Walter Smith Player Profile

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Player Details

  • Full Name: Walter Smith
  • Born: February 24th, 1948 (Lanark)
  • Died: October 26th, 2021
  • Height: 5' 11
  • Position: Defender
  • Signed: November 8th, 1966
  • First Manager: Jerry Kerr
  • Career Totals: 183 appearances, 3 goals
  • Also Played For: Ashfield, Dumbarton


Playing History

Season Win % Draw % Loss %
1983-84 - - - - - - -
1981-82 - - - - - - -
1980-81 3 0 0 0 33.3% 33.3% 33.3%
1979-80 3 (1) 0 0 0 25.0% 0.0% 75.0%
1978-79 7 0 1 0 57.1% 28.6% 14.3%
1977-78 1 (4) 0 0 0 80.0% 0.0% 20.0%
1976-77 17 (1) 0 0 0 33.3% 33.3% 33.3%
1975-76 2 0 0 0 100.0% 0.0% 0.0%
1974-75 19 (3) 0 2 0 54.5% 13.6% 31.8%
1973-74 48 (3) 2 2 0 47.1% 23.5% 29.4%
1972-73 15 1 1 0 33.3% 26.7% 40.0%
1971-72 20 (4) 0 0 0 25.0% 16.7% 58.3%
1970-71 21 0 0 0 47.6% 19.0% 33.3%
1969-70 5 (1) 0 0 0 33.3% 16.7% 50.0%
1968-69 2 0 0 0 0.0% 0.0% 100.0%
1967-68 2 0 0 0 0.0% 50.0% 50.0%
1966-67 1 0 0 0 0.0% 0.0% 100.0%
Totals: 166 (17) 3


 Apps = First Team Appearances (Sub Appearances) | Gls = Goals
 Cln = Clean Sheets | CtGR = Clean Sheets to Games Ratio | W/D/L - Games won, drawn or lost as percentage of games played in
 Yel = Yellow Cards/Cautions | Red = Red Cards/Dismissals

 Recent First Team Starts
 24/09/80 3rd Round 2nd Leg vs. Motherwell (H) 4 - 2
 20/09/80 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (A) 0 - 2
 17/09/80 1st Round 1st Leg vs. Slask Wroclaw (A) 0 - 0
 15/09/79 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (A) 2 - 3
 29/08/79 2nd Round 1st Leg vs. Airdrie (A) 1 - 2

 Recent First Team Goals
 15/09/73 Division One vs. Dundee (A) 1 - 0
 29/08/73 Sectional Tie vs. East Fife (H) 5 - 2
 21/04/73 Division One vs. Kilmarnock (H) 2 - 1

 List of Goals Scored (click to expand)
 15/09/73 Division One vs. Dundee (A)  1 - 0
 29/08/73 Sectional Tie vs. East Fife (H)  5 - 2
 21/04/73 Division One vs. Kilmarnock (H)  2 - 1

 List of Games Played (click to expand)
 24/09/80 3rd Round 2nd Leg vs. Motherwell (H)  4 - 2
 20/09/80 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (A)  0 - 2
 17/09/80 1st Round 1st Leg vs. Slask Wroclaw (A)  0 - 0
 15/09/79 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (A)  2 - 3
 01/09/79 2nd Round 2nd Leg vs. Airdrie (H)  2 - 0
 29/08/79 2nd Round 1st Leg vs. Airdrie (A)  1 - 2
 01/08/79 Semi Final vs. Celtic (N)  2 - 3
 14/10/78 Premier Division vs. Celtic (H)  1 - 0
 07/10/78 Premier Division vs. Rangers (A)  1 - 1
 30/09/78 Premier Division vs. Hearts (H)  3 - 1
 27/09/78 1st Round 2nd Leg vs. Standard (H)  0 - 0
 23/09/78 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (A)  3 - 1
 16/09/78 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (A)  1 - 0
 12/09/78 1st Round 1st Leg vs. Standard (A)  0 - 1
 26/10/77 3rd Round 2nd Leg vs. Arbroath (H)  2 - 1
 05/10/77 3rd Round 1st Leg vs. Arbroath (A)  4 - 0
 27/09/77 1st Round 2nd Leg vs. Copenhagen (A)  0 - 3
 03/09/77 2nd Round 2nd Leg vs. Partick Th (H)  1 - 0
 20/08/77 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (H)  2 - 1
 04/05/77 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (A)  1 - 1
 30/04/77 Premier Division vs. Kilmarnock (A)  2 - 1
 23/04/77 Premier Division vs. Rangers (H)  0 - 1
 20/04/77 Premier Division vs. Hearts (H)  1 - 2
 17/04/77 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (A)  0 - 4
 13/04/77 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (H)  2 - 3
 09/04/77 Premier Division vs. Partick Th (A)  0 - 0
 02/04/77 Premier Division vs. Ayr Utd (H)  0 - 1
 26/03/77 Premier Division vs. Celtic (A)  0 - 2
 19/03/77 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (H)  1 - 0
 16/03/77 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (H)  3 - 2
 12/03/77 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A)  1 - 0
 08/03/77 Premier Division vs. Rangers (H)  0 - 0
 05/03/77 Premier Division vs. Hearts (A)  1 - 1
 01/03/77 Premier Division vs. Partick Th (H)  0 - 0
 19/02/77 Premier Division vs. Kilmarnock (H)  4 - 0
 16/02/77 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (H)  1 - 1
 12/02/77 Premier Division vs. Rangers (A)  3 - 2
 13/09/75 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A)  3 - 1
 06/09/75 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (H)  1 - 0
 29/03/75 Division One vs. Aberdeen (A)  0 - 2
 22/03/75 Division One vs. Partick Th (H)  2 - 1
 15/03/75 Division One vs. Celtic (A)  1 - 0
 05/03/75 Division One vs. Ayr Utd (H)  3 - 1
 01/03/75 Division One vs. Dumbarton (A)  2 - 1
 19/02/75 4th Round vs. Aberdeen (H)  0 - 1
 11/02/75 Division One vs. Dunfermline (A)  2 - 1
 08/02/75 Division One vs. Hearts (A)  1 - 3
 05/02/75 3rd Round Replay vs. Berwick (A)  1 - 0
 04/02/75 3rd Round vs. Berwick (H)  1 - 1
 01/02/75 Division One vs. Airdrie (H)  1 - 0
 11/01/75 Division One vs. Hibernian (H)  1 - 3
 02/01/75 Division One vs. St Johnstone (H)  1 - 1
 28/12/74 Division One vs. Motherwell (A)  1 - 0
 21/12/74 Division One vs. Kilmarnock (H)  3 - 4
