Jock Wallace Jr.

The only player ever to compete in the English, Welsh and Scottish Cups in the same season, and a legendary manager who won multiple trophies across two spells at Rangers.

John Martin Bokas Wallace (6 September 1935 – 24 July 1996) was a Scottish professional football player and manager who arrived at Rangers in 1970 as coach under Willie Waddell. This partnership secured the 1971–72 European Cup Winners' Cup before Waddell stepped back, leaving Wallace to take charge for the club's centenary season and win the Scottish Cup. He ended Celtic's nine-year dominance by winning the League championship in 1974–75 and captured the treble of all three Scottish trophies in both 1975–76 and 1977–78. Wallace unexpectedly resigned in 1978, though his precise reasons remained a mystery until his death. He returned to manage Rangers from November 1983 until April 1986, capturing two League Cups despite the rise of the New Firm.

Quick Facts

Full name: John Martin Bokas Wallace
Born: 6 September 1935
Birthplace: Wallyford, Scotland
Died: 24 July 1996
Place of death: Basingstoke, England
Position: Goalkeeper

Lore & Background

Wallace's journey began as a goalkeeper for Workington, where he worked in the local pit before National Service with the King's Own Scottish Borderers took him to Northern Ireland and the jungles of Malaya. His unique playing record was set during the 1966–67 season: he played for Hereford United in the FA Cup and Welsh Cup early on, then moved to Berwick Rangers to feature in the Scottish Cup later that same campaign. This feat made him the only player to play in all three cups in one season. His managerial rise skyrocketed in 1967 when he both played for and managed Berwick Rangers to a famous Scottish Cup victory over Rangers himself, an upset that propelled him into a coaching role at Hearts by 1968.

Reader's Guide

Wallace's management style was defined by intensity and military discipline from his service in the King's Own Scottish Borderers. Youth player Mark Warburton described training runs on sand-dunes until players threw up, noting that while he took a dislike to the methods at the time, he learned valuable lessons. Wallace steered Leicester City to the Football League Second Division title in 1980 and reached the 1982 FA Cup semi-finals before returning to Scotland. His final managerial stops included short spells with Sevilla (1986–1987) and Colchester United (1988–1990). He died from Parkinson's disease in 1996 at age 60, remembered fondly by fans as one of the club's greatest managers despite the silence surrounding his resignation.

Did You Know?

In January 1981, he negotiated for three weeks to sign Johan Cruyff at Leicester City, but the deal never happened.
Gary Lineker was left shaking after Wallace pinned him against a dressing room wall for being 'lazy' despite scoring two goals in a 2–0 win.