PHILIPPE Clement has admitted he has drawn inspiration from Rangers’ storied 152 year history this season as the Ibrox club prepare to honour their legendary manager Walter Smith.
Supporters of the Glasgow giants will gather at their stadium at noon today to see the unveiling of a bronze statue of Smith on Edmiston Drive at the Copland Road end.
The Scot, who passed away at the age of 73 in 2021, won no fewer than 21 major honours during the two spells which he spent in charge of his boyhood heroes.
Clement, whose men will attempt to complete a double when they take on Celtic in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final at Hampden tomorrow afternoon, believes it will be a fitting tribute to a great man.
READ MORE: Rangers player with 'tears in his eyes' is new cup final injury doubt
“It’s a really a huge thing, and a normal thing also, that a club does that for somebody who was so important for a club and deserves this recognition,” he said.
The Belgian, who took over from Michael Beale as manager at Rangers back in October and led them to their first Viaplay Cup success in 12 years in December, is well aware of Smith’s many achievements.
The former Genk, Club Brugge and Monaco manager has tried to learn as much as he can about the Ibrox club’s past since arriving in this country last year and has been impressed with their many successes at home and abroad.
“I’ve been in a few places like in Camp Nou and I think the Rangers one is better! That was four or five years ago and maybe they’ve changed it and I’m saying something silly! But back then it was not of the standards of the museum at Rangers.
READ MORE: Philippe Clement outlines how Rangers can end Old Firm winless run
“For me it’s an important thing if you come somewhere to know the history of the club, to understand the people and the city also. That’s also the reason that we’re not going on holiday to Portugal or Spain this year or some magical island in the sun.
“I’m going to be here with my wife for a week and we’re going to see the north of Scotland. Probably on the phone the whole time but I will see some things!”
Clement, though, does not feel the ceremony at Ibrox today will have any bearing on what happens at Hampden this afternoon.
“The cup final is nothing to do with the statue of Walter,” he said. “Those are two separate things. The cup final is something else. It’s a game about winning trophies and those two things are separate from each other.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel