Rangers have commissioned a statue of legendary manager Walter Smith on the first anniversary of his death. On October 26 of last year, Smith, a former manager of Scotland, Everton, and Rangers, passed away at the age of 73. Smith managed Rangers for two periods during which time the team won 10 titles, five Scottish Cups, six League Cups, and advanced to the 2008 UEFA Cup final. He continues to be the club’s second-most successful manager, behind Bill Struth. A statue celebrating Smith’s accomplishments will be erected by the club close to Ibrox’s Copland Road end.
“On the first anniversary of his demise, Rangers Football Club is delighted to announce that a statue of legendary manager Walter Smith has been commissioned in his honor,” a statement read. “Walter has contributed more to Rangers than anybody other in the modern era. He was the chairman as well as the manager and deputy manager. This new memorial at Ibrox Stadium’s iconic Copland Road end celebrates a former supporter who went above and beyond to live the American dream.”
The defender, who was born in Lanark, played for Dundee United for two of his first three seasons before spending the next two with Dumbarton. Smith began working with Jim McLean as a coach during his second stay at Tannadice, where he sustained a pelvic injury. In 1978 and 1982, respectively, Smith took over as Scotland’s under-18 and under-21 coaches. Later the same summer, he assisted Graeme Souness at Rangers after working as Alex Ferguson’s assistant at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
Smith was given the position full-time when Souness went to manage Liverpool in 1991 because he was the senior coaching presence on the touchline at Ibrox during Souness’ tenure as player-manager. Rangers matched Celtic’s streak of nine straight championships in 1996–97, but the following year’s disastrous European debut led Smith to declare he would leave the team at the end of the campaign to join Everton.
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