Walter Smith took it as a compliment being described as 'The Godfather' of Scottish football after completing a clean sweep of the nation's Manager of the Year awards. The Rangers boss picked up the PFA Scotland prize at their annual dinner in Glasgow on Sunday evening, adding to the Scottish Football Writers' Association and Clydesdale Bank Premier League gongs he had already collected.
The Ibrox club were also able to celebrate a clean sweep of their own tonight, with Steven Davis named Player of the Year and Danny Wilson Young Player of the Year, while Madjid Bougherra picked up the Goal of the Season prize.
Dundee United counterpart Peter Houston had described the 62-year-old as 'The Godfather' of all the bosses.
"When you start out, you don't always expect to be still in a job when you're into your sixties, especially our job," Smith said.
"I was 27 when I first went into coaching.
"Hitting 62, when somebody says something like that, I take it as a nice compliment."
"It's nice that other managers vote for you in this one," said Smith, revealing he voted for his former player, St Johnstone boss Derek McInnes, who was nominated along with Derek Adams.
"I think he's done an exceptional job at St Johnstone, just coming into the division.
"It's good to see somebody I had as a player come on."