Walter Smith


1948 - 2021

Football manager. Born in Lanark, Smith grew up in Carmyle in the East End of Glasgow. He trained as an electrician and worked for the South of Scotland Electricity Board before embarking on a career in football in the 1960s. He played as a defender for Dundee United (1966-75 and 1977 - 1980), punctuated by two years with Dumbarton. His second term in Dundee followed an injury which threatened to terminate his career, but he was involved in coaching, under Manager Jim McLean (b.1937), as well as a player.

In 1986, Smith was invited to become Assistant Manager of Rangers, under Graeme Souness, and then served as Manager from 1991-98, bringing a remarkable period of success. He then spent an unsuccessful four years with English team Everton, undermined by his Board. He served briefly under his friend Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2004, but then took on the Scottish National team (2004-06) with some success, promoting Scotland seventy places up the FIFA international rankings. He returned to Rangers in 2007, with Ally McCoist as Assistant Manager. Smith was awarded an OBE in 1997 and retired in 2011, having presided over the winning of eight trophies in four years. He was succeeded by Ally McCoist.

Smith lived in Helensburgh. His funeral cortege drove past a large crowd outside Ibrox Stadium and memorial service was held at Glasgow Cathedral.


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