Walter Smith: Last News

Billy Stark it was more like the end of the world.Twenty-four years ago this week Walter Smith’s depleted Rangers side escaped Celtic Park with the ugliest of 1-0 wins in a match marred by red cards, a furious ruck between Paolo Di Canio and Ian Ferguson and a controversial mock huddle.Stark was Celtic assistant to Tommy Burns in what was to be the final few weeks of their reign and recalls the miserable afternoon, played out in torrential rain, as “apocalyptic”.That victory, courtesy of an Ian Durrant tap in, as good as wrapped-up 9-in-a-row for Smith’s side.It also secured a clean sweep of league victories over Celtic that season - something which has never been repeated by a Light Blues side since.Get all the latest Celtic news sent

Walter Smith is recovering from an operation in hospital. The Ibrox icon underwent surgery earlier this week and is currently in recovery.

Walter Smith's side came within 90 minutes of a European trophy.Having secured a first league title in a decade, Steven Gerrard's side are looking to emulate that this term and they face Slavia Prague in the first leg of their Europa League last 16 tie on Thursday evening.And the former centre-back reckons this Rangers team can go all the way to the final, and may be even better than the team he played in.Cuellar told Marca: "It's a very aggressive team, very direct."They win it back and try to play very quickly.

Rangers spent four seasons out of the top flight. The former Rangers manager guided his side to nine straight titles - as did Celtic's Jock Stein in the 60s and 70s - and appreciates the level of consistency needed to do it.

Ally McCoist has lifted the lid on his jubilant drive back to Scotland as he celebrated Rangers' title victory.The Ibrox icon is a man in demand in the media world and he was south of the border for Amazon Prime's coverage of West Brom vs Newcastle while Celtic were slipping up at Tannadice.But the bore draw at The Hawthorns did little to dampen McCoist's mood as he revealed his poignant phone call with legendary former boss Walter Smith on the road home.The 58-year-old also spoke with former coaches Ian Durrant and Kenny McDowall as they toasted Steven Gerrard's side and their 55th title success.McCoist reminisced with those closest to him as he remembered the journey from League Two to prominence that he kicked off as manager.And the

Rangers to be champions again when Walter Smith led the club to their last league success a decade ago. And Steven Davis, part of that title-winning side, admitted a year ago he’d have been shocked if someone told him they’d be on the verge of glory with two months of the season left.

Walter Smith's and can emulate their European success.Steven Gerrard's men are undefeated in the Europa League this season and face Slavia Prague in the last 16.McManus believes they can beat the Czech champions and, with the right draw, emulate the final berth of 2008.And the pundit believes this vintage is even better than the side which lost to Zenit St Petersburg in Manchester.McManus said on PLZ Soccer: "I think this Rangers team is a better team than the Walter Smith team."I just think this team is a better side.

Rangers being contenders in the Europa League - only to be taken to task by Ibrox hero Kris Boyd.Steven Gerrard's side are unbeaten in Europe this season and put one foot in the last 16 with a dramatic victory over Royal Antwerp on Thursday night.That has fans dreaming of a run similar to Walter Smith's side of 2007-08, who went all the way to the final before losing to Zenit St Petersburg.But former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood is adamant that only only an English Premier League side can dream of lifting the trophy.Asked on Soccer Saturday to rank the favourites to go all the way he insisted: "Man United, then Tottenham, then Leicester and then Arsenal.

Rangers manager.When he left legendary Ibrox gaffer Walter Smith disappointed he knew all about it.Sometimes, it wasn’t that intimidating stare if you crossed a line with Smith.

Rangers manager with pride, but also a tinge of regret that he took charge in the most unusual and turbulent of times.The legendary striker took over from Walter Smith in the 2011/12 season but by February, owner Craig Whyte had put the club into administration.As the financial crisis engulfing the club deepened, the men from Govan ended up in Scotland's bottom tier and it was McCoist's job to bring them back.

