McInnes has shared how pivotal Smith was in his career, both as a player and as a manager.

Three decades ago, McInnes, a young midfielder, realised his boyhood dream by signing with Rangers.

Smith, a legendary figure at Ibrox, had identified McInnes's potential early on during his time at Morton.

McInnes said: "I think I’ve said often enough that my relationship with the gaffer when I was a player wasn't overly close.

"It was just a normal relationship you have with your manager, but a manager that respected me and certainly I respected him.

"There were a lot more players in the dressing room who were a lot closer to the gaffer than what I was, that built up over the years.

"But I do feel once I became a manager, my relationship with the manager became a lot stronger.

"I think his eagerness to help and involve himself in my career was pleasing."

Smith's belief in McInnes was unwavering, even from their first encounter.

The legendary manager was ready to secure McInnes's signature after witnessing his skill on the field for Morton.

This was the beginning of a respectful relationship that McInnes cherished until Smith's passing five years ago.

The bond between the two men strengthened when McInnes transitioned into management.

The current Rangers manager often sought advice from Smith, who was always keen to see McInnes succeed.

McInnes said: "I enjoyed all those moments I had with him either face to face, whether he invited me up to the training ground and spent a bit of time watching training, or just time on the phone, or playing against him, or sitting next to him at games.

"I always thought that he was keen for me to do well."

Their final conversation, just days before Smith's passing in October 2021, encapsulated their relationship.

Even in his final days, Smith's words of encouragement and advice for McInnes remained focused on football.

McInnes fondly recalled: "I remember one of the last things he said was when he was talking about going to LMA meetings and there would be wee English know-it-alls walking into the room and giving a big presentation.

"He said they were full of themselves but had done f*** all in the game.

"But he said they carried themselves well.

"He said to me: 'We’re not great at that, Del.'

"He said Scottish managers had to walk into a room as if they owned it."

Smith's words still echo in McInnes's mind as he takes on the role of Rangers manager, urging him to carry himself with the confidence and assertiveness that Smith admired.

McInnes said: "He felt it was knocked out of you as a wee boy in the west of Scotland - 'right you, stop getting ahead of yourself, rein it in, who do you think you are?'

"He said it was constant from adults knocking that confidence and cockiness out of you.

"But he felt you actually needed that confidence, you really needed to portray yourself that way.

"He said it was something we needed to get better at in Scotland, and I’ll always remember that."