Walter Smith has urged Steven Gerrard to follow his title triumph by making an impact on the Champions League next season.
Rangers ’ legendary nine-in-a-row boss paid tribute to Gerrard’s role in wresting domestic power from Celtic and believes that excelling on Europe’s biggest stage is the next frontier.
Gerrard has guided Gers to the last 16 of this season’s Europa League - they face Slavia Prague on Thursday - but Smith knows the Ibrox gaffer will be licking his lips at the prospect of Champions League football next term.
Speaking on the Scottish Football Essential Podcast, he said: “It’s always just a beginning. You win a league championship and you start again. You get no time to sit back, for one reason.
“For Scottish clubs, the finances are totally driven by the Champions League. You go away on holiday and you spend half your time on the phone trying to enhance your squad of players by getting a few new players coming in.
“And that recruitment is a massively important part of your job. Once you win a championship you’ve got to try and enhance your reputation in Europe.
“Steven’s done a great job with his European results. They’ve had fantastic European results. Stepping up into the Champions League is possibly another step forward for them, so the first thing Steven will be looking at is to make sure the team is better for next season.
“The directors at Rangers have done a fantastic job getting the club back up to a level but they need help. And they’re getting help on the pitch now.
“If you get to the Champions League, your club makes money, and Rangers need that success on the field.
“And Steven Gerrard has brought that to them.”