 14/12/74 Division One vs. Morton (A)  6 - 0
 07/12/74 Division One vs. Clyde (H)  3 - 3
 30/11/74 Division One vs. Rangers (A)  2 - 4
 27/11/74 Division One vs. Aberdeen (H)  4 - 0
 16/11/74 Division One vs. Partick Th (A)  5 - 0
 06/11/74 2nd Round 2nd Leg vs. Bursaspor (A)  0 - 1
 02/11/74 Division One vs. Arbroath (A)  3 - 1
 10/05/74 Division One vs. Morton (H)  4 - 2
 08/05/74 Division One vs. Hibernian (H)  1 - 4
 04/05/74 Final vs. Celtic (N)  0 - 3
 27/04/74 Division One vs. Dunfermline (H)  0 - 1
 24/04/74 Division One vs. Partick Th (H)  1 - 1
 20/04/74 Division One vs. Arbroath (A)  2 - 1
 17/04/74 Division One vs. Arbroath (H)  3 - 1
 13/04/74 Division One vs. Celtic (H)  0 - 2
 09/04/74 Semi Final Replay vs. Hearts (N)  4 - 2
 06/04/74 Semi Final vs. Hearts (N)  1 - 1
 02/04/74 Division One vs. Falkirk (A)  1 - 0
 30/03/74 Division One vs. Ayr Utd (H)  2 - 1
 23/03/74 Division One vs. East Fife (A)  2 - 0
 16/03/74 Division One vs. Hearts (H)  3 - 3
 12/03/74 5th Round Replay vs. Dunfermline (H)  4 - 0
 10/03/74 5th Round vs. Dunfermline (A)  1 - 1
 03/03/74 Division One vs. Aberdeen (H)  0 - 3
 24/02/74 Division One vs. Rangers (A)  1 - 3
 17/02/74 4th Round vs. Morton (H)  1 - 0
 02/02/74 Division One vs. Clyde (A)  2 - 1
 26/01/74 3rd Round vs. Airdrie (H)  4 - 1
 19/01/74 Division One vs. Motherwell (H)  0 - 1
 12/01/74 Division One vs. Hibernian (A)  1 - 3
 05/01/74 Division One vs. Dundee (H)  1 - 2
 02/01/74 Division One vs. St Johnstone (A)  1 - 1
 29/12/73 Division One vs. Dumbarton (H)  6 - 0
 22/12/73 Division One vs. Dunfermline (A)  3 - 2
 19/12/73 Semi Final 2nd Leg vs. Newcastle Utd (A)  1 - 4
 12/12/73 Semi Final 1st Leg vs. Newcastle Utd (H)  2 - 0
 08/12/73 Division One vs. Celtic (A)  3 - 3
 24/11/73 Division One vs. Ayr Utd (A)  1 - 1
 21/11/73 Division One vs. Falkirk (H)  2 - 1
 17/11/73 Division One vs. East Fife (H)  0 - 0
 10/11/73 Division One vs. Hearts (A)  1 - 1
 07/11/73 2nd Round 2nd Leg vs. Leicester City (H)  1 - 0
 27/10/73 Division One vs. Aberdeen (A)  1 - 3
 24/10/73 2nd Round 1st Leg vs. Leicester City (A)  1 - 1
 20/10/73 Division One vs. Rangers (H)  1 - 3
 13/10/73 Division One vs. Morton (A)  2 - 0
 03/10/73 1st Round 2nd Leg vs. Sheff Utd (H)  2 - 0
 29/09/73 Division One vs. Motherwell (A)  0 - 4
 18/09/73 1st Round 1st Leg vs. Sheff Utd (A)  0 - 0
 15/09/73 Division One vs. Dundee (A)  1 - 0
 08/09/73 Division One vs. St Johnstone (H)  2 - 0
 01/09/73 Division One vs. Dumbarton (A)  2 - 1
 29/08/73 Sectional Tie vs. East Fife (H)  5 - 2
 25/08/73 Sectional Tie vs. Motherwell (H)  0 - 3
 22/08/73 Sectional Tie vs. Aberdeen (A)  2 - 0
 18/08/73 Sectional Tie vs. Motherwell (A)  0 - 4
 15/08/73 Sectional Tie vs. Aberdeen (H)  0 - 0
 11/08/73 Sectional Tie vs. East Fife (A)  2 - 1
 28/04/73 Division One vs. Dumbarton (A)  1 - 4
 21/04/73 Division One vs. Kilmarnock (H)  2 - 1
 14/04/73 Division One vs. Rangers (A)  1 - 2
 07/04/73 Division One vs. Arbroath (H)  1 - 1
 31/03/73 Division One vs. Aberdeen (A)  0 - 0
 24/03/73 Division One vs. East Fife (H)  1 - 1
