Rod Wallace
Rodney Seymour " Rod" Wallace (born 2 October 1969 in Greenwich, London ) is a former English footballer. As nimble and tricky striker he came from his twin brother Ray and the almost six years older brother Danny youth work of the Southampton FC. His greatest successes came later with Leeds United, when he 1992 the English championship and later with the Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers, two Scottish Cups (1999, 2000) and FA Cup editions (1999, 2000) and in the season 1999 / 2000 Scottish League Cup won.
Sports career
Southampton FC (1986-1991)
Together with his twin brother Ray to Rod Wallace joined in 1986 the Southampton FC as a " trainee " and thus ended up at the club, who had already successfully trained the older brother Danny. Two years later stood on 22 October 1988, all the three together against Sheffield Wednesday in the square, so they were probably the first brother trio in the top English football league that competed together for the same team. First, the twins went through a very similar career path, but after some spectacular performances and eleven appearances for the English U -21 perspectives were considered as Rods equal to more promising than those of Ray. By the end of the season 1990/91 he scored 56 Goals in official matches for the " Saints" and joined in June 1991 for £ 1.6 million for emerging Leeds United, who had reached as Erstligaaufsteiger a surprisingly good fourth place.
Leeds United (1991-1998)
With his speed, with which he gave especially the first few meters at the inaugural advantages, "Hot Rod" was an immediate gain for the team coached by Howard Wilkinson. He added the classical and operating with high physical presence goalscorer and Striker Lee Chapman almost idealtypsich in the 1991/92 season and contributed eleven own hits when on winning the championship. He played also in the focus of the senior team, but an injury prevented in September 1992 for possible use against Spain. Then there was a decline of the sport clubs, which ended at the end of a disappointing 17th place and also suffered Wallace's shape. That Leeds United then took back to the track in the 1993/94 season, due largely to the fact that Wallace with a total of 17 league goals back to its former strength. Added to this was in April 1994 against Tottenham Hotspur, the " goal of the season " when he initially duped three opponents with a single transition from the center line of the penalty area and curled the ball in from the angle.
When Wallace took a slightly more coherent position back in the 1994/95 season and this was more common on the outer track, the Torerfolge were scarce. Its shape is deteriorating and only after the commitment of Anthony Yeboah it suit this a bit better, which in turn coach Wilkinson led to reject an offer of Southampton FC in the amount of 1.5 million pounds. In the following period but remained his sense of achievement further and with just one league goal in the season 1995/96 showed that it was suitable because now less a constant scorer as a winger. These came alongside Yeboah and Brian Deane more competition in the attack in the form of the Swedish national player Tomas Brolin, and in May 1996 the Welsh veterans Ian Rush. Nevertheless, the participants beat out other offers from Southampton. Also, the coaching change, to George Graham first brought little improvement, as only 22 League Appearances presented in the 1996/97 season to the test. However, he benefited again in the medium of the new sporty line and with his direct play and the speed he prepared again increasing the opponent's defensive formations problems. Especially in the subsequent season 1997/98 was Wallace, who was now the most "senior " player in the squad from Leeds United, extremely successful in interaction with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, with the numerous hits at away games were particularly striking. Re- gaining strength, he decided, however, the contract not to extend further and instead to go free transfer in July 1998 to the Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers.
Glasgow Rangers (1998-2001)
The obligation of Wallace went almost unnoticed in Glasgow, as the Rangers were under new coach Dick Advocaat in a radical change came with Arthur Numan and Andrei Kantschelskis and Giovanni van Bronckhorst other notable new entries to the club. This changed when he scored hits in the first four league games and his speed proved to be very valuable. By Christmas 1998 Wallace had shot 16 goals and with a 3-0 win at local rivals Celtic his team secured on 2 May 1999 the Scottish Cup - although the game for Wallace with a late red card had a slightly bitter aftertaste. For this " revenge " he located only 27 days later, as he faced in the final of the Scottish FA Cup Celtic again and made for the door to the decisive 1-0. Previously, he had already won end of November 1998 the League Cup with the Rangers.
The sports development was positive also in his second season 1999/2000 and at the end was the second " double" of the Scottish Cup and FA Cup in series. He made it good storm partnerships with Michael Mols and Billy Dodds and scored 20 Goals in official matches, for which again was a crucial goal against Celtic in the late course of the season. Despite this good performances Wallace was then subjected to additional competition, including particularly the pledged at the beginning of the 2000 /01 Kenny Miller, Ronald de Boer and Tore André Flo scored. After just one goal in the first five league games of the new season, Wallace was suddenly back on the bench and came specifically in the domestic league to March 2001, only rarely to the course. Only in the last eight league games, he met again four times, but ultimately, he remained with the Rangers without a title. In September 2001, he then returned to the top English league and hired free transfer to the Erstligaaufsteiger Bolton Wanderers.
Bolton Wanderers and FC Gillingham (2001-2004)
Just six minutes after the first Substitutes against Blackburn Rovers (1-1) Wallace made his first appearance for his new club, but although Wallace successfully supported the team of Sam Allardyce in the relegation battle, he decided the new contract offer for another year refuse and instead signed a contract for two years at second division FC Gillingham.
Due to a groin problem came Wallace until the end of September 2002, the " Gills " regularly used, but with eleven league goals in just 22 games he showed were again very accurate, which include a series of seven goals scored in eight games. In his last professional season 2003/ 04, the injury problems were increasing. Wallace found only rarely to his form, scored only one competitive goal and finished after his active career.
Title / Awards
- English Championship ( 1): 1992
- Charity Shield ( 1): 1992
- Scottish Championship (2): 1999, 2000
- Scottish Cup (2): 1999, 2000
- Scottish League Cup ( 1): 1999