Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthdate
1948-02-24
Day of Death
2021-10-26
Place of Birth
Lanark, South Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
Walter Smith
Biography
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. 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.
Filmography (44)
Walter: A Life in Football
2021
Glasgow Rangers 2009/2010 Season Review - 53 Rangers Ride Again
2010
Rangers Season Review 2008/09: Make It A Double
2009
Big Dunc: The Story of a Goodison Hero
2008
Walter's Return- Rangers Revitalised
2007
Dado Prso - Goodbye and Thanks
2007Davie Cooper: The Moody Blue
2005
Rangers FC: 101 Great Goals
2004
Dynamite - The Ian Durrant Story
2002
Classic Rangers Matches
2002
There's Only One Amoruso
2002
Jorg Albertz: The Hammer
2002
Gazza: The Ranger's Years
2001
The Jim Baxter Story
2001
