Walter Smith: Scottish soccer player and manager (1948-2021)
Walter Smith, OBE (24 February 1948 – 26 October 2021) was a Scottish football player, but was better known as a football manager.
He was the manager of Scottish Premier League club Rangers, his second spell in that capacity with the club.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Walter Smith | ||
| Date of birth | 24 February 1948 | ||
| Place of birth | Lanark, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 26 October 2021 (aged 73) | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1966-1975 1975-1977 1977-1980 | Dundee United Dumbarton Dundee United | ||
| Teams managed | |||
| 1991-1998 1998-2002 2004-2007 2007- | Rangers Everton Scotland Rangers | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only | |||
Early life and career
Walter Smith was born in Lanark, South Lanarkshire, and grew up in Carmyle in the east end of Glasgow as a boyhood fan of Rangers. He trained as an electrician and gained employment at the South of Scotland Electricity Board before launching his football career in the 1960s with Junior League team Ashfield.
Smith signed as a defender with Dundee United in 1966, joining as a part-timer while working as an electrician. He was a decent player rather than a gifted one. In September 1975 he moved to Dumbarton, but returned to United in 1977. At the age of 29, a pelvic injury threatened his career and he was invited to join the Dundee United coaching staff by Jim McLean. His first team appearances were limited thereafter, but he remained a signed player and his final club match was in September 1980. In total, he made over 250 senior appearances, scoring three goals.
Death
In March 2021, Smith was hospitalized and had surgery for an unknown illness. Smith's death was announced on 26 October 2021. He was 73.
References
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