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Ally McCoist MBE is a legend of Scottish football, known for his prolific goal-scoring at Rangers and later his successful managerial career.
In his 15 years at the club, Ally made nearly 600 appearances for Rangers and won over 60 caps for Scotland.
With 355 goals in 581 games, Ally remains Rangers record goal scorer. With almost a goal per match on average, Ally earned himself the nickname ‘Super Ally’. In 1994, Ally was awarded an MBE for services to football.
His goal-scoring record and remarkable consistency made him one of the most prolific strikers in Scottish football history and a legend of Rangers.
Ally retired from playing in 2001 and joined the coaching team at Rangers, serving as assistant manager before taking over as the club’s manager in 2011. Ally guided Rangers through a challenging period marked by financial difficulties and off-field turmoil.
Under Ally’s leadership, Rangers secured promotion from the Third Division (fourth tier) to the Scottish Premiership (top tier) in consecutive seasons, winning the Third Division in 2012–2013 and the League One title in 2013–2014.
Despite the challenges facing Rangers off the pitch, McCoist played a significant role in maintaining stability and fostering unity within the club during a turbulent period. His dedication to the club and his contributions during a challenging period are part of his enduring legacy as a Rangers legend.
Ally also established himself as a prominent football pundit and TV personality. His insightful commentary, cheeky personality, and deep knowledge of the game have made him a popular figure in the media, with work with Sky Sports, BBC Sport, ITV and Amazon Prime.
Ally is a popular after-dinner speaker, where he shares his passion for the game and takes his audiences on a journey into his world with an array of anecdotes and stories. He also talks about his invaluable qualities of leadership and teamwork and their importance to success in football but in a wider sense in life and business.
Ally’s passion for football blossomed at a young age, and he developed his skills playing for local teams before catching the attention of professional scouts. A lifelong Rangers fan, Ally attended his first Old Firm fixture as a ten-year-old in 1973.
He began his senior career at St Johnstone in 1979 before moving to Sunderland in 1981, where he made a name for himself as a goal-scoring forward.
In 1983 he was signed by the team he had supported since childhood, going on to become a household name with Rangers. Over the course of his 15-year career at the club, he etched his name into Rangers’ history books, becoming the club’s all-time leading goal scorer with over 350 goals in all competitions. Ally’s lethal finishing endeared him to Rangers fans and solidified his status as a club legend.
Ally’s deep connection to Rangers transcends his on-field achievements. Throughout his 15-years at the club, he demonstrated unwavering loyalty and commitment, becoming not only a star player but also a beloved figure synonymous with Rangers’ identity and values.
Ally also enjoyed success on the international stage, representing Scotland. He earned 61 caps for the Scottish national team, scoring 19 goals and demonstrating his ability to perform at the highest level.
Ally has made appearances on various television programmes predominantly as a football pundit, commentator, and analyst. Programmes Ally has has appeared on include BBC’s Match of the Day and Football Focus, Sky’s Sky Sports Football and Soccer Saturday, as well as entertainment programmes such as A Question of Sport, on which Ally was a team captain and The One Show.
Along with legendary commentator John Motson, Ally appeared as a commentator for the FIFA video games series by EA Sports.
1994 – MBE for services to football.
1996 – Inducted into the Scotland national football team roll of honour in March 1996, when he was awarded his 50th international cap.
2007 – Inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame
Ally has authored four books, first publishing Ally McCoist: My Story in 1992, followed by Ally McCoist’s Soccer Quiz Book the following year. In 1996, he co-authored Game for a Laugh: Ally McCoist and Ian Durrant’s Favourite Football Funnies.