Former Scotland international Darren Fletcher believes legendary former Rangers boss Walter Smith had a telling influence on the career of footballing icon Cristiano Ronaldo.
Whilst serving as assistant manager to the great Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2004, Smith worked closely with the now elite-level footballing genius.
Struggling to get a cocky Ronaldo to pass the ball and involve his teammates, ex Man U midfielder Fletcher revealed Smith thought up an ingenious method to take the player to the next level.
When the former Scotland captain was asked about what transformed Ronaldo from an inconsistent wide man to one of football’s greatest ever players, Fletcher said:
“For me it was Walter Smith. Walter Smith joined as assistant manager around Christmas time,” said Fletcher [beIN Sport].
“With Ronaldo, you could see the talent, you could see the ability. The players were part of the reason he signed in that pre-season game against Sporting Lisbon when he tore us apart.
“You could see this charismatic kid, you could see this drive to become the best player in the world but he frustrated the life out of everybody.
“Everyone thought ‘if he could learn, if he could learn’.
“Eventually, Walter Smith came in and decided not to give fouls in training. The sole purpose was for Ronaldo.
“So when Ronaldo was doing his skills and not passing the ball and taking the mick and the lads were fouling them.
“Before, in the first six months of the season, there’d be fouls given as you’d expect and Walter said ‘no, no fouls’.
“For two weeks, Ronaldo was tearing his hair out. He was going bananas. It was open season. Hit him. What happens after a few weeks?
“Ronaldo starts playing the ball because he’s sick of being kicked. Now he starts playing one or two and running.
“Now he starts getting goals. Now it starts clicking in his head, ‘Oh, now I’m actually starting to score more goals, now I’m starting to make an impact in games. That was the beginning of Ronaldo’s transition.”
Fletcher’s comments, which later included describing Walter Smith as “an unbelievable man”, exemplify the immense man-management skills Smith was famous for.
The Rangers gaffer managed an Ibrox squad full of massive egos and immense talent in the 90s, managing the likes of Paul Gascoigne and Brian Laudrup.
The fact he’s been named as dreaming up one of the key methods which evolved the great Cristiano Ronaldo’s career is testament to the footballing mind of the man.
Ronaldo has gone on to win a plethora of trophies across spells with United, Real Madrid and Juventus, including five Champions League medals and five Ballon d’Ors.
Walter Smith spent two spells in charge of Rangers, winning 10 league titles, five Scottish Cups and six League Cups.
Smith also guided Rangers to the UEFA Cup Final in 2008.