Chris Sutton gave some of the young Celtic youngsters a cheeky put-down on the team bus back in the days of the under-21 rule.The controversial call during the Scottish Premier League era meant all top flight clubs had to include three under-21 players in their matchday squad of 18.The rule, which was introduced back in the 2008/09 while midfielder Ferry was breaking through the youth ranks at Parkhead, was opposed by both Old Firm managers Gordon Strachan and Walter Smith.Hoops' legend Sutton saw the funny side of change and Ferry revealed the Englishman had a quip ready for the youngsters on the Celtic team bus.Ferry told the Go Radio Football Show: “Back in the day you used to get a couple of boys who would sit in the stand, and I was

Brian Laudrup has confessed he thought a fever had removed him from his senses when Erik Bo Andersen bagged a double to sink Celtic.The big Danish striker struggled mightily at Ibrox but for one night he was the hero of Govan as his brace all-but ended Celtic 's title dreams during the 96/97 season.Tommy Burns' side were emboldened by the fact Laudrup was missing from the starting XI due to the flu as they went in search of all the three points in the Ne'er Day derby.But it wasn't to be as Andersen's heroics had Walter Smith racing down the touchline to join in with the jubilant celebrations.And 51-year-old Laudrup admits he was reaching for the thermometer when his compatriot climbed off the bench to secure a 3-1 win at Ibrox.Speaking to

Jim McLean saw him hang up his boots and start life as a coach. The iconic former Tannadice boss passed away on Boxing Day and leaves behind a legacy as the most successful manager in the club's history.

Celtic this weekend. Despite Steven Gerrard 's side holding an impressive 16-point lead over rivals Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership the former Ibrox midfielder is having flashbacks to the 1998 title collapse.

Jim Jefferies counted everyone of them.That was the amount of injury time added on by referee Willie Young as Rangers pounded Jefferies’ Hearts team in search of an equaliser that would have denied the Tynecastle boss the greatest moment of his career.The goal didn’t come and 22 years on from the 1998 Scottish Cup Final, Jefferies can laugh about it now.

Calvin Bassey through a 90 minute baptism at centre half against Falkirk. And his mind raced back a quarter of a century to the night Richard Gough did the same for him.

Steven Gerrard confessed he was feeling pain at the lowest ebb of his Rangers tenure, Walter Smith winced a little too.The Ibrox great could appreciate Gerrard’s torment at Tynecastle in the immediate aftermath of a game many felt might spell the end of a hitherto promising reign.Even with years of experience in the bank as a gaffer, Smith admits doubts and concerns can creep into the mind of the manager trying to regain a grip on the wheel.So imagine the agonies torturing Gerrard and the uphill task he stared at midway through only season two of the job he accepted at the outset of a new career.He stressed that questions of himself would feature in a pain-staking post-mortem of Scottish Cup defeat to Hearts.Many more deserved to be posed

Steven Gerrard will have drilled into his team that they have a FIVE point lead over Celtic - not the gap of 11 that the league table shows.Gerrard’s men suffered a spectacular second half of last season collapse to gift Celtic a 13-point championship lead by mid-March and, ultimately, Nine In A Row.Old Firm derby victories at the turn of the year in both of Gerrard’s campaigns in charge have proved to be false dawns as far as a title momentum is concerned.With Celtic’s Holy Grail of ’The Ten’ on the line, Rangers have set a ferocious early pace - and Smith senses they mean business this time.The former Gers boss has been hugely impressed to watch Gerrard steer Gers to an 11-point advantage after only 15 fixtures.Neil Lennon’s men have two

Davie Weir claims Rangers are finally ready to get their hands back on the Premiership trophy - for the first time since he lifted it for them almost ten years ago.Weir led Walter Smith’s team to the title at Rugby Park in 2011 before the Ibrox club was plunged into a catastrophic financial meltdown and a new start in the bottom tier of the SPFL.But Steven Gerrard’s side cemented pole position in this season’s race for the top flight with a derby day win at Parkhead on Saturday and now Weir believes his old club is finally ready to make a genuine claim on Celtic’s crown.

Rangers won back-to-back matches against Celtic at Parkhead.That was a quarter of a Century ago when a League Cup quarter final decided by a typical Ally McCoist winner was followed 11 days later by a colossal performance which laid the foundations for a crucial 2-0 Premier League victory.That set Walter Smith’s side on the way to an eighth successive title - a success that was built on the flair of Gascoigne, Miller and Laudrup on top of a steely determination to win at all costs.Twenty five years on and Miller reckons the same solid backbone combined with a sprinkling of individual brilliance in Steven Gerrard’s side could end their long wait for successive wins in the east end.And that would be a huge statement as they hit the quarter

Paul Gascoigne had even more natural ability than Cristiano Ronaldo. The former Scotland boss worked with both, with Gazza helping inspire his Ibrox side to Nine In A Row.