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia (1859 - 1862).svg flag alias-army-1862 = Flag of the United Principalities of Romania (1862–1866).svg flag alias-army-1866 = Flag of Romania.svg flag alias-army-1947 = Flag of Romania (January-March 1948).svg flag alias-army-1948 = Flag of Romania (1948–1952).svg flag alias-army-1950 = Battle flag of Romania (1950-1952, obverse).svg flag alias-army-1952 = Battle flag of Romania (1952-1965, obverse).svg flag alias-army-1965 = Battle flag of Romania (1966-1989, obverse).svg link alias-army = Romanian Land Forces flag alias-navy = Flag of the Romanian Naval Forces (Obverse).svg flag alias-navy-1860 = Flag of the United Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia (1859 - 1862).svg flag alias-navy-1862 = Flag of the United Principalities of Romania (1862–1866).svg flag alias-navy-1866 = Flag of Romania.svg flag alias-navy-1922 = Naval Ensign of Romania (1922–1947).svg flag alias-navy-1947 = Flag of Romania (January-March 1948).svg flag alias-navy-1948 = Flag of Romania (1948–1952).svg flag alias-navy-1950 = Flag of Naval Force of Romania (1950-1951, obverse).svg flag alias-navy-1952 = Flag of terrestrial units of the Naval Force of Romania (1952-1965, obverse).svg flag alias-navy-1965 = Flag of Romania (1965–1989).svg link alias-navy = Romanian Naval Forces size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}} || 1–1 || 2–1 || UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying

2 17 October 1990 Hampden Park, Glasgow {{ Template:Yesno alias = Switzerland flag alias = Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg link alias-army = Swiss Army link alias-air force = Swiss Air Force size = size flag alias = 23x16px sizebig flag alias = 25px name = altlink = national football team variant =

}} || 1–0 || 2–1 || UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying

3 24 May 1995 Toyama Park Stadium, Toyama {{ Template:Yesno alias = Ecuador flag alias = Flag of Ecuador.svg flag alias-civil = Civil Flag and Ensign of Ecuador.svg flag alias-1830 = Flag of Ecuador (1830-1845).gif flag alias-1845 = Flag of Ecuador (1845-1860).svg flag alias-1900 = Flag of Ecuador (1900–2009).svg flag alias-municipal = Municipal Flag_of Ecuador.svg flag alias-army = Flag of Ecuador Army.svg link alias-army = Ecuadorian Army flag alias-naval = Flag of Ecuador.svg link alias-naval = Ecuadorian Navy flag alias-marines= Naval Jack of Ecuador.svg link alias-marines=Ecuadorian Naval Infantry Corps flag alias-navy = Flag of Ecuador.svg link alias-navy = Ecuadorian Navy link alias-air force = Ecuadorian Air Force size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}} || 1–0 || 2–1 || Kirin Cup

Managerial record

As of match played 27 December 2025Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[25]
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record
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Inverness Caledonian Thistle Template:Flagicon 26 December 2002 3 November 2004

Template:WDL

Heart of Midlothian Template:Flagicon 3 November 2004 9 May 2005

Template:WDL

Ross County Template:Flagicon 21 June 2005 24 October 2005

Template:WDL

Livingston Template:Flagicon 15 February 2006 15 April 2007

Template:WDL

Derry City Template:Flagicon 2 July 2007 11 December 2007

Template:WDL

East Fife Template:Flagicon 26 October 2010 1 March 2012

Template:WDL

Inverness Caledonian Thistle Template:Flagicon 14 June 2017 13 May 2021

Template:WDL

Inverness Caledonian Thistle (interim) Template:Flagicon 17 September 2023 26 September 2023

Template:WDL

Ross County (interim) Template:Flagicon 25 August 2025 3 September 2025

Template:WDL

Ross County (interim) Template:Flagicon 17 December 2025 30 December 2025

Template:WDL

Career total

Template:WDLtot

Honours

Player

Heart of Midlothian

Livingston

Scotland U16

Individual

Manager

Livingston Reserves
Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Derry City

Individual

Notes

  1. ↑ ICT and Raith Rovers were declared joint-winners on 30 April 2021. The final was originally withheld due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Robertson was the manager when the team reached the final and was still the permanent manager at the time of announcement, albeit Robertson was on compassionate leave at the time.

See also

References

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  9. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Template:SFA Profile
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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External links

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