History of Rangers FC

Sir David Murray
Executive Chairman

David Edward Murray was born in Ayr on the 14th of October 1951 and was educated at Fettes College and Broughton High School.

Murray became a well known entrepreneur, building up his business to create one of the biggest privately owned companies in Scotland. The Murray Group incorporates a broad range of activities, including metal distribution, property, mining, technology, sport and leisure.

David Murray was Young Scottish Businessman of the year in 1984 and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University in 1986.

He also set up the Murray Foundation in 1996, a charitable organisation which provides support services for amputees and their families in Scotland. The Murray Foundation has expanded since its inception to incorporate a range of services including support groups, hospital visits, information services and counselling.

David Murray instigated a revolution in Scottish football with his friend and then Rangers manager Graeme Souness following his purchase of the club in 1988 from Lawrence Marlborough.

Ambitious and committed, Murray and Souness revitalised Rangers by bringing high profile stars north of the border to the Club. Murray continued to build upon these foundations with subsequent manager Walter Smith, culminating in the record-equalling achievement of nine-in-a-row league championships in 1997.

Murray continued to secure success for Rangers by bringing Dick Advocaat to the Club in 1998 as the Dutchman won five domestic trophies in his first two seasons and achieved highly creditable results in Europe.

Murray has also turned his attention to matters off the pitch at Rangers, driving forward the continuing development of the Stadium, the commercial expansion of the Club and the global of growth of Rangers as a brand.

He also secured the Club's long term future at home and abroad with the development of Rangers Training and Development Centre at Auchenhowie, which was named after him. Murray Park was officially opened in July 2001 and is already a huge success.

John McClelland replaced him as Chairman in July 2002 after 14 successful years in the position with Murray taking the title of Honorary Chairman.

Murray returned as Executive Chairman in September 2004 following the board's decision to raise capital through a rights issues underwritten by Murray International Holdings.

The Chairman was knighted in the Queen's New Year's Honours List for 2007 and is now known as Sir David Murray.

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Martin Bain
Chief Executive

Martin Bain was appointed Chief Executive at Rangers in February 2005 as a reward for almost a decade of loyal service to the Light Blues.

A Board Director since 2001, Martin was previously Director of Football Business and most recently has overseen the amalgamation of all operational and commercial income generating aspects of the Club.

He joined Rangers in 1996, later becoming Commercial Manager during which time he brokered many of the Club's commercial interests including deals with ntl: and Carling.

Chairman David Murray said: "In his most recent role as Director of Football Business, Martin has driven a number of large deals to successful conclusions and in so doing he has demonstrated his strong commercial pedigree.

"I am looking forward to continuing working closely with him to develop the Club towards further success."

Martin, as you would expect, was thrilled with the appointment.

He said: "Naturally I am delighted to be appointed to such a prestigious role within Rangers.

"It is a great honour to be recognised in this way and I will continue to work with the Chairman, Manager and senior management team to develop the business of Rangers Football Club.

"The Club is on an improved financial footing at present and I am looking forward with confidence to playing my part in the exciting opportunities that undoubtedly lie ahead of us."

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Andrew Dickson
Head Of Football Administration

Andrew Dickson joined Rangers in 1991 as a qualified chartered accountant, and worked in the finance department, becoming Financial Controller of the Club in 2001.

During this period, he gained knowledge of the football administration side of the Club and in 2003 took up the position of Head of Football Administration, where his vast experience of football finance, player contracts and the rules and regulations governing the administration of the game is crucial.

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John F McClelland CBE
Non-Executive Director

John McClelland stepped down as Vice-Chariman in September 2005, after holding the position for almost four years.

Having initially joined Rangers in October 2000, McClelland was appointed Vice-Chairman just over a year later on November 8, 2001.

Glasgow born John arrived at Ibrox with an excellent, worldwide business reputation having spent most of his adult life working in the Electronics Industry.

A veteran in the high-technology market, he has occupied a number of high-profile positions with companies like IBM, Digital Equipment and Philips Corporation.

John has a proven track record and his hands-on management style has ensured operational excellence in each of his business interests.

