Jock Wallace

Jock Wallace (6 September 1935 – 24 July 1996) was a Scottish footballer and manager. A goalkeeper, he holds the unique record of being the only player to feature in the English, Welsh, and Scottish Cups during the same season—achieved in 1966–67 while playing for Hereford United and Berwick Rangers. As Rangers manager across two stints in the 1970s and 1980s, he became one of Scottish football’s most famous and successful coaches. Born in Wallyford, Wallace’s playing career started quietly.

Released by Blackpool, he signed for Workington in 1952, balancing football with work in a local coal mine. His next break came during National Service with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, serving in Northern Ireland and the jungles of Malaya—an experience that shaped his character and led him to sign for Berwick Rangers. He later played for Airdrieonians, West Bromwich Albion, Bedford Town, and Hereford United. Wallace began his managerial career in 1966 as player-manager of Berwick Rangers.

He rose to national attention in 1967 when his Berwick side famously defeated Rangers in the Scottish Cup—one of the biggest upsets in Scottish football. That success earned him a coaching role at Hearts in 1968. In 1970, Wallace arrived at Ibrox as a coach under Willie Waddell. Together, they helped Rangers win the 1971–72 European Cup Winners’ Cup.

When Waddell moved to a backroom role, Wallace became manager. In his first season, the club’s centenary year, he won the Scottish Cup. In 1974–75, he ended Celtic’s nine-year league dominance, securing Rangers’ first league title in eleven years. He then won trebles in 1975–76 and 1977–78.

Despite this success, Wallace unexpectedly resigned in 1978. He never explained why, though speculation pointed to disputes with the board, particularly Waddell, over budgets or his own salary. Wallace then managed Leicester City, winning the Second Division title in 1980 and reaching the FA Cup semi-finals in 1982. In January 1981, he tried to sign Johan Cruyff, negotiating for three weeks, but no deal was reached.

He returned to Scotland in 1982 with Motherwell, then went back to Rangers in November 1983 after the club failed to land Alex Ferguson or Jim McLean. His second spell brought two League Cups, but Rangers struggled against the dominant New Firm of Aberdeen and Dundee United, offering only sporadic challenges to Celtic. He supported a young Ally McCoist, who later became a key striker. Sacked in April 1986, Wallace had brief stints at Sevilla (1986–87) and Colchester United (1988–90).

Wallace died from Parkinson’s disease in 1996, aged 60, and is still remembered by Rangers fans as one of their greatest managers. Known for a fierce temper, Wallace would terrify players he felt weren’t trying. Gary Lineker recalled being pinned against a dressing room wall at half-time and called a “lazy English this and that” despite having scored both goals in a 2–0 lead. Mark Warburton, a youth player at Leicester, disliked Wallace’s methods—sand-dune runs until players vomited—and later said he learned never to treat a player that way. Still, most of his players adored him.