 21/03/73 Division One vs. Partick Th (A)  3 - 0
 10/03/73 Division One vs. Celtic (H)  2 - 2
 21/02/73 Division One vs. Morton (A)  0 - 2
 10/02/73 Division One vs. Hearts (A)  2 - 0
 03/02/73 3rd Round vs. Rangers (A)  0 - 1
 27/01/73 Division One vs. Motherwell (H)  1 - 2
 13/01/73 Division One vs. Hibernian (H)  1 - 0
 28/10/72 Division One vs. Ayr Utd (H)  2 - 1
 21/10/72 Division One vs. Falkirk (A)  0 - 1
 05/02/72 3rd Round vs. Aberdeen (H)  0 - 4
 15/01/72 Division One vs. Kilmarnock (H)  1 - 2
 08/01/72 Division One vs. Hibernian (A)  0 - 3
 03/01/72 Division One vs. Dundee (H)  1 - 1
 01/01/72 Division One vs. St Johnstone (A)  0 - 2
 25/12/71 Division One vs. Dunfermline (H)  3 - 2
 18/12/71 Division One vs. Aberdeen (A)  0 - 3
 11/12/71 Division One vs. Ayr Utd (H)  2 - 2
 04/12/71 Division One vs. Hearts (A)  2 - 3
 27/11/71 Division One vs. Motherwell (H)  2 - 0
 20/11/71 Division One vs. East Fife (A)  1 - 0
 13/11/71 Division One vs. Celtic (H)  1 - 5
 30/10/71 Division One vs. Falkirk (H)  3 - 5
 09/10/71 Division One vs. Morton (A)  2 - 1
 29/09/71 1st Round 2nd Leg vs. Derby (H)  3 - 2
 25/09/71 Division One vs. Kilmarnock (A)  0 - 2
 18/09/71 Division One vs. Hibernian (H)  1 - 4
 15/09/71 1st Round 1st Leg vs. Derby (A)  2 - 6
 11/09/71 Division One vs. Dundee (A)  4 - 6
 04/09/71 Division One vs. St Johnstone (H)  3 - 3
 01/09/71 Sectional Tie vs. Motherwell (A)  3 - 1
 28/08/71 Sectional Tie vs. Kilmarnock (A)  2 - 4
 21/08/71 Sectional Tie vs. Motherwell (H)  2 - 2
 18/08/71 Sectional Tie vs. Hibernian (A)  0 - 2
 24/04/71 Division One vs. St Mirren (A)  1 - 2
 17/04/71 Division One vs. Falkirk (H)  3 - 1
 14/04/71 Division One vs. Clyde (H)  1 - 0
 10/04/71 Division One vs. Celtic (A)  1 - 1
 05/04/71 Division One vs. Dundee (A)  3 - 2
 03/04/71 Division One vs. Cowdenbeath (H)  4 - 2
 27/03/71 Division One vs. Motherwell (A)  2 - 1
 20/03/71 Division One vs. Hearts (H)  4 - 1
 13/03/71 Division One vs. Ayr Utd (A)  0 - 1
 10/03/71 Division One vs. Aberdeen (H)  0 - 2
 27/02/71 Division One vs. Dunfermline (A)  1 - 3
 20/02/71 Division One vs. Kilmarnock (H)  3 - 2
 17/02/71 4th Round Replay vs. Aberdeen (A)  0 - 2
 13/02/71 4th Round vs. Aberdeen (H)  1 - 1
 06/02/71 Division One vs. Airdrie (A)  2 - 1
 27/01/71 3rd Round Replay vs. Clydebank (H)  5 - 1
 23/01/71 3rd Round vs. Clydebank (A)  0 - 0
 16/01/71 Division One vs. Rangers (A)  1 - 1
 09/01/71 Division One vs. Morton (H)  2 - 3
 01/01/71 Division One vs. St Johnstone (H)  0 - 2
 26/12/70 Division One vs. Hibernian (A)  1 - 0
 28/02/70 Division One vs. Ayr Utd (A)  3 - 2
 25/02/70 Division One vs. Motherwell (H)  0 - 0
 11/02/70 Division One vs. Kilmarnock (A)  1 - 3
 07/02/70 2nd Round vs. Celtic (A)  0 - 4
 31/01/70 Division One vs. Morton (H)  5 - 4
 17/01/70 Division One vs. Airdrie (A)  3 - 6
 14/08/68 Sectional Tie vs. Clyde (H)  2 - 3
 10/08/68 Sectional Tie vs. Dunfermline (A)  2 - 3
 27/04/68 Division One vs. Stirling Albion (A)  2 - 2
 24/04/68 Division One vs. St Johnstone (A)  1 - 2
 20/03/67 Division One vs. Kilmarnock (A)  0 - 4