He takes a special interest in the Scottish economy and is also Chairman of Technology Ventures Scotland, an organisation committed to exploiting Scotland's strengths in research and innovation through the commercialisation of technology.

John graduated in finance and business studies from Glasgow College and a successful career was always on the horizon.

At college he specialised in industrial management and became a Fellow of the Institution of Industrial Managers. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and a Fellow and visiting professor in manufacturing at the University of Paisley.

In 1994, on a recommendation by the Prime Minister, Queen Elizabeth II appointed John a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to industry and education.

He became Chairman of the club in July 2002 when David Murray stood down to become Honorary Chairman.

McClelland remained in the position until September 2004 when Murray returned as Executive Chairman following the decision to raise capital for the club through a rights issued underwritten by Murray International Holdings.

Now following the Board restructure in January, McClelland will cease his footballing executive club duties, but will remain as a Director of the Club's Board.

Donald McIntyre
Finance Director

Donald McIntyre was appointed as Finance Director on June 12, 2006, taking over the role vacated by David Jolliffe.

Donald, a Chartered Accountant, has held senior financial positions within Stakis plc, Hilton Group plc, Hewden Stuart plc and latterly as Group Financial Controller at Macdonald Hotels Limited.

His knowledge and experience enables him to manage the Club's sound financial operations.

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John Greig MBE
Director

John Greig MBE, voted by supporters as "The Greatest Ever Ranger" in 1999, joined the club's board on Boxing Day 2003.

Greig made over 850 appearances for the Light Blues, won the domestic Treble three times and was club captain in 1972 when Gers clinched the Cup Winners' Cup in Barcelona with a 3-2 victory over Moscow Dynamo.

John also scored 120 goals during his time at Ibrox, a remarkable record for a man that spent most of his career playing in midfield or defence!

Former Chairman John McClelland said: "I am absolutely delighted that John has accepted my invitation to join the Board.

"He brings with him a lifetime of experience in football and in particular a passion for Rangers Football Club that is unequalled.

"John's advice and counsel will mean a great deal to me and other Board members as we continue to pursue all that is best for Rangers Football Club.

"As a Board member he will continue to represent the Club as one of its finest ambassadors. It will be a great privilege to have John as part of the team at Board level."

Greig, who almost won the Treble in his first season as Rangers manager, said: "This is a great honour for me and I am delighted to accept the invitation.

"I have had the privilege of serving the Club in several capacities over a long number of years and I hope I can help bring further success in the future as I know how much the Club means to all our supporters."

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Alastair Johnston
Non-Executive Director

Alastair Johnston joined the Board of Rangers Football Club as a Non-Executive Director on Boxing Day 2003 along with Greatest Ever Ranger John Greig.

Alastair brings to this position a wealth of experience in the world of sport and sports management.

He is President and Co-Chief Executive Officer of IMG and is jointly responsible for overseeing IMG's global businesses, conducted by 2,500 employees located in more than 60 offices throughout the world.

Chairman John McClelland said: "I know that Alastair with his business experience and his leadership role within the sports marketing industry will bring significant added value to our Board and I am delighted that he has agreed to join."

Johnston said: "I am pleased to accept this appointment.

"As a lifelong supporter of Rangers I hope to make a significant contribution to the Club's future as a member of the Board."

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Dave King
Non-Executive Director

Dave King is a Scottish-born businessman who has lived in South Africa for twenty years.

He is an entrepreneur with interests in a number of businesses in the South African financial services sector. He was appointed director in March 2000.

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Donald Wilson
Non-Executive Director

Donald Wilson qualified as a CA in 1986 with Arthur Young in Glasgow and was recruited by Murray International Holdings in May 1987.

He was promoted to Financial Director in 1995 after spending one and a half years in New Zealand re-imaging and re-branding the New Zealand operation.

He was awarded the title of Financial Director of the Year in 1999. He became a Director of Rangers Football Club in August 2000.

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Walter Smith
Manager

Walter Smith returned as Rangers manager on January 10, 2007 to begin his second spell as boss when he answered the call from Sir David Murray.

The lifelong supporter had no hestitation in giving up his post with the Scottish national side to come back to day to day involvement with Rangers.

