Walter Smith
Actor
- Born
- February 24, 1948 · Lanark, South Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
- Died
- October 26, 2021 (age 73)
Walter Ferguson Smith (24 February 1948 – 26 October 2021) was a Scottish football player, manager and director, primarily associated with his two spells as manager of Glasgow club Rangers.
A defender, Smith's playing career consisted of two spells with Dundee United, split by a short time at Dumbarton. A pelvic injury caused his retirement from playing and Smith moved into coaching at Dundee United, working for manager Jim McLean. Smith also 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.
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Smith became the manager of Rangers in 1991, succeeding Souness. He won thirteen major trophies in seven years, including seven league titles in succession. After leaving Rangers at the end of the 1997–98 season, he was appointed manager of English Premier League club Everton. He was in charge at Goodison Park for four seasons before he was sacked in 2002.
After a brief stint as assistant manager to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, Smith was appointed Scotland manager in December 2004. He presided over a revival in their fortunes, taking the national team seventy places up the FIFA World Rankings. After a UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying, he resigned as Scotland manager in January 2007 to return to Rangers. He 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. Smith is the second-most-successful manager in the history of Rangers, behind Bill Struth.
Known for
Acting44
- 2021Walter: A Life in Football as Self
- 2010Glasgow Rangers 2009/2010 Season Review - 53 Rangers Ride Again
- 2009Rangers Season Review 2008/09: Make It A Double
- 2008Big Dunc: The Story of a Goodison Hero as Self
- 2007Walter's Return- Rangers Revitalised
- 2007Dado Prso - Goodbye and Thanks
- 2005Davie Cooper: The Moody Blue
- 2004Rangers FC: 101 Great Goals
- 2002Dynamite - The Ian Durrant Story as Self
- 2002Classic Rangers Matches as Self
- 2002
