Philippe Clement on 'huge' Rangers honour for Walter Smith before statue unveiling before Scottish Cup final demand

Philippe Clement says it’s only right that Rangers honour Walter Smith’s Ibrox legacy today. But Gers’ Belgian boss would prefer his team keep their focus on building their own when they run out at Hampden.

Light Blues bosses will mark Smith’s incredible contribution to the Ibrox cause when they unveil a statue immortalising one of the club’s greatest ever managers this lunchtime before heading across the city to see their team contest the Scottish Cup final against Celtic. Clement is the man now occupying the post Smith - who passed away in 2021, aged 73 - held twice, amassing 21 major trophy wins.

And he said: “The Cup Final is nothing to do with the statue of Walter. Those are two separate things. 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. The cup final is something else. It’s a game about winning trophies and those two things are separate from each other.”

Smith wrote his name into Rangers’ history by leading the club to nine-in-a-row in his first spell before winning three more league titles after returning following a stint as Scotland boss. And Clement has made sure he knows the history at Ibrox. He said: “A lot as all those things are interesting to me. I’ve been to the museum at Edmiston House and I have to say that it’s impressive.

“I’ve been in a few places like in Camp Nou and I think the Rangers one is better! 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