Sir Alex Ferguson led the tributes on Tuesday to Walter Smith, the stalwart of Rangers and Scottish football, who has died at the age of 73.
‘I am absolutely devastated,’ said the Manchester United legend, who twice had Smith as an assistant — at Old Trafford and with Scotland. ‘Walter was a special person. He fought his illness with great courage.
‘He was a great friend of mine for years and years, I had him as my assistant at United in 2004, and he was also my assistant when Scotland went to the World Cup in 1986.
Sir Alex Feguson has paid tribute to his friend and former United assistant Walter Smith
Smith was alongside Ferguson when United beat Millwall in the 2004 FA Cup final in Cardiff
‘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 Manchester United was immense.’
Smith’s influence at United went well beyond his six months, with Ferguson previously revealing the role the former Everton boss played in persuading Wayne Rooney to join in 2004.
Rangers confirmed the death of their legendary coach who, across two spells in charge, led them to 10 Scottish Premiership titles, 11 cups and the final of the UEFA Cup in 2008. Between those stints he managed Everton and Scotland but spent his final months battling illness.
The pair were pictured together (centre) at a charity golf day in Scotland a matter of weeks ago
Yet as great a manager as he was, those who knew Smith hailed him for being one of the game’s true gentlemen and a family man.
Grief-stricken Ally McCoist said: ‘I could sit here and tell you about Walter Smith until the cows come home, about how good a manager, how good a coach, how good a football man he was.
‘But what I will say is he was the best husband, the best father, the best friend — everything you’d expect in a man. It’s a tragedy. I can’t tell you how devastated I am. Absolutely devastated.’
Smith was appointed Rangers boss in 1991 after acting as assistant to Graeme Souness, who had left for Liverpool.
Ally McCoist (right) has described the death of his second father Smith (left) as ‘devastating’
They oversaw a remarkable period of dominance — Rangers were crowned champions in nine consecutive seasons and won a domestic treble in 1993.
Speaking on talkSPORT, McCoist, who played in Smith’s 1990s Ibrox side and later became his assistant, continued: ‘However, the good thing is he’s not in pain. I went to see Walter recently. I spoke to him on Saturday and was going to see him again on Sunday but he was too unwell.
‘I know Graeme Souness was up seeing Walter at the weekend, too. We knew that sadly there was an inevitability about this horrible illness. We did know that it would be a matter of time. However, it still does not take away the pain.’
Paul Gascoigne, who Smith brought to Ibrox from Lazio, said: ‘I really looked up to Walter, he gave me something to smile about again with football and he supported me like a father figure while at Rangers. I will miss our frequent phone chats. I am thinking about Walter’s family at this sad time.’
Smith’s illness is being kept private, but he had an operation in March. His death comes in the same year Rangers secured their first top-flight title since Smith’s final season in charge in 2011.
Current Rangers manager Steven Gerrard said: ‘Thank you for all your wisdom, support and friendship. You meant the world to everyone at Rangers. You will be sorely missed.’
Steven Gerrard has told of the impact Walter Smith had on him since becoming Rangers boss
Rangers play Aberdeen at Ibrox tonight and the occasion will be used to celebrate Smith’s great contribution to the club and Scottish football as a whole.
Everton said it was a ‘very sad day for football’, and their former manager David Moyes added: ‘I looked up to Walter with so much respect. He was a true friend and mentor, and a man I feel privileged to have known.’
The Scottish FA described Smith as ‘one of the most successful managers in Scottish football history’.
Celtic expressed their sympathies and said he was a ‘tremendous servant to Scottish football’.
