Walter Ferguson Smith
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Sports & Athletics • Historical Archive • 🇬🇧 Great Britain • 28 views

Walter Ferguson Smith 🇬🇧

Walter Smith (Known as "Walter Smith")
["football_manager","rangers_legend","scotland_manager","defender"]
Born Feb 24, 1948 🇬🇧 Lanark, Great Britain
Passed Away Oct 26, 2021 Glasgow, United Kingdom
Lifespan 73 years old
28 views
Notice / Correction
"I always thought the greatest honour of my career was simply being given the privilege to manage Rangers."

Archival Overview

Revered Scottish football manager who led Rangers FC to ten Scottish Premier Division titles (including completing the historic "9-in-a-row" in 1997 and reaching the 2008 UEFA Cup Final), and managed Everton and the Scotland national team.

Biographical Record

Walter Ferguson Smith was born in Lanark and raised in the East End of Glasgow, playing as a defender for Dundee United and Dumbarton before becoming Jim McLean's trusted assistant manager at Tannadice, helping United win the 1983 Scottish Premier Division. In 1986, he served as Alex Ferguson's assistant manager for Scotland at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, before joining Graeme Souness at Ibrox as assistant manager of Rangers.

Taking over as Rangers manager in April 1991, Smith forged one of the most dominant dynasties in British football history, winning seven consecutive league titles to equal Celtic's historic record of nine-in-a-row in 1997. After managing Premier League club Everton and revitalizing the Scotland national team, he returned to Rangers in 2007, leading them to three more consecutive league titles and the 2008 UEFA Cup Final in Manchester. With 21 major trophies at Ibrox, he was second only to Bill Struth in club history.

Key Life Milestones

May 7, 1997

Completion of Nine-in-a-Row with Rangers

Secured Rangers' ninth consecutive Scottish league championship with a 1-0 victory at Tannadice Park.

May 14, 2008

UEFA Cup Final in Manchester

Led Rangers to their first European final in 36 years at the City of Manchester Stadium against Zenit Saint Petersburg.

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial
Private (Memorial service at Glasgow Cathedral)
Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
GPS: 55.8617, -4.2583
View on Memory Atlas
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