45 Facts About Walter Smith

Walter Ferguson Smith was a Scottish football player, manager and director, primarily associated with his two spells as manager of Glasgow club Rangers.

Walter Smith took charge of the Scotland under-18 and under-21 teams, and assisted Scotland manager Alex Ferguson at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, after it had been announced that he would be moving to Rangers as assistant to Graeme Souness.

Walter Smith became the manager of Rangers in 1991, succeeding Souness.

Walter Smith won thirteen major trophies in seven years, including seven league titles in succession.

Walter Smith was in charge at Goodison Park for four seasons before he was sacked in 2002.

Walter Smith presided over a revival in their fortunes, taking the national team seventy places up the FIFA World Rankings.

Walter Smith won eight trophies during his second spell as Rangers manager and guided the team to the 2008 UEFA Cup final, before retiring from management in 2011.

Walter Smith is the second-most-successful manager in the history of Rangers, behind Bill Struth.

Walter Smith was born in Lanark, but grew up in the Carmyle district in the East End of Glasgow, and was a boyhood fan of Rangers.

Walter Smith was employed by the South of Scotland Electricity Board, and played youth football for Drumchapel Amateurs, before launching his football career in the 1960s with Junior League team Ashfield.

Walter Smith was one of three Ashfield players signed by Dundee United manager Jerry Kerr in 1966, joining the club in November shortly after teammates Jim Cameron and Gerry Hernon.

Walter Smith made his first team debut in a Scottish Football League match against Kilmarnock on 20 March 1967.

Walter Smith played for the Dallas Tornado in the United Soccer Association in 1967, when their roster was supplemented with Dundee United players.

Walter Smith remained a regular first-team player for United until 1974, often in central defence.

Walter Smith's future coaching mentor Jim McLean became manager in December 1971, and the following month his future managerial assistant Archie Knox became a teammate.

In September 1973, Walter Smith scored the only goal of the game as United defeated Dundee in the Dundee derby; he celebrated by kissing his boot, a gesture which he was later embarrassed by.

Walter Smith played less regularly the following season, and in September 1975 was sold to Dumbarton.

Walter Smith had played in 108 league games, scoring two goals, between 1966 and 1975.

Wilson worked alongside Walter Smith's father at a local steelworks in the village of Westburn, Cambuslang, and was a senior teammate at Dundee United.

Shortly afterwards a serious pelvic injury effectively curtailed Walter Smith's playing career at the age of 29.

Walter Smith appeared in 26 league matches during his second spell and, in total, made 183 senior appearances for Dundee United, scoring three goals.

Walter Smith developed his coaching skills as assistant manager to Jim McLean, at a time when Dundee United were Scottish champions and European Cup semi-finalists.

Walter Smith joined Dundee United's board of directors in 1986.

Walter Smith became coach of the Under 21 team, and was Alex Ferguson's assistant manager during the 1986 Mexico World Cup.

In late February 1986, Walter Smith attended a meeting the Gleneagles Hotel at which he was informed that Graeme Souness was to be appointed player-manager of Rangers, and the latter wanted Walter Smith as his assistant.

Walter Smith was initially placed in temporary charge of the first team whilst Souness negotiated his own release from his playing contact with Italian side Sampdoria.

When Souness left for Liverpool in April 1991, Walter Smith was appointed interim manager.

Walter Smith won the Scottish Cup and the League Cup three times each.

Walter Smith spent money on players only to discover that it was money the club did not have.

Under Walter Smith, Everton finished in the bottom half of the table for three consecutive seasons.

Walter Smith was replaced by David Moyes, who managed Everton to a safe finish in fifteenth place.

Walter Smith was appointed manager of the Scottish national team on 2 December 2004, succeeding Berti Vogts.

Walter Smith followed this up with the Scottish Cup a week later to end the season with a League and Cup double.

In December 2009, it was revealed that Walter Smith was to continue as Rangers manager without a contract when it expired the following month.

Walter Smith stated that it would be his last as Rangers manager, with McCoist to take control thereafter.

Walter Smith said that he was leading a consortium offering a deal to buy the assets from Green, but this offer was withdrawn days later.

On 11 November 2012, Walter Smith returned to Ibrox taking on a role with the new Rangers company as a non-executive director.

Walter Smith was appointed non-executive chairman in May 2013, but he resigned from the board in August.

Walter Smith was linked with a return to management as Scotland manager in February 2018, but he withdrew his name from consideration after discussions with the Scottish FA.

Walter Smith was married to Ethel, with whom he had two sons, Neil and Steven.

Walter Smith was a close friend of former Celtic player and manager Tommy Burns.

Walter Smith was a pallbearer at Burns's funeral in 2008.

Politically, Walter Smith described himself as a socialist and said he was brought up with "socialist principles".

Walter Smith underwent an unspecified medical operation in March 2021 that required him to stay in hospital.

Walter Smith died from cancer on the morning of 26 October 2021, aged 73.