Walter Smith - 15 quick facts
Here are 15 quick facts about Walter Smith after he was offered the manager's job at Wolves.
1. Walter Smith was born in Lanark, Scotland, on February 24, 1948, which means he will celebrate his 64th birthday tomorrow.
2. He joined Dundee United as a defender in 1967, leaving for Dumbarton in 1975 before returning to Dundee two years later. In total, he made 178 senior appearances for Dundee United, scoring three goals.
3. Smith suffered a pelvic injury at the age of 29. It limited his appearances and he joined the team's coaching staff as a player/coach. His last match as a player was in September 1980.
4. Smith has a reputation for being a strict disciplinarian.
5. He was appointed coach of the Scotland Under 18 team in 1978 and helped Scotland to win the European Youth Championship in 1982. He then became coach of the Under 21 team.
6. Smith was Alex Ferguson's assistant manager during the 1986 Mexico World Cup. Ferguson later commenting: "There are few people in the game with his experience, knowledge and technical ability."
7. After the World Cup campaign, Smith became Graeme Souness's assistant manager at Rangers and was made manager in 1991 after Souness got the Liverpool job. Smith celebrated seven successive league titles, including the domestic treble in the 1992–93 season.
8. Smith signed Paul Gascoigne for Rangers from Lazio in 1995.
9. He won the Scottish Cup and the League Cup three times each, before retiring in 1997.
10. Smith was awarded the OBE in Queen's birthday honours in October 1997.
11. His retirement lasted all of a month before he was recruited by Everton to replace Howard Kendall. He was at the club from 1998-2002.
12. In 1998 Smith had threatened to consider his future at Everton after Duncan Ferguson told him he was to be sold to Newcastle.
13. After a two-year gap Smith returned to football as Alex Ferguson's assistant manager at Manchester United, in a short-term role which included United's FA Cup victory over Milwall in May 2004.
14. In December 2004, Walter Smith was appointed manager of the Scottish national team where he was to remain for two years, recording his most famous result with Scotland when they beat World Cup runners up France 1-0 in their Euro 2008 qualifying match at Hampden Park.
15. He was lured back to Rangers again in January 2007, and booked the team's first European final for 36 years, losing 2-0 to Zenit St. Petersburg in the UEFA Cup Final. Rangers claimed the SPL title in May 2009, following this up with the Scottish Cup a week later. He went on to guide Rangers to win the League Cup, and two more league titles, recording a world record 54th title.
