Walter Smith grew up in Carmyle as a true blue Rangers supporter. So, after a modest playing career, it was almost beyond his belief that one day he would not only manage the club, but take them to their record-equalling run of Nine-In-A-Row Championships.

Smith joined Dundee United as a part-timer, playing as a defender in the 1960s while finishing his apprenticeship as an electrician.

He was, in his own words, an average professional and had a brief spell with Dumbarton before returning to Tannadice.

At the age of 29, a pelvic injury threatened his career and he was invited to join the Dundee United coaching staff by manager Jim McLean. He still continued to play in reserve team games and one of his team-mates was the young Richard Gough - later to be Smith's captain at Ibrox.

He became coach of the Scotland youth team and had been appointed assistant manager at Dundee United by the time they won their first Championship in 1982-83.

Graeme Souness brought Smith to Ibrox as his No.2 in 1986 and together they shared three League titles. When Souness quit with just five games to go in the 1990-91 season, Smith took the reins and continued the successful run.

He began to introduce his own players. Goalkeeper Andy Goram was his first signing, followed by Stuart McCall. Later, there would be international superstars such as Brian Laudrup and Paul Gascoigne. But the player who perhaps best symbolised the Smith years was Ally McCoist.

Super Ally had often sat on the substitutes bench when Souness was manager. Smith showed such faith in him that McCoist twice won the Golden Boot as Europe's leading goal scorer.

In his first full season in charge, Smith did the League and Cup Double. The next season he went one better and won the Treble.

During that Treble season of 1992-93, Rangers didn't lose for seven months. They went 44 games without defeat in all competitions, including a dazzling 10-match run in the European Champions' League, and came within 90 minutes of reaching the European Cup Final.

Smith's greatest achievement, however, was completing the Nine-In-A-Row Championships in 1996-97, which equalled Celtic's record. By coincidence, the ninth title was won at Tannadice against Dundee United where Smith had started his career.

During the Summer, Smith decided he would retire at the end of the next season. His decision was made public at the Rangers annual general meeting in October 1997.

Rangers, desperate to make it Ten-In-A-Row, finished runners-up in the Championship. But no Rangers manager has ever won so many trophies in such a short spell as Walter Smith, who was awarded the OBE for his services to football.

After an emotional farewell, Smith became manager of Everton.