Walter Smith is a figure who is synonymous with Rangers Football Club, the standards, the beliefs and the desire to be the best.
He was more than just a manager though, and he was a man who was revered throughout the footballing world and trusted implicitly by heavyweight figures like Graeme Souness, Sir Alex Ferguson and Jim McLean.
Through his own efforts, Walter Smith earned the right to have his name mentioned in the same breath as some of the greats who preceded him in the Rangers hotseat and the unveiling of a statue has seen some familiar faces pay tribute to a true legend.
Walter Smith gets lasting Rangers legacy to be proud of
Smith’s family were in attendance as Douglas Jenning’s incredible work was revealed to a fan base that has longed for a memorial to the modern age’s finest manager and a man who touched the lives of thousands.
As part of the celebrations, the club collated the thoughts of numerous ex-players and individuals connected with Rangers and there is a consistent theme through all their comments:
“I think his legacy at the club goes down as the greatest Rangers manager that’s been and a statue would be a fitting legacy to his dedication working for the club.”
Steven Gerrard
“He gave many, many years to this football club, he loved the club, he was honest, he was genuine and he’s made me a better person.”
Philippe Clement
“He deserves it, also all the people that I met, they are so, so positive about him and how he was as a person and as a manager.
“So, I think it’s a really big thing and I think it’s a thing that all his family can be proud of to have something like that.”
“Obviously, he knew the game tactically, but what I think made the squad want to play for him – man management I would say.
“He was like a father figure.”
Richard Gough
“He was a marvelous man, very well respected.
“He was very humble, very humble.
“Defeat as well as victory, you could see he was upset and it never came out and never caused a big problem with anything.
“He was just very cool about everything.”
Walter Smith was a Rangers great in ever sense of the word
Legacy, honesty, father figure – three phrases that were said by several other contributors including Paul Gascoigne, Jorg Albertz and Lorenzo Amoruso.
He was, and still is, the father of Rangers for many fans today.
Walter Smith was a key figure in bringing Rangers back to the forefront of Scottish football and bringing unprecedented levels of success.
That his second spell was arguably more successful than his first says it all about how he adapted his methods with a smaller budget but retained the core qualities of being a decent human being who players would run through brick walls for.
The statue, of him taking the applause of those who loved him so much, was from an image of his last game as manager at Ibrox.
A fitting tribute for a man who was simply the best.
