Alex Rae
Encyclopedia
Alexander Scott Rae, is a former professional footballer.
but was rejected by boss Graeme Souness
. He dropped down to junior leagues with Bishopbriggs
before he joined Falkirk
and enjoyed a successful two years before heading south to sign for Millwall
in 1990 for £100,000.
He made his Millwall debut on 25 August 1990. His form for Millwall earned him a big money move to Premier League Sunderland
for £1 million in 1996, where he established himself as a crowd-pleasing, combative midfielder. His career took a downturn though, as he descended into alcoholism, leading to him attending a rehab clinic during 1998. He stayed sober after this treatment and further rehabilitation, and later became a patron for the Sporting Chance clinic
.
Back on the field, he won promotion as champions back to the Premier League with Sunderland
in 1998–99 and played regularly in the top flight. By 2001, he had dropped out of manager Peter Reid
's plans and was sold to Wolverhampton Wanderers
in September 2001, for £1.2 million.
He quickly became an important player for Wolves, winning the fans' player of the season award in his first campaign. The following year, he helped them back into the Premier League when they won the play-offs in 2003
. He had a strong year in the top flight, finishing as the club's leading scorer with 8 goals – his best ever seasonal tally – but could not prevent the club's relegation.
Rae re-signed for Rangers
in May 2004, and won the league title in his first season, scoring once in the process against Dunfermline. He only featured 12 times in his second season, however, and was later released by the club.
He was appointed as player/manager of on 24 May 2006. He led the club to third place in the First Division
in his first season and took them a place higher in his second. He gave up playing for the 2008-09 season but was sacked on 20 October 2008 with the team in eighth place in the league. Following this, Rae travelled to Sweden as part of his work towards a UEFA Pro Licence.
In July 2009 he joined MK Dons
, on a temporary basis with a view to a permanent deal, as first team coach working under Paul Ince
.
In 2010 Rae made a return to competitive football to cover for injuries. On 29 October 2010 Rae joined Notts County
as assistant manager until he left the club following the departure of manager Paul Ince
on 3 April 2011.
Career
Rae started his career as a youngster at boyhood heroes RangersRangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
but was rejected by boss Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness
Graeme James Souness is a Scottish former professional football player and manager.Souness was the captain of the successful Liverpool team of the early 1980s and player-manager of Rangers in the late 1980s as well as captain of the Scottish national team. He also played for Tottenham Hotspur,...
. He dropped down to junior leagues with Bishopbriggs
Bishopbriggs
Bishopbriggs is a town in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. The area was once part of the historic parish of Cadder - originally lands granted by King William the Lion to the Bishop of Glasgow, Jocelin, in 1180. It was later part of the county of Lanarkshire and subsequently an independent burgh from...
before he joined Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
and enjoyed a successful two years before heading south to sign for Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
in 1990 for £100,000.
He made his Millwall debut on 25 August 1990. His form for Millwall earned him a big money move to Premier League Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
for £1 million in 1996, where he established himself as a crowd-pleasing, combative midfielder. His career took a downturn though, as he descended into alcoholism, leading to him attending a rehab clinic during 1998. He stayed sober after this treatment and further rehabilitation, and later became a patron for the Sporting Chance clinic
Sporting Chance clinic
The Sporting Chance Clinic is a registered British based charity, first set up by former Arsenal and England football captain Tony Adams to provide a specialist addiction and recovery facility for sportsmen and women....
.
Back on the field, he won promotion as champions back to the Premier League with Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
in 1998–99 and played regularly in the top flight. By 2001, he had dropped out of manager Peter Reid
Peter Reid
Peter Reid is an English football manager, pundit and retired player, who is currently without a club since his departure from Plymouth Argyle.A defensive midfielder in his playing days, Reid enjoyed a long and successful career...
's plans and was sold to Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in September 2001, for £1.2 million.
He quickly became an important player for Wolves, winning the fans' player of the season award in his first campaign. The following year, he helped them back into the Premier League when they won the play-offs in 2003
2003 Football League First Division playoff final
The 2003 Football League First Division playoff final was a football match played at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on 26 May 2003, at the end of the 2002–03 season...
. He had a strong year in the top flight, finishing as the club's leading scorer with 8 goals – his best ever seasonal tally – but could not prevent the club's relegation.
Rae re-signed for Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
in May 2004, and won the league title in his first season, scoring once in the process against Dunfermline. He only featured 12 times in his second season, however, and was later released by the club.
He was appointed as player/manager of on 24 May 2006. He led the club to third place in the First Division
Scottish Football League First Division
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
in his first season and took them a place higher in his second. He gave up playing for the 2008-09 season but was sacked on 20 October 2008 with the team in eighth place in the league. Following this, Rae travelled to Sweden as part of his work towards a UEFA Pro Licence.
In July 2009 he joined MK Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
, on a temporary basis with a view to a permanent deal, as first team coach working under Paul Ince
Paul Ince
Paul Emerson Carlyle Ince is an English football manager and a former professional player. He has managed Blackburn Rovers, Milton Keynes Dons and Macclesfield Town...
.
In 2010 Rae made a return to competitive football to cover for injuries. On 29 October 2010 Rae joined Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
as assistant manager until he left the club following the departure of manager Paul Ince
Paul Ince
Paul Emerson Carlyle Ince is an English football manager and a former professional player. He has managed Blackburn Rovers, Milton Keynes Dons and Macclesfield Town...
on 3 April 2011.
Managerial stats
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Dundee Dundee F.C. Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from... |
 |
24 May 2006 | 20 Oct 2008 | 97 | 42 | 22 | 33 | 43.29 |