He brought Ally McCoist - his lieutenant with the national side - with him and also Kenny McDowall, who had been reserve coach with rivals Celtic.

He said at the time: "I am delighted to be back. The club has always been close to my heart. I have obviously been here before and I didn't think I would get the chance for a second opportunity.

"I was successful in my first period as manager but that does not mean that I am going to repeat that. We are going to have to work extremely hard and of course the club has changed a lot since that period."

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Ally McCoist
Assistant Manager

Ally McCoist's contribution to Rangers as a player is phenomenal and now he wants to make his mark on the training ground.

The club's greatest goal-scorer is now the right hand man in the dugout having joined Walter Smith on January 10, 2007 as assistant manager.

McCoist was Smith's assistant with the Scottish national team and he was the natural man to come to in to help restore Rangers' fortunes.

Since leaving Rangers in the summer of 1998, Ally went on to play for three more years with Kilmarnock before hanging up his golden boots.

By then he had moved into the world of television and before returning to Rangers could be seen on BBC, ITV Sport and Setanta Sports!

McCoist was voted into the Rangers Hall of Fame five years ago.

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Kenny McDowall
First Team Coach

These days switching from one side of the Old Firm to the other is not considered the heinous crime it was in the days of Alfie Conn or Mo Johnston.

However, the capture of Kenny McDowall from Celtic was a surprise. Kenny had been in the Youth Department for 10 years and was reserve team manager when Walter Smith approached him to join Rangers.

McDowall, a Rangers fan as boy, had no hestitation in crossing the city to take up a top team post, feeling it was definitely the right time to make the step up.

He is highly rated in coaching circles and had previously turned down top team posts waiting for the right one to come along.

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Past managers - William Wilton

William Wilton was the first manager of Rangers Football Club. But he had already been at the club for 16 years before he was appointed to the post.

When Wilton joined Rangers in September 1883 he had no responsiblities for football, although he played for one of the junior teams.

His skills as an administrator and organiser were what the club valued and, anyway, in those days the team operated without a manager.

Within six months, however, Wilton had been appointed secretary to the reserve teams and by 1889 he was match secretary of the first team.

Tactics, such as they were, he left to senior players but, nonetheless, in the 10 years Wilton held the post Rangers won two Scottish Championships (1890-91 and 1898-99) and three Scottish Cups (1894, 1897 and 1898).

Wilton it was who set the code of discipline for the players which still endures today. He insisted on smartness and standards of dress and made players understand the responsibility of what it meant to be a Ranger.

When the Scottish League was formed in 1890, Wilton became its first treasurer and, of course, his Rangers shared the first Championship with Dumbarton.

In May 1899, Wilton was given the dual role of manager and secretary when the club became a limited liability company.

His appointment came at the end of a season in which Rangers had achieved the perfect League record. Eighteen games, eighteen victories and 79 goals scored at an average of more than four a game.

No team - before or since - has ever had a 100 percent record in a competitive domestic league anywhere in the world.

Rangers were to win seven more Championships under Wilton's guidance. And by the 1919-20 season Wilton, along with his assistant William Struth, had laid the foundations for a period of dominance which was to last until the Second World War.

Wilton, however, would not live to enjoy their success. The day after the last game of the season in May 1920, Wilton set out to spend the Bank Holiday at Gourock.

Rangers had won the Championship by three points from Celtic and Wilton was looking forward to some rest.

It was not to be. Wilton drowned in a boating accident on the first day of his holiday.

John Allan's book, The Story Of The Rangers, paid him this fitting tribute: "The ideals for which he strove are still sought after by those who are left in custody of the cherished traditions of the club."

Past Managers - Bill Struth

The imposing figure of Bill Struth was to cast a long shadow over Rangers Football Club. During his 34 years as manager, his influence was such that it shaped the club's future for many generations to come.

Struth laid down the foundations for greatness. He installed the traditions and made it "special" to be a Rangers player.

And when he had gone, the torch he had passed on was picked up by men like Scot Symon and Willie Waddell who had played under Struth and were to succeed him as manager.

Symon and Waddell were to provide their own styles of leadership, but much of what they had learned had been inherited from Struth.

Indeed, it is still Struth's portrait which hangs in the Trophy Room at Ibrox among the Championship pennants as a symbol of continuity at the club.

