Walter Smith: Galaxy of stars from UK football honour former Rangers, Everton and Scotland manager

Sir Alex Ferguson paid tribute to football "giant" Walter Smith, recalling his former assistant teaching Cristiano Ronaldo to pass the ball.

Sir Alex was among the speakers during a memorial service for the former Rangers, Everton and Scotland manager.

Smith died on 26 October at the age of 73 after a three-year cancer battle.

Ferguson told how Smith refereed Manchester United training games and would take a lax approach to challenges on Ronaldo.

"He came with all the tricks in the world and wanted to beat all the players," Sir Alex said of the Portugal superstar.

"He walked up to me and says 'Boss, do they not have fouls in Scotland?' And he learned. He learned how to pass the ball and he can thank Walter for that. No question."

Smith would win 21 trophies in two spells as Rangers boss and Ferguson recalled how he first noticed his fellow Scot's coaching talents during a course at Largs in 1972.

"Imagination, control of the session, he was a certainty to make it," the former Rangers player said at Glasgow Cathedral. "I was looking for a word that encapsulates this man and it's definitely giant."

Former Scotland striker Ally McCoist, who played under Smith at Ibrox before becoming his assistant and successor, stressed that his legacy was his immediate family - wife Ethel, sons Neil and Steven and seven grandchildren.

"He was loyal, he was caring, he was considerate, he was honest, he was hard-working, he was unbelievably friendly, he just put you at ease, and an absolutely wicked sense of humour," he said.

Adapting a line from American civil rights poet Maya Angelou, McCoist said: "I don't think I will ever forget what Walter did. I don't think I will ever forget what Walter said. But I can guarantee you that I will never, ever, ever, ever forget how that man made us all feel."

A private family funeral having been held on 3 November, the public memorial service was attended by prominent football personnel from around the UK.

Former Scotland managers Craig Brown, who worked with Ferguson and Smith with the national team, Gordon Strachan and Craig Levein were in attendance along with other coaching colleagues, including Archie Knox, Jim Stewart and Kenny McDowall.

Rangers' current first-team squad were joined by a host of former players from Smith's two spells in charge at Ibrox and Duncan Ferguson, who played under Smith at Ibrox and Everton.

A party representing Celtic included former managers Davie Hay and Neil Lennon alongside former captain Roy Aitken and present and recent chief executives Michael Nicholson and Peter Lawwell.

A contingent from Dundee United, where Smith spent most of his playing days and began his coaching career, were also among the invited guests and included Paul Hegarty, Maurice Malpas and Hamish McAlpine.

Other football personalities included former Chelsea players Mark Hughes and Frank Lampard, former Leeds United and Scotland player Eddie Gray, former Everton and Scotland left-back Gary Naysmith, and Arbroath manager Dick Campbell, Smith's long-term friend.

Rod Petrie, Mike Mulraney, Ian Maxwell and Dr John MacLean were representing the Scottish Football Association, whie Neil Doncaster and Murdoch MacLennan represented the Scottish Professional Football League.

Current managers from the league included Robbie Neilson of Hearts and Motherwell's Graham Alexander, both of whom played under Smith for Scotland.