Biography

Signed from junior side Ashfield along with Jim Cameron and Gerry Hernon in November 1966, Walter made his first team debut four months later against Kilmarnock at the age of 19. At the end of that season he was part of the 16 man squad that travelled to the USA after United were invited to play as Dallas Tornado in the United Soccer Association.

His first four years at United were spent mainly in the reserves until he broke into the side in 1970-71, when he became a regular in the line-up. He played in the first Scottish Cup final in 1974 but fell out of contention soon after, and in September 1975, he left to join Dumbarton for a fee of £8,000.

Eighteen months later, he returned to Tannadice for half of that fee and played regularly over the rest of that season. In 1977 Walter suffered a pelvic injury which threatened his career at the age of 29, limiting his first team appearances over the next few years. He was given a player/coach position by manager Jim McLean, and by 1979 he was assisting with coaching the Scotland youth squad. Still appearing occasionally as a player, his last first team match was in September 1980.

Smith was first team coach as United entered the most successful period of their history, winning two League Cups and the Premier Division title in the early 1980s. He went on to become the national Under-21 coach and then assistant manager to both McLean at United and to Alex Ferguson in the Scotland set-up, and was elevated to the Tannadice Board in February 1986.

However in April 1986 Graeme Souness appointed him as his assistant manager at Rangers, eventually replacing Souness as manager in 1991. After a successful seven years at Ibrox, he was manager at Everton for four seasons, and after a short spell as assistant manager at Manchester United, he was appointed manager of the Scottish national team in 2004. Two years later he returned to Ibrox where he spent another four seasons as manager before retiring in 2011.

Last updated on Wednesday, April 20th, 2022 by B Orr.





Debut

March 20th, 1967
Kilmarnock 4 - 0 Dundee United

League (Division One)


Timeline

  • Date of Birth


    Walter was born on this date in Lanark.

    Tuesday, February 24th, 1948

  • Signed For Dundee United

    Tuesday, November 8th, 1966

  • First Team Debut

    Kilmarnock 4 - 0 Dundee United
    League (Division One)

    Monday, March 20th, 1967

  • 50th Appearance

    Aberdeen 3 - 0 Dundee United
    League (Division One)

    Tannadice twins, Sandy and Joe White made history this afternoon when they played together in the same side for the first time. While Sandy had played 6 times already for United, this was to be Joe's

    Saturday, December 18th, 1971

  • 50th League Appearance

    Partick Th 0 - 3 Dundee United
    League (Division One)

    Wednesday, March 21st, 1973

  • First Goal

    Dundee United 2 - 1 Kilmarnock
    League (Division One)

    Saturday, April 21st, 1973

  • Last Goal

    Dundee 0 - 1 Dundee United
    League (Division One)

    Dundee's run of 29 competitive games without defeat came to an end thanks to a rare goal by Walter Smith. The Tangerines always looked the more likely side in a typical derby contest in which both def

    Saturday, September 15th, 1973

  • 100th Appearance

    Hibernian 3 - 1 Dundee United
    League (Division One)

    Saturday, January 12th, 1974

  • 100th League Appearance

    Hearts 3 - 1 Dundee United
    League (Division One)

    Saturday, February 8th, 1975

  • Left the Club

    Thursday, September 18th, 1975

  • Signed For Dundee United

    Sunday, February 27th, 1977

  • Last Appearance

    Dundee United 4 - 2 Motherwell
    League Cup (3rd Round 2nd Leg)

    Trailing 2-1 from the first leg at Fir Park there was pressure on the team ahead of this third round second Leg tie. There were three changes from the team that defeated St Mirren on Saturday, with Fr

    Wednesday, September 24th, 1980

  • Date of Death


    Walter died on this date

    Tuesday, October 26th, 2021