Struth, born in Edinburgh, had been a stonemason by trade and was also a professional athlete. He had worked as a trainer at Clyde and at Hearts before coming to Rangers in 1914 as assistant to William Wilton.

His appointment as Rangers' second manager came, however, in tragic circumstances when Wilton sadly drowned in a boating accident in 1920.

But in taking on the mantle Struth, by then 45, embarked on a period of unprecedented success in which Rangers would dominate Scottish football until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939.

Struth's record of achievements was extraordinary. He won the League Championship 18 times, including a dazzling spell of 14 in 19 years before the war. Those titles included a run of Five-In-A-Row between 1926-27 and 1930-31, a standard unsurpassed at the club until the 1990s.

Not only was he to bring the first Cup and League Double to the club in 1927-28, he was still at the helm when they completed the first Cup, League and League Cup Treble in 1948-49.

The line of great players under his guidance seemed endless - stretching from David Meiklejohn and Alan Morton, through Bob McPhail and Willie Thornton to, among others, Jock Shaw, George Young and Willie Woodburn.

And none of them was in any doubt as to who the boss was. Struth was a strict disciplinarian, a man who believed firmly in respect for authority.

There were privileges for the players. Struth insisted that his teams always travelled first class. But in turn they had to accept their responsibilites. These included wearing a collar and tie for training and maintaining standards of dress and behaviour at all times.

Any player who fell short of what Struth expected felt the chill of being told that his presence was required up the marble staircase in the manager's office.

Part of the Struth legend has it that the manager would watch from the window of his flat overlooking the Copland Road as the players arrived at Ibrox. Anyone who had dared to walk down the street with his hands in his pockets would find that Struth had seen him and telephoned the ground to insist that he walk down the street again, this time with his hands by his sides.

Another of Struth's habits was to play the piano, which still stands in the Blue Room, after every match to unwind. He was also a sharp dresser and kept up to half a dozen double-breasted suits in his office, sometimes changing what he was wearing three times a day.

Struth became a director of the club in 1947 and was appointed vice-chairman on his retirement as manager in the Summer of 1954. He died two years later aged 81.

It was not, however, the end of an era. For his work lived on through the lessons he had instilled in others.

One of the greatest managers in the history of football, Struth is buried in Craigton Cemetery, near to the club he had fashioned in his own incomparable image.

Past Managers - Scot Symon

James Scotland Symon was different from most football managers in that he had none of the extrovert characteristics often associated with the role.

He was a quiet and reserved man who had been a Rangers player under legendary manager Bill Struth.

By the time he was chosen to succeed the great man in 1954, Symon had proved himself not only a very good player but also a manager with the right pedigree for the job.

He determined to carry on the traditions established by Struth and his achievements included steering Rangers to their second League, Cup and League Cup Treble in 1963-64.

Born in Errol, near Perth, Symon turned professional with Dundee in 1930. He moved to England in 1935 for a three year spell with Portsmouth before signing for Rangers in 1938.

An outstanding wing-half with a ferocious tackle, he was a member of the side that won the League title in 1938-39. He won one cap for Scotland in the 3-1 victory over Hungary in 1938.

Symon was the first man to play both football and cricket for Scotland and would have had more soccer caps but for the intervention of the Second World War.

Like so many of his generation, much of Symon's playing career was spent in wartime football and he retired in 1947 having played just 37 Scottish League games for Rangers.

Symon became manager at East Fife, gaining promotion to the old First Division in his first year. The Fifers also won the League Cup under him, beating Dunfermline 3-0 in 1949-50, and reached the Scottish Cup Final in the same year losing 3-0 to Rangers.

He took over at Preston, where the star player was Tom Finney, in 1953. The following year his team reached the FA Cup Final at Wembley where they lost 3-2 to West Bromwich Albion.

When Bill Struth retired, Symon returned to Ibrox and the team won six Championships under him, including back-to-back League and Cup Doubles in 1962-63 and 1963-64.

Symon was also the manager who first took Rangers into Europe, competing in the 1957 European Cup. He also guided them to two European Cup Winners' Cup Finals, losing 4-1 on aggregate to Fiorentina in a two-leg Final in 1961 and 1-0 to Bayern Munich in extra time in 1967.

