It’s impossible to find the words to describe the passing of a man who meant so much to so many, not only that, but one who was hugely respected across the footballing community.
Walter Smith is the definition of a legend.
Ten league titles.
Five Scottish cups.
Six Scottish league cups.
He came closer than any other Rangers manager to repeating the feat of the Barca bears in 1972, agonisingly close to the Champions League final in 1992/93 as well as the titanic run to Manchester in 2008.
But he was more than “just” a good manager.
After Rangers announced the news of his death following a long battle with illness, tributes flooded in from all over football, clubs, former colleagues, former players, all devastated to lose a figure from their lives who proved that allegiances don’t matter when you set standards that others should follow – respect, integrity, honesty.
Smith was a hard man, but he was also a fair man, players knew where the line was with him and knew not to cross it, they would run through brick walls for him – nobody wanted to let him down.
It can be debated where Smith lies in the pantheon of Rangers greats, but what isn’t up for debate is his status in the club’s modern history, the 50,000 who fill Ibrox every other week either grew up with him winning titles on the way to 9-in-a-row or when he returned for an even more impressive second spell, against all odds, and the harshest of financial restrictions.
Walter Smith is the embodiment of what it is to be a Ranger and our club is the better for having had him lead us for so long, a great manager, a great man.
Walter Smith, 1948-2021. Rest in peace.