RANGERS great Brian Laudrup has hailed Walter Smith as 'more than a manager' as the Dane recalled the car journey with the Ibrox legend that changed his life forever.
Smith sadly passed away on Tuesday morning at the age of 73, prompting messages of support and condolence from all accross the footballing world.
Laudrup was part of the great Rangers team of the 1990s and spent four seasons working under Smith in Govan, scoring 44 goals in 150 appearances before departing for Chelsea in 1998.
Four years earlier, Laudrup was on his way out of Italian side Fiorentina and he admits that a 40-minute drive to Loch Lomond with Smith convinced him to move to Glasgow - a decision that changed his life forever.
Writing in his column for the Daily Mail, Laudrup recalled: "During my years in football, I encountered people of immense talent and huge reputation. Walter, though, was of a different breed to them all.
"He was somehow more than a manager. I think many of those who played under him would agree. In my time at Rangers, we played for the club, we played for the fans and we played for ourselves.
"Most of all, though, we played for Walter. I think that sums it up. Like everyone who knew and loved him, I am heartbroken to hear of his passing. But the memories will endure.
"For me, they begin in 1994 with perhaps the most important car journey of my life. I met Walter at Ibrox when Rangers wanted to sign me from Fiorentina. We spoke for a little while, then he said: 'Let's go for a drive. I'll take you to Cameron House and show you Loch Lomond.'
"Over those 40 minutes we spoke about a lot of things. I told him about life in Italy and how it had been for me and my family.
"We started to talk about football. Walter said to me: 'Brian, you will get all the freedom on the park you could wish for. The only thing I want in return is that you have to make the difference.'
"It was a turning point in my career. Without question. I've mentioned many times before that I had two very difficult years in Italy. I wanted to be somewhere I could really enjoy the game again.
"Walter made that happen. From 1994 onwards, so much changed in terms of how I felt about football and also the success I achieved. I loved working with him at Rangers and that fed into how I played with Denmark, too."
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