European club soccer could be headed for a tartan takeover.
The continent's top two club trophies could wind up in the hands of two veteran Scottish managers.
Walter Smith has guided Rangers to the UEFA Cup final next Wednesday, a week before his mentor Alex Ferguson bids for a second Champions League triumph with Manchester United.
"That would be great if we could both do it. I certainly hope that's the case," Smith said Thursday. "We know the tasks we face."
Six months after the national side failed to qualify for the European Championship, the outlook is bright for Scottish soccer.
Rangers, contesting its first European final since the 1972 Cup Winners' Cup triumph, faces Russian side Zenit St. Petersburg in Ferguson's adopted city of Manchester.
"It means a lot to any country when their team achieve, it shows the level within the country is good," the 60-year-old Smith said. "If you look at the Champions League, which is the pinnacle of European success, two Premier League teams are in that and that shows the level of play that they have within the English game.
"That's a big boost for them and I hope that Rangers reaching the final would be a good reflection on the Scottish game as well."
It's thanks to the 66-year-old Ferguson that Smith _ who left Ibrox in 1998 to manage Everton _ is back with Rangers.
Smith turned to Ferguson in January 2007 when weighing up whether to leave Scotland's national team for a second stint at Rangers.
"Without hesitation Alex told me to take the job. He told me to get back in day-to-day football and win things again," said Smith, who briefly served as Ferguson's assistant in 2004. "I have a lot of time for Alex the person and I've no greater admiration for any manager. He gives me inspiration to carry on as manager."
As he prepares for an all-English Champions League final against Chelsea on May 21 in Moscow, Ferguson has been impressed by his fellow Glaswegian's accomplishments.
United is in the running for two titles _ the Premier League and Champions League. Smith could finish with four trophies by the end of the month.
"It's a fantastic achievement and I don't know how Walter's done it," said Ferguson, a former Rangers player. "I think most people would agree that this isn't the greatest Rangers team but Walter's got them into the final of the UEFA Cup and they can still win four trophies.
"He's managed to build a team that's organized at the back and they have great team spirit. Those two qualities will get you a long way in football. It's going to be a very tough task for Rangers, but they've already knocked out some good teams like Werder Bremen, Sporting Lisbon and Fiorentina."
Rangers won the Scottish League Cup in February, with the league title and Scottish Cup still in Smith's sights.
The Scottish Premier League has refused to alleviate the club's fixture congestion, rejecting calls to postpone Saturday's game against Dundee United to assist preparations for the UEFA Cup final.
Rangers played Wednesday night, beating Motherwell 1-0 and is now within four points of leader Celtic with two games in hand.
"We have a fairly crazy fixture list to try and overcome," Smith said. "Even before the (Scottish) Cup Final on the Saturday (May 24) we have to play on a Thursday evening. It will be a big test for everyone at the club and I just hope the circumstances don't affect us too much.
"It would have been nicer to have a freer run at it, but we don't have that. We just hope those number of games we have in a short space of time don't affect us too greatly ... I'm not sure any team is capable of winning four, but we'll give it a good shot."
Even if Smith surpasses _ or matches _ Ferguson's 1999 treble of the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, he isn't expecting to be similarly knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
"His achievements are better than anybody's _ ever. Period," Smith said.
