Walter Smith backs Derek McInnes to become a superstar manager

Ex-Rangers and Scotland boss reckons Derek McInnes is on the verge of greatness.

Walter Smith has watched the majority of his 9-in-a-row team follow in his footsteps.

But Derek McInnes could become the most successful of all his managerial proteges by delivering a domestic cup double for Aberdeen.

He’s aiming to lead the Pittodrie club to their first piece of silverware this century by lifting the League Cup at Inverness Caley Thistle’s expense this afternoon.

Smith, who signed McInnes for Rangers from Morton in 1995, has been highly impressed with the impact his former player has made in the Granite City.

“Derek is enjoying a fantastic first season at Aberdeen,” says Smith. “He’s hit the ground running.

“You look at the way he has galvanised the football club and managed to get the fans right behind him, and the improvements on the park are there for everyone to see.

“Obviously, he has to take them to the next level and actually win a trophy. If he manages to do that today, it would represent a massive step in the right direction.

“Despite not winning a trophy since 1995, there has always been a level of expectation among the Aberdeen support. So if Derek was to deliver success, it would be a massive achievement.”

There is a long list of players from Smith’s time at Ibrox now in management and coaching, headed by current Rangers boss Ally McCoist and his first-team coach, Ian Durrant.

Stuart McCall is in charge of Motherwell, Terry Butcher is boss at Hibs and John Brown has just recently left his post with Dundee.

Further afield, Mo Johnston managed in the United States, Ian Ferguson did the same in Australia while the most recent former player to step into the dug-out is Barry Ferguson at Blackpool.

Interestingly, the only one to manage a club to a major trophy success in Scotland is Jimmy Nicholl, who led Raith Rovers to League Cup glory over Celtic back in season 1994/1995.

McInnes, however, has the potential to raise the bar even further by lifting the League Cup today followed by the Scottish Cup, where they’ve been drawn against St Johnstone in the semis.

Smith always considered McInnes management material when he worked with him.

“When you are a manager, you come across players who you think might be suited to management and coaching when they’ve finished playing,” Smith continues.

“Derek certainly fell into that bracket.

“He always showed a willingness to learn. He also had the attitude and determination to make you think he would succeed.

“A number of the guys from that 9-in-a-row side have remained in the game in some form, which is good. You like to see them doing well.”

Smith, however, insists he’s not spending his time out of the game fielding calls from former players wanting to tap into his wealth of knowledge.

“That stuff is over-exaggerated,” he says. “It’s not as though my phone is ringing every other day with one of my former players looking for advice on football matters.

“Listen, if I bump into them, then obviously we’ll talk football. That’s what we do.

“But it isn’t a regular occurrence that a former player picks up the phone looking for advice.”

Smith worked under enormous pressure during his two spells at Ibrox, as well as with the Scotland national team.

Even during his time in England with Everton, he was forced to cut costs while keeping the Goodison club in the top flight, so he appreciates the pressure that is now resting on McInnes’ shoulders.

“Even after all these years of not winning anything, the expectation levels at Aberdeen are still massive,” he says. “But when you look at what Derek has managed to do, you have to say he is doing everything asked of him and then some.

“They are second in the Premier League, displaying a level of consistency that hasn’t always been there.

“They’ve performed really well in the two cup competitions.”

While McInnes will have to deliver disappointing news to the players who won’t make his starting line-up at Celtic Park today, Smith says reacting in the right way was one thing the Aberdeen boss was great at.

“Derek spent five years at the club and was part of an extremely successful period,” he says.

“However, a lot of players played a part in the success, and it wasn’t just down to those who were the most popular players in the fans’ eyes.

“We had to rely on so many guys during those times.

“But, with Derek, it didn’t matter if you left him out of your team. He would always give you 100% in training the next day, or in the next match you used him in.

“There were boys who, when they weren’t involved, you could sense weren’t interested.

“Derek wasn’t like that. He liked to win and was a great professional. His attitude was first class.

“Although he maybe didn’t play as much as he’d have liked at times, I could never fault his attitude and commitment.”