Playing Career
Hibs attempted to sign him but he asked for time to think the deal over and, after Hibs refused, he signed for Hearts, along with school friend and fellow future internationalist Dave Bowman. Robertson eventually earned the moniker "The Hammer of Hibs" as he scored for Hearts in almost every game he played against their city rivals and holds the record of scoring the most goals by any single player against Hibs by notching up 27 strikes against the Easter Road team.
Robertson was an instant success at Hearts, becoming a legend in the first few seasons with his prolific goal scoring record. In 1986 Robertson took Hearts to the brink of a league and cup double by scoring goal after goal as the club went on an unbeaten run through that season. The league title was snatched from Hearts by Celtic on the last day of the season. He left Hearts briefly to play for Newcastle United in April 1988. Robertson failed to match the success he had enjoyed at Tynecastle and returned to Hearts in December of that year.
Robertson achieved his greatest success at Hearts, where he spent the vast majority of his playing career. Robertson’s loyalty to Hearts was finally rewarded in 1998 when Hearts won the Scottish Cup and he received a winner’s medal, albeit as an unused substitute. After an earlier loan spell with Dundee, he left Tynecastle that summer, joining Livingston as a player-coach.
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 scored three goals in total in his international career.
Read more about this topic: John Robertson (footballer Born 1964)
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