World of football’s tributes to a true giant of the game
TRIBUTES have been paid to Scottish football legend Walter Smith following his death at the age of 73.
The former Scotland, Rangers and Everton manager was said to have been ‘battling’ an unspecified illness before his death.
Smith led Rangers to ten top-flight titles, five Scottish Cups, six League Cups and to the Uefa Cup final in 2008.
Yesterday football stars, politicians and clubs paid tribute to him as they recounted his successful career and impact on Scottish football.
Rangers chairman Douglas Park said Smith’s family were in the ‘thoughts and prayers’ of everyone at the club, as he offered his deep condolences.
He said: ‘It is almost impossible to encapsulate what Walter meant to every one of us at Rangers. He embodied everything that a Ranger should be.
‘His character and leadership was second to none, and will live long in the memory of everyone he worked with during his two terms as first-team manager.
‘I spoke with Walter last weekend. Even when he was battling illness, he was still able to provide advice and support. For that, I am personally grateful.
‘I know that he continued also to maintain dialogue with senior members of staff, including our manager, Steven Gerrard.’
‘Man with great moral compass’
He added: ‘Walter was a friend to many, a leader, an ambassador and most of all, a legend.’
The club held a minute’s silence in training yesterday morning, with a photograph posted online showing players and staff bowing their heads during the moment of remembrance.
Former Rangers striker Ally McCoist, who was a key player during Smith’s first reign at the Ibrox helm and was assistant manager for his second stint, spoke of his devastation.
He told talkSPORT: ‘He was my boss, my coach, my second father and then turned into one of my best friends.
‘The loss is absolutely incredible. The good thing is he’s not in pain. I went to see Walter recently, I spoke to him at the weekend and we knew that it would be a matter of time. But it still does not take away the pain and the grief.’
He also said Smith was ‘the best husband, father, friend, everything you want from a man’. He added: ‘I can’t tell you how devastated I am.’
A former Dundee United and Dumbarton defender, Smith was appointed manager at Ibrox in 1991, succeeding Graeme Souness after working as his assistant manager.
He won 13 major trophies in seven years, including seven league titles in succession, before leaving at the end of the 1997-98 season and subsequently joining Everton.
He stayed at Goodison Park for four seasons before a brief stint as assistant manager to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
Smith was appointed Scotland manager in December 2004 and was in charge until returning in 2007 to Rangers, where he won a further eight trophies before retiring in 2011 after completing another domestic double.
Sir Alex said he would miss Smith ‘greatly’.
‘I am absolutely devastated,’ he said, adding: ‘Walter was a special person. He fought his illness with great courage.
‘He was a great friend of mine for years and years.
‘In all that time you were dealing with a man with a great moral compass in how he lived his life and the friendship he offered so many people.
‘His contribution to football with Dundee United, Rangers, Scotland, Everton and Man United was immense.’
Scotland captain Andy Robertson tweeted: ‘Heartbreaking to lose another great of Scottish football. A man of wisdom, dignity and integrity whose legacy will live on.’
Liverpool and Celtic great Sir Kenny Dalglish posted: ‘Though we were on opposing sides on the pitch, he was a real footballing friend off of it. He was respected by all and one of the few able to transcend rivalries. We have lost a truly great man.’
Everton tweeted: ‘A very sad day for football. A man held in high regard by all his players.’
Nicola Sturgeon said Smith was ‘a true football great’, while former Prime Minister Gordon Brown called him ‘a gentle giant of Scottish football’.
Scottish Professional Football League chief executive Neil Doncaster said Smith had ‘an unparalleled reputation for integrity and character’.
Smith is survived by wife Ethel, sons Steven and Neil and his grandchildren.