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Originally signed on a short-term deal, former Rangers midfielder Bob Malcolm went on to spend just over a year at Fir Park.
A product of the Rangers youth set up Malcolm made his Gers debut towards the close of the 1999'00 season as late substitute in a 3-0 win over Dundee Utd at Ibrox. With Rangers comfortably clear at the top of the table another substitute appearance followed before Bob got his first start in a 2-0 away win at Kilmarnock.
Rangers lost their grip on the domestic trophies the following season and several younger players were given an opportunity to impress as the Ibrox side rebuilt for the following campaign. Malcolm got nine appearances under his belt in the 00'01 campaign and also netted his first goal, that coming in the last minute of a controversial 2-1 win at Fir Park.
Again in 2001'02 Rangers found themselves some distance behind rivals Celtic in the title race and Bob made 8 appearances during the season.
Under Alex McLeish, Rangers roared back to form in 2002'03 and claimed a domestic treble with Bob enjoying his most successful season yet with the Govan club. A regular throughout the season Malcolm made 33 league and cup appearances claiming SPL and Scottish Cup Winners medals.
A less notable season for both player and club followed in 03'04 with injury limiting Bob to 17 league and cup outings as Rangers finished some way behind Celtic in the league but happier times were soon to follow in 04'05 as Rangers lifted the title in dramatic circumstances and Bob had another SPL and League Cup Winners medal to show for his efforts.
2005'06 proved to be Bob's last full season with the Glasgow giants and his last appearance came in February 2006 in a 1-0 defeat to Celtic, his 115th appearance for Rangers.
Though he remained on the books until September 2006, a change of management had seen Frenchman Paul Le Guen take the reigns at Ibrox and with opportunities limited Bob chose to move south to sign for Championship side Derby County.
Under former Motherwell boss Billy Davies, Derby were mounting a serious promotion challenge and before injury ended his season in February 2007, Bob made a dozen league and cup appearances for the Rams without tasting defeat in any of them.
By the time he had returned to full fitness Derby had won promotion, via the play-offs and were now a Premier League team.
Malcolm made one appearance in the League Cup and one in the Premier League against Liverpool at Anfield before being allowed to move to QPR to get regular first team football.
Between November and the start of January, Bob made 11 appearances for the Loftus Road side before returning to Derby.
Later in the month, Bob was allowed to leave the Pride Park club with Motherwell one of several teams linked with a move for the player.
No deal was done before the close of the January transfer window but with Malcolm a free-agent there was still scope for agreement to be reached and this Mark McGhee and Bob duly did in February 2008.
Malcolm spent the first few weeks of his 'Well career building up his fitness before making his Motherwell debut in a 1-0 loss to Hibernian, playing at right-back.
His second match was also in the same position against Dundee Utd before he switched to central midfield thereafter and where he made a solid if unspectacular contribution as 'Well closed in on a UEFA Cup place.
Making 8 appearances for the Dossers before the close of the season, the midfielder took time to weigh up his options in the close season before electing to re-sign for twelve months in time to travel to Motherwell's training camp in Austria.
Bob spent the early part of the season in and out the side as Mark McGhee used all the options available to him but proved his versatility by impressing on several occasions in central defence where he looked particularly at ease.
Malcolm has also offered some menace from set-pieces scoring a sensational late winner against Inverness in October 2008, setting up Chris Porter for 'Well's opener in the Lanarkshire derby the following Saturday and not long after another rasping strike at home to Hibs.
By this point however the team was on the slide, so much so that by Christmas 'Well were joint bottom. The return to fitness of Stephen Craigan and the introduction of Maros Klimpl into midfield saw Bob rendered surplus to requirements as both would go on to enjoy an excellent second half of the season.
It took Malcolm until the final match of the campaign to return to the side, when he replaced Klimpl, only to be later replaced himself before the game was out.
In total Bob made 24 outings for the Steelmen, netting three times, before deciding to continue his career in Australia with Brisbane Roar.
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D.O.B: 12/11/1980
Height: 6'
Weight: 14st 4Ibs
Signed From: Derby County
Sold To: Brisbane Roar
Position: Midfielder
International Caps:
0
International Goals: 0
2008/09 Squad No: 8
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