Ian McColl

Born 7 June 1927, Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire

Rangers Appearances (1945-1960) 526

Goals 14

Honours Won With Rangers

League Titles (7) – 1946/47, 1948/49, 1949/50, 1952/53, 1955/56, 1956/57, 1958/59

Scottish Cups (5) – 1947/48, 1948/49, 1949/50, 1952/53, 1959/60

League Cups (2) – 1946/47, 1948/49

Caps 14

THE word ‘legend’ is widely used without foundation these days; inappropriately attached to many who are undeserving of the accolade. However, it is entirely applicable when used to describe John Miller McColl, better known as Ian, who is without question one of the greatest players ever to ply his trade with Rangers.

McColl spent 15 years at Ibrox playing in 526 matches, scoring 14 goals and winning 14 major honours – seven league titles, five Scottish Cups and the League Cup twice. He played in the first Rangers team to take part in European competition and, having been an excellent international player who gained 14 caps, he became the Scotland manager in 1961 where he won 16 of 27 matches. However, the statistics don’t really tell the full story of someone who was not only magnificent player but a true gentleman.

Sadly, McColl passed away in October 2008 at the age of 81. He was one of the last remaining links to a golden era for Rangers in the aftermath of the Second World War when football boomed. The period was dominated by Rangers and Hibs. From 1946 until 1953 they had a stranglehold on the title; Rangers winning in 1946/47, 1948/49, 1949/50 and 1952/53 and Hibs triumphant in 1947/48, 1950/51 and 1951/52.

During those years of rivalry, matches between the sides were often billed as the Hibs Famous Five – Gordon Smith, Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, Willie Ormond and Eddie Turnbull – against the Rangers Iron Curtain of Bobby Brown, George Young, Jock Shaw, Ian McColl, Willie Woodburn and Sammy Cox. Though Rangers were far from toothless up front at the time, with Willie Waddell, Torry Gillick, Willie Thornton and Jimmy Duncanson among the forwards, during the ten-year period from 1946 to 1956 the defence conceded less than a goal a game – an almost unprecedented defensive record.

In those days the formation was 2-3-5 – two full backs, three half back and five forwards (two wingers, two inside forwards and a centre forward). McColl played at right half beside the mighty Woodburn, with Cox on the right with Young at right-back and Jock Shaw at left-back.

But McColl was not just a defender, he could play the game too, a fact that was lost on goalkeeper Brown, who, coincidentally, also became Scotland manager in his later years. He recalled: ‘I remember Ian was very strong in defence but he was also good on the ball and adept at turning defence into attack. My great memory of him was his fastidiousness at improving his passing. In those days training was basic and all we had was the running track around the pitch. Ian used to play one-twos against the wall and did other things to try to improve his game. He was very dedicated in that regard.

‘We had many fine moments in the league and the cups but my abiding memory is a bleak November day when we went to Methil to play East Fife, who were a powerful team at that time and regularly finished in the top five. The game had a 2pm kick-off to help the local miners in terms of their shifts. They would be down the pits at five that morning so they could see the game in the afternoon – a game that had been sold out for weeks. Ian was superb that day as Rangers won the match 2-1.

‘There is no doubt he was a great servant to Rangers. He didn’t have the greatest quality of life in his latter years and that saddened me.’

His last title triumph came in the 1958/59 season and though still club captain his role had become rather peripheral. He was, however, recalled for the 1960 Scottish Cup final as a replacement for the injured Harold Davis and was a steadying influence as two Jimmy Millar goals gave Rangers a 2-0 win over Kilmarnock.

He was still officially a Rangers player the following season when he was appointed manager of Scotland, a position he held for four years. One of his finest matches in charge was the 1963 clash with England at Wembley when Rangers legend Jim Baxter scored both goals in a 2-1 win. The victory was all the more remarkable as Eric Caldow broke his leg and Davie Wilson had to move the left-back as there were no substitutes in these days.

In 27 matches as Scotland manager he won 16 times which is undoubtedly a record to be proud of. But in 1965 he moved south to manage Sunderland, deciding to take Baxter’s mercurial talents with him. Sadly, the move was not successful as Slim Jim had started to have more fun off the field than on it.

Another Scotland manager, Walter Smith, remembers watching McColl in action, and summed up his 15 years at Ibrox, saying: ‘Ian was fantastic stalwart for Rangers as part of the Iron Curtain defence. He is someone I can remember coming to watch playing for the club when I was a boy and he later went on to have a successful career in management as well. Anyone who goes and plays over 500 games for Rangers has made a significant contribution to the club and Ian was no different.’

This article was originally posted here