| Rod Wallace 10,
Striker Born: London (England), 2/10/1969
A revelation in his first season, Rod Wallace
was another of Rangers' signings in the Summer of
1998. It was a shrewd piece of business by
manager Dick Advocaat.
Wallace was out of contract at Leeds and
arrived at Ibrox with no cost under the Bosman
ruling.
He was instant success, scoring on his debut
against Hearts on the opening day of the league
season and going on to fire 27 goals in 51
appearances.
As other, big money, forwards struggled to
settle at Ibrox Wallace made the main striking
role his own. He grabbed his first hat-trick for
the club on February 28 1999 in a 5-0 win over
Kilmarnock.
Wallace, born in Lewisham, South London, was
one of three brothers who all played for
Southampton. Danny, his elder brother, went on to
join Manchester United, while twin Ray also moved
to Leeds.
All three played together in the same Saints
team for the first time against Sheffield
Wednesday in 1988.
Wallace went to Southampton as a 16-year-old
trainee, making his League debut in the 1987-88
season. He scored 45 goals at the Dell in 128
League games, his best season being 1989-90 when
he hit 18.
He was transferred to Leeds in 1991 for £1.6
million and won the English Championship in his
first year. He made more than 30 League
appearances in five of his seven seasons at
Elland Road.
Wallace, an England B international who scored
53 goals in 212 League games for Leeds, says
brother Danny has always been the biggest
influence on his career.
On coming to Rangers he said: "The size
of the club is incredible, much bigger than
Leeds, and the supporters are second to
none."
Wallace began the new season as he ended his
first as he scored Rangers opening league goal
against Kilmarnock at Ibrox.
But again injury struck a Rangers forward, as
he limped out of the second leg of the Euro clash
with Parma.
A month on the sidelines with a hamstring
problem saw Wallace out until late September and
after a patchy month in October boss Dick
Advocaat rested him for the first Old Firm clash
in a bid for Wallace to regain the sharpness
shown in his opening season.
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