Symon, Rangers' third manager, was to be the last of the old school bosses. After him came a new breed who would don tracksuits to join the players on the training pitch.

Despite his success, the manner of his dismissal was a shock. Symon was sacked in November 1967 at the age of 58 after rejecting a move to make him general manager and let a younger man run team affairs. He left with Rangers at the top of the League.

He became a director at Dumbarton and later managed Partick Thistle.

Symon died in 1985.

Past Managers - Davie White

David White found himself pitched into the Ibrox hot seat in a sudden and unexpected manner.

He had come to Rangers as assistant to manager Scot Symon as part of what was meant to be a grooming process, giving him time to learn the ropes and taking over when he was ready.

It didn't turn out that way. Symon's hand was forced and he was dismissed in 1967 after rejecting a move to make him general manager with White in charge of team affairs.

It had been hoped that Symon would accept and that White would have an experienced man around for help and guidance. As it was, the responsibility came too early. White was on his own and in charge after just five months at the club.

The decision was a mistake and the price White paid was to have the misfortune to be the only Rangers manager not to win a major trophy.

White had been a wing-half who had spent all of his career at Clyde. He graduated to player-coach with the club and in 1966 became their manager, taking them at one point to third in the League.

The lack of honours during White's reign at Ibrox, however, masks the fact that he did improve the team during a difficult period. Celtic, under Jock Stein, were at the peak of their success and White, as Rangers' first track suit manager working on the pitch with the players every day, did not fail through any lack of tactical knowledge.

In his first season as Rangers' fourth manager, the team suffered only one defeat - 3-2 at home to Aberdeen in the final game. Rangers finished runners-up in the Championship.

In Europe, White's team enjoyed two good runs in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in successive years.

In 1967-68, Rangers reached the quarter-finals, losing to Leeds United 2-0 on aggregate.

The following season they went one better and got to the semi-finals where they again went down 2-0 on aggregate, this time to Newcastle United.

That year Rangers also reached the Scottish Cup Final, only to lose 4-0 to Celtic.

And that was the nub of White's difficulties. Not only were Rangers, with their high standards and great expectations, not winning trophies, their major rivals were having huge success at home and in Europe.

Matters came to a head with defeat in the following season's European Cup Winners' Cup competition. Rangers were twice beaten 3-1 by Gornick of Poland and White was sacked on the morning after the disappointment of the second-leg result at Ibrox.

White later managed Dundee and in 1973-74 had the satisfaction of taking them to a League Cup Final victory over the team which had caused so many of his problems - Celtic.

Past manager - Willie Waddell

For almost 50 years, Willie Waddell probably contributed more to Rangers than any other man - as player, manager and executive of the club.

He had been an outstanding outside right under manager Bill Struth. But by the time he returned to Ibrox, it would be fair to say that the club was in the doldrums.

Waddell, however, was a very single-minded man who mixed a clear vision of what he wanted with the determination to achieve it. And it was through his extraordinary energies that the club lifted itself back to its rightful place at the top.

He first played for Rangers in a reserve game at the age of 15. Two years later he scored the only goal of the game on his senior debut in a match against Arsenal.

Waddell was greatly respected as a player. He was fast, he was powerful and he could make and score goals. He played in four Championship winning teams, two Scottish Cup Final victories and was capped 17 times by Scotland.

After he retired in 1956, he set about building the same reputation as a manager, taking over Kilmarnock and guiding them to their only Championship in 1964-65.

Later he worked as a journalist and returned to Ibrox in December 1969 following the dismissal of David White.

There was a great deal of work to be done and Waddell set about it with gusto, operating at times more like a chief executive than as team manager.

Waddell was a man steeped in the values laid down by Bill Struth. He set about remoulding the club, changing the staff and the team and putting them back on course for the successes that were to be enjoyed in the 1970s.

He led the side to their first trophy since 1966 when Rangers won the 1970-71 League Cup beating Celtic 1-0 in the Final. He also brought in Jock Wallace as coach and the two of them formed a great partnership which was to see Wallace follow him as manager.

