Former Rangers goalkeeper and Scotland manager Bobby Brown has died aged 96, the Ibrox club have announced.
During his playing days, Brown was a member of the Light Blues’ famed Iron Curtain defence and he later went on to manage the national team to their greatest ever victory – the 1967 Wembley win over world champions England.
Rangers chairman Dave King said: “All of us connected with Rangers are deeply saddened to hear that Mr Brown, a genuine Rangers and Scotland legend, has passed away. Our thoughts are with Mr Brown’s family at this time.
“He was a wonderful servant of our club and we will remember him with great fondness. He was a gentleman of the game and set standards which typify what Rangers is about.”
Brown joined Rangers from Queen’s Park in 1946 and made 296 appearances for the club, keeping 109 clean sheets, as a part-timer as he combined football with life as a schoolmaster.
Bobby Brown 1923-2020 A genuine Rangers and Scotland legend. pic.twitter.com/NJ0BFTG1F8 — Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) January 15, 2020
He never missed a league game for six years, playing 179 consecutive matches during 1946 and 1952, and won three league titles, three Scottish Cups and two League Cups at the Light Blues.
Brown left Rangers for Falkirk in 1956 before later retiring and becoming manager of St Johnstone, leading the club to the top division, prior to his stint in charge of Scotland.
He was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
Scottish FA president Rod Petrie said: “I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Scotland player and manager Bobby Brown.
Everyone at the Scottish FA is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Scotland player and manager Bobby Brown. Bobby was in charge for Scotland's 3-2 victory over England in 1967 and will be sadly missed. pic.twitter.com/oEvJBIbDv8 — Scottish FA (@ScottishFA) January 15, 2020
“Bobby holds a special place in the hearts of all Scotland supporters. He not only played for his country, becoming the last amateur player to earn a cap for Scotland, but would go on to become the nation’s first full-time manager, a role he fulfilled for four years.
“Though he served his country with distinction throughout, he is probably best remembered for his first match at the helm of the national side, when he led the team to victory over the reigning world champions England at Wembley in an iconic match that has gone down in the annals of history for all Scotland fans.
“A true legend of the Scottish game, it was only fitting that he was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
“He will be remembered fondly by all Scotland fans and the thoughts of everyone at the Scottish FA are with his family at this difficult time.”
A minute’s silence will be held before Rangers’ Scottish Cup tie with Stranraer at Ibrox on Friday night.
