Former Hamilton boss Alex Neil has revealed late Rangers legend Walter Smith borrowed a tactical masterplan from Hamilton Accies to earn the Ibrox side their famous draw with Barcelona.
Speaking on Sky Sports in a tribute to Smith, who died on Tuesday at the age of 73, Neil explained how the former Rangers boss admitted on a coaching course that he got his tactics to face Barca in the Champions League from ex-Hamilton gaffer Billy Reid.
Smith was so impressed by Reid’s plan against his side leading up to the European clash that he used it to frustrate the Spanish giants. The group stage game in October 2007 ended in a 0-0 draw and saw Lionel Messi brand Rangers' defensive display "anti-football."
Neil said: "On my pro licence he [Smith] delivered a talk on tactics and how you set up your team.
“He told a story about when they faced Barcelona at home and he spoke about how he was going to set up against them.
“Where he got it from was Billy Reid’s Hamilton Accies team that played Rangers.
“Everyone I tell that to looks at me but it’s true. That shows humility to stand up in front of 30 coaches and managers in the room and describe how the Rangers manager got tips from Hamilton Accies and Billy Reid spoke volumes of him.
“The key to being a manager is being able to describe things other people make sound complex.
“Simplify it and make your players understand it and that’s what Walter did.”
Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.