The task of restoring the team's fortunes was a challenge Waddell relished. But the Ibrox tragedy of 1971, in which 66 people died at the New Year game with Celtic, was to test his resources even more.

The terrible situation demanded strong leadership and it was Waddell who provided it.

First he saw to it that the club was represented at each of the victims' funerals, in most cases by players and former stars.

Then he set about driving through the redevelopment of Ibrox with such foresight that today's state of the art stadium - one of the best in Europe - owes much to the inspiration initiated by Waddell.

Waddell's prime concern was safety. He visited club grounds in Europe, such as at Dortmund, and was convinced that all-seater stadiums were the way forward. But it says much for Waddell's influence that the modern Ibrox still combines the best of the new with the heritage of the old.

At the same time Waddell drove his team to one of their greatest achievements, lifting the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1972 when Rangers beat Moscow Dynamo 3-2 in the Final in Barcelona.

Waddell handed over the reins to Jock Wallace in 1972 and went on to serve the club as general manager, managing director and vice-chairman.

But the groundwork he had done was a major factor in the League, Cup and League Cup Trebles Rangers were shortly to win twice in the space of three years.

When he died in 1992, Waddell left behind an everlasting memory of a man who had given his all to return the club he loved to greatness.

Past managers - Jock Wallace

Jock Wallace is the only man to have been Rangers manager twice and, in the first of those stints, he had the unprecedented success of guiding his team to win two League, Cup and League Cup Trebles in the space of three seasons.

Wallace, born in Wallyford, Midlothian, had been a goalkeeper with Airdrie and West Bromwich Albion. He also played for Berwick Rangers, Hereford and non-League Bedford.

As player-manager at Berwick, Wallace was in goal the day they inflicted a humiliating 1-0 defeat on Rangers in the first round of the Scottish Cup in 1967.

The following year, Wallace became assistant manager at Hearts and in 1970 was drafted into Ibrox by Willie Waddell who made him his coach.

They formed a great partnership and shared in Rangers' spectacular 3-2 European Cup Winners' Cup victory over Dynamo Moscow in the Final in Barcelona in 1972.

Wallace's training methods were demanding. He was a hard man, a fitness fanatic who had fought as a commando in the jungles of Malaysia. The players found themselves running up and down huge sand dunes at Gullane.

But the hard work paid off. Not just in the honours that were won, but a large number of those players went on to have long careers as a result of the fitness levels achieved under Wallace.

Wallace was appointed team manager in the Summer of 1972 and won the Centenary Scottish Cup beating Celtic 3-2 in the Final in his first season in charge.

Then in 1974-75, Rangers won the Championship for the first time in 11 years. Next season they made it a clean sweep with the Treble, which they repeated in 1977-78.

Wallace was a man who went out of his way to foster team spirit. He believed there was nothing more important at the club than the team.

But having won those two Trebles in three years, Wallace stunned the fans by resigning after a dispute with Waddell and the Rangers board.

Wallace took over at Leicester City, winning them promotion to the old Football League First Division and a place in the FA Cup semi-finals.

He came back to Scotland in 1982 in charge of Motherwell and rejoined Rangers the following year when his successor at Ibrox, John Greig, stepped down as manager.

Though winning two League Cups, Rangers were not a force in the Championship and Wallace's second term as manager came to an end in April 1986.

He went on to manage two other clubs, Seville, in Spain, and Colchester United.

Wallace, who died in 1996, had been one of Rangers' great leaders and stood supreme as a motivator of men.

Past Managers - John Greig

John Greig was one of the greatest of all Rangers players and the only one to step up from the dressing room straight into the manager's office.

During his 18 years as a player, Greig had been a massive figure at Ibrox. He was an inspirational captain who had lifted the European Cup Winners' Cup, beating Moscow Dynamo 3-2 in the Final in 1972. He had played in three Treble winning sides.

His honours with Rangers included five Championships, six Scottish Cups and four League Cups. He had captained his country and won 44 caps. In short, he had done it all.

Greig, a skillful and versatile player who had turned in top performances at full back, wing half and inside forward during his career, had experienced the glittering prizes early in life. But he had also known the lean years.

