In the first of our four part serialisation of Ally McCoist's new book Dear Scotland, he reflects on his relationship with legendary manager Walter Smith. The pair had enjoyed a trophy-laden partnership when the then-striker played for Rangers but many years later, Smith had been appointed Scotland manager and was looking for an assistant.
I had been doing my media work for several years, and was enjoying being a team captain on A Question of Sport, when Walter called and asked me out for a pizza and a glass of wine. Halfway through, he told me he had the Scotland job and asked if I would like to come along and help him.
Now, it was Walter who had firmly encouraged me and Durranty to get our coaching badges. Like a father telling his sons to get a paper round, Walter was adamant that it was for our own good, and with his goading we both got them all, right up to UEFA Pro Licence.
With those qualifications, I presumed Walter was asking me to help with the Under-16s or other kids’ groups. That would have been great, but when he told me he wanted me to be one of his assistants with the seniors, I was flabbergasted. Where did I sign?
Walter, in his wonderful way, told me to think about it. He said to go away for a week, that I had great media work, stuff I could still do, but that I was good at it, I could have a career at it, and I shouldn’t rush into any decision that I might later regret. Typical Walter. Always thinking of others. Suffice to say that a week later, I emphatically said yes.
Working alongside Walter, I learnt more and more about the man. I was learning every day on the training pitch with him, but watching him closely as his assistant, I got a feel for the real class of the man. Small things like noticing he would always present the opposing national team’s manager or coach with a beautiful bottle of whisky in a case. It had nothing to do with the Scottish FA, it wasn’t a gimmick, but Walter organised it himself. He bought the bottle and it was just something he wanted to do. It was as if he was so proud of the country and its products, he wanted to show it off in the form of a gift. Class act.
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To work with Walter and to enjoy nights like the France victory, it was magic. Knowing what it meant to him, seeing how well he worked with the players and to reap some kind of reward from that, was everything. So, when Rangers came knocking in 2007 and Walter asked me to join him; well, I was never going to say no.
Once again, we had some great times at club level and Walter built a team capable of competing with the best. I remember a game in the Champions League against Frank Rijkaard’s Barcelona in 2007. They were some team and the greats who would play under Pep Guardiola were there: Andrés Iniesta, Xavi, Lionel Messi was coming through.
Then there was the likes of Ronaldinho and Henry in amongst them too. They came to Ibrox and Walter had the lads organised and committed, and we kept it goalless. I’ll never forget, right at the end of the match they had the ball, but Rijkaard was gesturing to his team to keep it, and to see out the time. ‘We’ll take the draw.’ Rangers made it to the final of the UEFA Cup that season, a special achievement and one that meant so much to Walter.
Not that he always kept right up with affairs. We played Fiorentina for the semi-final in Florence that went to penalties. Walter would not get involved in picking the penalty takers. ‘You do it,’ he’d say to me and Kenny McDowall. When he asked later who was taking them, I gave him the five.
We missed our first but then started scoring, and Fiorentina, including seasoned internationals like Christian Vieri, missed a couple. Nacho Novo, our Spanish forward, began his walk to the spot. Walter turned to me and said, ‘What’s the score?’ I thought he was winding me up and smiled nervously. ‘I’m nae kidding, what’s the score?’ ‘I’ll tell you now,’ I said, ‘if wee Nacho scores this penalty, you’re about to find out the score.’
That joy turned to deep concern when some years later, Walter sat me down for a chat and told me he had cancer. As usual, he was worried about the people he was telling, remaining upbeat and keeping that sense of humour, and as the months passed – with the operation seemingly a success – we hoped that he had rid himself of it. But the cancer came back, and in the autumn of 2021, we received the news that he had died.
I was working at talkSPORT, doing the breakfast show, when I saw I had a missed call from Steven, Walter’s son. I knew what was coming. I’d been to the hospital and at the house to see him, and so knowing how unwell he was, I took myself away to make the call back. Silence. It is hard to know what to say, but knowing just how much Walter adored his wife Ethel, his kids and his grandkids, and the severe grief they were now going through, my thoughts were immediately with them. Neil and Steven are two chips off the old block, the best company like their father, and I am so pleased to call the whole family friends.
In the spring of 2024, Rangers unveiled a statue of Walter Smith. It depicts the man beautifully, and is the perfect tribute to all that he gave to the club and to the game. It stands on the corner of the Copland Road stand, a spot that Walter first strolled along with his grandad Jock to see the club they loved, and one that he would serve so well.
Walter served the whole country in so many different ways, and all the achievements, the titles and the medals that he accumulated will always be there to remind us of what he did. They are not what really matter, though. Not in the long run. At Walter’s memorial service, I was honoured to be asked to say a few words.
In conclusion, I quoted the great American poet and activist, Maya Angelou, who wrote, ‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’
Today, I can think about my friend and whilst the pain of not having him with us remains, it subsides as I close my eyes and think of everything he was to me in my life. I can think of Walter and I can remember how he made me feel. Special.
You can purchase a copy of Ally McCoist's new book here.
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