Smith confirmed as Scotland boss

Walter Smith has been confirmed as the new Scotland manager. The former Rangers boss succeeds Berti Vogts and will include Tommy Burns as assistant manager.

Walter Smith has been confirmed as the new Scotland manager.

The former Rangers and Everton boss succeeds Berti Vogts, who quit his position on November 1 after picking up just two points from the opening three World Cup qualifiers.

Smith has been the leading candidate to replace the German since the embarrassing 1-1 draw in Moldova on October 13.

The 56-year-old will retain the services of assistant manager Tommy Burns, who was number two to Vogts and took charge of the team for the 4-1 friendly defeat by Sweden last month.

Smith won seven league titles with the Ibrox club, helping Rangers achieve the record-equalling nine in-a-row.

He quit the Glasgow giants in 1998 as Rangers conceded the title to Celtic and lost the Scottish Cup final to Hearts.

Smith joined Everton in the same year but could not produce the success required on Merseyside and, with the club looking set for a relegation battle in 2002 and following an abysmal display in an FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Middlesbrough, he was sacked.

Smith had a short spell as assistant boss to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United last season before the return of Carlos Queiroz from Real Madrid.