Willie Wallace

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Lore & Background

Wallace was known for a powerful shot with either leg, capable of scoring from 25 to 35 yards despite not being tall. He could also create chances for teammates and play in different positions. In the 1967–68 European Cup semi-final against Dukla Prague, manager Jock Stein tasked him specifically with man-marking star player Josef Masopust. After leaving Celtic in October 1971 alongside John Hughes for a combined fee of £30,000 to join Crystal Palace, he returned to Scotland less than a year later to play for Dumbarton before moving to Australia in March 1975.

In Their Own Story

In April 1961, Wallace moved from Raith Rovers to Heart of Midlothian for £15,000, expected to replace the legendary Alex Young. Although his scoring slowed initially under pressure, he settled into manager Tommy Walker's tactics by the 1962–63 season, becoming Hearts' top scorer until 1966. His form then dropped, leading to a surprise transfer to Celtic rather than Rangers for £30,000. At Celtic, he quickly became immortal as part of the Lisbon Lions in 1967. After five years in Glasgow, he moved to Crystal Palace with John Hughes but returned to Scotland within a year. He later played for APIA in Australia, winning two league titles, before retiring as a player in June 1977.

Reader's Guide

Willie Wallace's career spanned Stenhousemuir, Raith Rovers, Heart of Midlothian (1961–1966), Celtic (1966–1971), Crystal Palace, Dumbarton, and APIA in Australia. He won the European Cup with Celtic in 1967 and reached the final in 1970. His honours include five Scottish Division One titles, three Scottish Cups, two League Cups with Celtic, one Scottish League Cup with Hearts, and two NPL NSW Championships with APIA. Internationally, he earned seven caps for Scotland, including a victory over England at Wembley in 1967, and was inducted into the national Hall of Fame in 2017.

Did You Know?

• Wallace was nicknamed 'Wispy' during his time at Raith Rovers.
• In the European Cup semi-final against Dukla Prague, he was tasked by Jock Stein with man-marking world star Josef Masopust.
• He moved to Crystal Palace in October 1971 for a combined fee of £30,000 alongside teammate John Hughes.
• After retiring as a player in June 1977, he settled in Sydney and started his own sports shop.
• In July 2008, Wallace arranged a friendly match between Celtic and Brisbane Roar in Australia, which Celtic won 3–0.