Jock Wallace Jr.

Verified Timeline

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.

In Their Own Story

In January 1981, Wallace made an audacious attempt to sign three-time European Footballer of the Year Johan Cruyff while managing Leicester City. Despite negotiations lasting three weeks and Cruyff expressing a desire to play for the club, no deal was agreed. Back at Rangers during his second spell, Wallace supported a young Ally McCoist who was unsure of himself; this guidance helped McCoist go on to lead the forward line in future successes. However, the period was frustrating as Rangers failed to dent the dominance of Aberdeen and Dundee United. Wallace was known for his fierce temper; Gary Lineker recalled being pinned against a dressing room wall at half-time while 2–0 up after scoring both goals, left shaking by Wallace's fury.

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?

• Wallace is the only player ever to play in the English, Welsh and Scottish Cups in the same season (1966–67).
• He famously played for and managed Berwick Rangers when they defeated his future club, Rangers, in the 1967 Scottish Cup.
• As a goalkeeper, he worked in a local pit while playing for Workington before serving in Malaya with the King's Own Scottish Borderers.
• 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.