THE titles and the trophies tell the stories of Walter Smith’s Rangers career. His two stints at Ibrox – and one with Scotland – mean just as much in memories.

Our game has lost one of its greats, a legendary figure who brought success to his club and who gave his country hope. His efforts, like his legacy, will never be forgotten.

Smith won ten league titles, five Scottish Cups and six League Cups at Rangers. He would manage Everton and Scotland and was assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

His record speaks for itself. Here, Herald and Times Sport picks out five key moments from a legendary managerial career that marks Smith as one of the greatest of our game.

 

LEADS RANGERS TO TITLE AFTER SOUNESS EXIT

It was an era of big money and even bigger names as Graeme Souness revolutionised Rangers and changed Scottish football forever.

The signings of Chris Woods, Terry Butcher and Maurice Johnston were integral to the success, but it was Smith that Souness ranked as his most important acquisition.

The partnership between Souness and Smith had clicked instantly when the latter arrived from Dundee United to take his place in the Ibrox dugout.

Such was Smith’s tactical nous and standing with the squad, when Souness brought a premature end to the relationship and returned to Liverpool there was little change at Rangers.

A 2-0 victory over Aberdeen on the last day of the campaign clinched the title and Smith wouldn’t look back as Rangers racked up the silverware in the years that followed.

Smith had played such an important part of the success under Souness. This was proof, not that any was needed, that he was his own man, though, and more than capable of adding to his medal collection.

 

DOMESTIC DOMINANCE AND EUROPEAN HEARTACHE

The 1992/93 campaign will go down as one of the finest in Rangers’ illustrious history. It could have been even better, however.

The Treble – the fifth that Rangers had won – was clinched as Aberdeen were overcome in the Premier League and beaten in the finals of both cup competitions.

With Ally McCoist leading the line, Smith’s side were a formidable outfit and that team is still fondly remembered today for both its class and its mentality as Rangers swept the board in Scotland.

In Europe, it was a case of so near yet so far unfortunately and missing out on the Champions League final must have been one of Smith’s most profound regrets as a manager.

The epic Battle of Britain wins over Leeds United stand out amongst the most impressive and memorable of his tenure, but the controversy over Marseille’s involvement in a match fixing scandal later cast a shadow over the tournament.

It wasn’t to be for Rangers but Smith’s star-studded side had proven themselves at home and abroad during a remarkable campaign.

 

CLINCHES NINE-IN-A-ROW

What Souness had started, Smith completed. The history books were rewritten and Rangers had their place amongst Scottish football’s greatest sides.

Memories of that night at Tannadice will never fade for the supporters that revelled in an era of dominance for Rangers and the heroes that made it happen are still revered to this day.

Smith was the most important figure of all. He had evolved his squad throughout the run into the 1996/97 campaign and this was his finest moment.

A Brian Laudrup header won the title for Rangers and an emotional Richard Gough cherished the trophy as Smith savoured his crowning glory.

There would be no tenth league flag and no fairy tale ending for Smith or the players that had given so much during a golden age for Rangers.

That failure and the manner of his exit from Ibrox would undoubtedly have hurt Smith but he had achieved something historic with a wonderful squad. These were special times for Rangers.

 

RESTORES SCOTLAND’S NATIONAL PRIDE

When his country needed him, Smith answered the call. Ultimately, Rangers would tempt him away again before the job was finished.

Scotland found themselves at a disastrously low ebb when Smith was appointed as manager in 2004 and his first success was in uniting a country that was disillusioned after the failures of the Berti Vogts regime.

A defeat to Belarus at Hampden would bring a sour end to the bid for World Cup qualification in 2005 but Scotland would rise some 70 places up the rankings as Smith’s nous as a tactician and a man manager came to the fore at international level.

The Tartan Army were daring to dream when France were beaten at Hampden and the scenes that evening – as victory was secured thanks to a solitary Gary Caldwell goal – gave hope that Smith was on to something special.

A 2-0 defeat to Ukraine followed before a return to Rangers proved too great an opportunity for Smith to turn down.

He had left Scotland in a far better place than where he found them but the wait would frustratingly continue at Hampden as Smith brought silverware back to Ibrox.

 

RETURNS TO IBROX TO ADD TO HIS LEGACY

The old cliché states that it never works second time around and that managers or players should never go back to the club where they hold legend status. That didn’t apply to Smith.

Three league titles, two Scottish Cups and three League Cups would follow as he came agonisingly close to UEFA Cup glory in Manchester.

Against the backdrop of cutbacks and financial pressures, Smith’s achievements second time around were incredible. These triumphs were very different from his first spell, but they meant just as much to a support that idolised him.

That run to Manchester gave fans such wonderful memories as the likes of Werder Bremen, Sporting Lisbon and Fiorentina were overcome. In the end, Zenit St Petersburg proved too strong.

Smith would bow out in style three years later. The League Cup was won with Old Firm victory at Hampden, while the title was clinched in emphatic fashion at Rugby Park.

The sight of Smith taking the acclaim of the Ibrox crowd one final time was an emotional and special one. Today, it is even more poignant.