Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson hails Walter Smith

[ian1964 10,416]

SIR Alex Ferguson believes the capture of this season's SPL title has confirmed Walter Smith as a Scottish managerial great.

 

The Manchester United legend took time to break from his own nerveshredding championship chase to hail the stunning achievements of the Ibrox gaffer.

 

Ferguson, who had Smith as his assistant at Old Trafford, is involved in a frenetic flag fight with Chelsea as his team chase glory.

 

However, the United supremo and godfather of management has hailed Smith after the Rangers boss extended his remarkable run of success.

 

The Light Blues manager added another championship crown to his CV after seeing his side defeat Hibs at Easter Road on Sunday.

 

Given the financial hardships and constraints he has had to work under, the success ranks as one of the Ibrox manager's most memorable.

 

Ferguson believes Smith's quality is evident for all to see and feels the Ibrox gaffer should now be judged as one of the country's best managers for his work.

 

Sir Alex told Record Sport: "First of all, you need to have ability and endurance to last such a long time as a manager.

 

"Even more so given the fact that he has had to manage Rangers with the unbelievable expectation and with pressures on him all the time.

 

"These are things that Walter has always had.

 

"He has ability, has always been a great coach and, when he reverted to management, he proved the step up was at the right time in his career.

 

"Walter has gone on to prove himself as one of the best managers in Scottish history.

 

"The number of trophies he has got, which I think is now 19, tells you that."

 

Ironically, Smith is at a decision time in his career at the same moment as speculation surrounds Sir Alex's future at United.

 

Ferguson has yet to commit on how long he will stay in the Old Trafford job, while Smith is also undecided as to whether to extend his period at Ibrox as the club gets set for a massive upheaval.

 

The Rangers gaffer will take a final decision at the end of the season or in the summer, but Ferguson says Smith has always enjoyed a love of the game which could play a part in swaying the decision.

 

Sir Alex added: "The most important thing is that Walter has always kept his feet on the ground.

 

"He has always had a great love of the game and never lost that.

 

"These are the qualities that you need to be successful."

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2010/04/27/man-utd-boss-sir-alex-ferguson-hails-walter-smith-86908-22215090/

[metlika 0]

I remember when it was Walter's 60th birthday, SAF wanted him to go on and win the title unfortunately it didn't happen.

[Super_Ally 0]

Na, he's just lucky that Mowbray was shit and that we got all the decisions.

[Gazza_8 233]

Quite right too. I didn't want WS back but hats off, although his style of football is horrible to watch, it wins matches.