When times had been difficult and Celtic were enjoying success under Jock Stein, Greig had seen it through. As captain of Scotland he was a target for top English clubs, but Greig stayed with Rangers.

That loyalty and his strength of character meant that he more than anyone came to embody the spirit of Rangers. He commanded enormous respect for his playing ability and for his passionate will to win, qualities close to the hearts of the supporters.

And so in May 1978, with the season just finished, Greig had set off for the golf course to relax with his team-mate Sandy Jardine. Rangers had achieved a clean sweep of the League, Cup and League Cup for the second time in three seasons, making Greig the only man ever to win three Scottish Trebles.

But what neither player knew was that the manager who had led them to those honours, Jock Wallace, was about to quit.

Greig took a phone call from Willie Waddell at the golf course and was offered the job that day. His playing career was over. He had played 753 games for Rangers - second only to Dougie Gray - including a club record of 496 appearances in the Scottish League.

Greig set about the new challenge. He was a natural leader and a born fighter. What's more he lived for Rangers, believing the club's supporters to be the most passionate in the world.angers fans"

He went desperately close to repeating the Treble in his first season. Rangers won the Cup, beating Hibernian 3-2 at the third attempt, and the League Cup 2-1 against Aberdeen. But when leading the table they lost 4-2 at Celtic and the chance of the League had gone.

They had also enjoyed a good run in the European Cup, beating Juventus and PSV Eindhoven before going down 2-1 on aggregate to Cologne in the quarter-finals.

Rangers were to win another Cup and League Cup under Greig, but the team were unable to make an impression in the Championship.

He resigned in October 1983 and was replaced by previous manager Jock Wallace.

Greig, who received the MBE for his services to football, had been one of the most important and influential personalities in the history of the club and in 1990 he returned to Ibrox as public relations officer.

Folllowing the arrival of Dick Advocaat, Greig worked closely with the Dutchman as virtually part of the coaching staff. Alex McLeish also utilised Greig's experience in his early months.

He was made a director of the club on Boxing Day in 2003 and still works in the youth department at Murray Park.

Past Managers - Graeme Souness

Graeme Souness, Rangers' first player-manager, had already built a formidable reputation as a world class midfielder with Liverpool, Sampdoria and Scotland by the time he arrived at Ibrox.

He had experienced almost everything the game had to offer, World Cups, European Cup Finals and, especially, the habit of winning trophies at Liverpool. He won 54 Scottish caps and had captained both Scotland and Liverpool.

Souness succeeded Jock Wallace in April 1986 and set about conducting a revolution.

Up to that time Rangers, despite their European Cup Winners' Cup success, had been predominantly a Scottish team with Scottish players. Souness recognised that if Rangers wanted to be a major force in the global game of football things would have to change.

He set about breaking the mould, which included spending huge sums on transfers, capturing high profile stars with international experience such as Ray Wilkins and Trevor Francis and signing Mo Johnston who had played for Celtic.

He also reversed a 100-year-old trend of the best Scottish footballers leaving for England by enticing some of the top players in the Football League to head north of the border.

Among his captures were the England captain Terry Butcher, Chris Woods and Trevor Steven.

By changing the direction of the club in this way, Souness made it more attractive for other top names to come to Ibrox. Though at times a controversial figure, he had sent a signal that Rangers were intent on being one of Europe's top sides.

Souness revitalised Rangers and in his first season they won the Championship and the League Cup, beating Celtic 2-1 in the Final.

The revolution gathered even more pace after David Murray, the present chairman, bought the club in November 1988 and began to make available even greater sums of money.

Two more Championships were won, this time in successive seasons (1988-89 and 1989-90), and two more League Cup Finals, with victories over Aberdeen 3-2 in 1988-89 and Celtic 2-1 in 1990-91.

It was clear that Rangers were once again the dominant force in Scottish football.

Then in April 1991, with Rangers leading the League table with just five games left to play, Souness announced that he had accepted the position of manager at Liverpool.

Although it was his successor Walter Smith who completed the job of lifting the Championship, it was Souness who had done the work and Smith himself credits the title to Souness.

Souness had pointed Rangers along a new path and after he had gone, David Murray publicly credited him with "turning the big ship round."