Wallace eager to join Rangers’ great captains
Rangers defender knows he still has much to achieve to reach ranks of the legends
LEE WALLACE wears the armband well and certainly speaks like a Rangers captain, but he knows it is going to take a lot more than that to truly makes his mark at the football club.
Leading his side to promotion this season will hardly be insignificant given everything that has happened since 2012, but it’s not quite up there with what some of his predecessors achieved.
Bobby Shearer, John Greig, Terry Butcher, Richard Gough and David Weir are names to make even the most emotionless Rangers supporter hold back the tears. These were more than just players, they were icons who epitomised what the supporters wanted to see in a leader. They also won a few things as well.
Wallace has been outstanding this season. He has blossomed as captain and when asked to speak to the media, does so with clarity, intelligence and sincerity. My goodness, what Rangers could have done with more of these qualities on display in recent years.
But the man himself knows that when it comes to great Rangers captains, for him to be put alongside those mentioned above, winning Scottish football’s second-tier league has to be just the start.
“I’m well aware that in Rangers’ history, I’m the least-off captain in terms of being successful and winning medals,” said Wallace. “I go back to Lee McCulloch, who was part of successful teams here and won loads of things, then Davie Weir and Richard Gough, who were also very successful. So the dreams and aspirations for me are to try to become these people.
“Will we be as successful as these Rangers teams from the past? I don’t know, maybe. Will I be as successful as these captains? I don’t know, maybe. The drive and the ambition is still there, so that’s something I will certainly be fighting for. I’m 28 now and would happily finish my career here, that’s something I’ve thought about a lot.
“If I am performing and doing well enough that the manager deems me good enough to stay then great, and you don’t need to look any further than David Weir and how he prolonged his career from being a top professional.
“I had one season playing with him, although we didn’t line up together too many times because of injuries to both of us, but he was an example.
“The way he acquitted himself, every detail from training to what he ate in the dining room every day, led to him prolonging his career. I have aspirations to be like him and play for as long as I can and if that’s here then perfect.”
Those who recall a 17-year-old Wallace making his breakthrough at Hearts remember an introverted lad who, while talented, hardly said a word. Not everyone can captain Rangers but he has been a revelation. This might seem a small thing but at home games he is always the last one off the pitch having applauded all four sides of the stadium. Such gestures are not missed by the punters.
“I’ve loved every moment of being captain and couldn’t wait to get back in and get going when we heard the manager and Davie were joining,” said Wallace.
“Having suffered as one of the boys who was hugely involved in the downfall last season and the bad season we had, I knew we had to put things right.
“So ever since the news came out about the manager and Davie coming in, then about the names we were going to get, it has all been exciting.
“I’ve enjoyed making a contribution into how successful we’ve been this season. But there is a long way to go and plenty hard work to come.”
Rangers are at home to Queen of the South and barring a disaster they are going to win the Championship before the Celtic game.
Wallace helped to launch the club’s Player of the Year award, he is a nominee, and while there are other strong candidates, few would argue that overall is is the left-back and leader who has consistently been Rangers’ best player.
“The challenge is to keep moving forward as a team, the manager has modern-day techniques,” said Wallace. “As captain, it has tied in with how I work anyway and also how I coach at Tynecastle.
“Long gone are the days of losing the rag and screaming and shouting, the culture I grew up in when I was a young boy. The manager here ties in with my style and how I want to captain the boys.
“I haven’t had to change, the lads have been really receptive to me and there is no difference in how I am. It has been an easier transition than I thought.”