Football Career 

Rodney Seymour Wallace began his career at Southampton as trainee in 1986 along with his twin brother Ray. Elder brother Danny had already become an established member of the Southampton first team. 

On 22nd October 1988, his two brothers Danny and Ray lined up alongside him in the Southampton team in a match at The Dell against Sheffield Wednesday; this was the first time three brothers had played in the same team in English professional top-flight football. 

He was quickly tipped for the top after some dazzling displays and eleven England Under-Twenty-one caps and a couple of ‘B’ caps followed. 

He enjoyed a fine career at Southampton forming an exciting young strikeforce with Alan Shearer and Matthew Le Tissier, which soon attracted interest from a number of bigger clubs.

Leeds won the race to sign him, a tribunal setting the £1.6 million fee in July 1991. He helped them win the old First Division championship and Charity Shield competition a year later.

Rod won the 1993–94 Goal of the Seasoncompetition with a dribble against Tottenham Hotspur in a Premier League game on 17 April 1994. His brother, Danny, had won the same award 10 seasons earlier, making them the first and, to date, only brothers to gain the accolade. 

His career then went North of the Border and he added more silverware to his collection playing for Rangers. In his first season, he won the domestic treble, finishing as top scorer with 27 goals and scoring the winning goal in the 1999 Scottish cup final win over Celtic, the first cup final to be played at the fully renovated Hampden Park. The following season he was part of the squad that won the league and cup double. 

Stints at Bolton and Gillingham followed. 

On his day little ‘Hot Rod’s darting runs could slice open any defence. His ‘Goal of the Season’ against Tottenham Hotspur in April 1994 ranks as one of the greatest solo goals ever seen at Elland Road. 

Rod’s New Beginning- His Phoenix

Like any professional footballer, Rod found the transition from football tough. He never thought about what he’d do after playing. Like so many former pro’s, he found it tough getting used to not playing football every day. But Phoenix has given Rod new purpose and meaning and he’s very positive about the future and how he wants to see Phoenix develop and grow. 

The formation of Phoenix Sport & Media Group sees Rod back reunited with his former Leeds United team-mate Brian Deane. The pair have remained close since their playing days. 

For Rod, the next generation are really important. Aside from wanting to help and mentor young players himself, he very much hopes to bring his daughter and son into the business in time and to make this very much a family business. As one of very few footballers who has had the experience of playing as part of the same team with his two brothers, family is everything for Rod. 

Rod will be promoting our company as an Ambassador and helping to shape the services we offer to players using the benefit of the experiences and knowledge he built up during his playing career. 

Rod and his brothers are big Formula One fans away from football and it was a memorable day for Rod and his family to visit Renault F1 recently with us and to take part in a pit stop challenge. 

Happy 50th Rod. We are proud to have you on our team and wish you a very bright future. 

Below : Rod at a family celebration with fellow Phoenix team members Ben Rees, Brian Deane and Michael Thomas