Wayne Rooney cherishes Walter Smith memory and the 30 minute audience with Rangers icon he'll 'never forget'

Rangers legend Smith was appointed Everton manager in 1998 as Rooney learned his trade in the club's academy.

Wayne Rooney has recalled getting an exclusive audience with Walter Smith that he'll "never forget".

The man who went on to become Manchester United and England's all-time top goalscorer was just a kid when the Rangers legend took the manager's job at Everton in 1998.

The prodigious Rooney would get time away from school to train at Everton 's historic Bellefield base where he'd often see Smith and assistant Archie Knox working out in the gym.

But on one trip he remembers Smith taking aside for a half hour chat he insists will live with him forever.

Rooney, now manager at Derby County, was one of a host of football legends to celebrate the legendary manager's life following his passing in October, appearing on "Walter: A Life in Football" on BBC One Scotland.

Rooney said: "First of all, I was getting taken out of school which I was always happy about!

"But getting taken out of school to go and train with your heroes was massive.

"I went into the gym, it's a small gym, the training ground was really small.

"There was always people around - Walter would be in, Archie Knox would be on the running machine.

"I remember going in one day and Walter was in on his own and I just had about 30 minutes, the two of us just talking.

"Walter was giving me advice on what he thought I could improve on, how I could improve.

"I just remember taking it all in and just thinking: 'This is crazy, I've almost had an audience with the manager of Everton Football Club to myself'.

"For him to take that time out to speak to me, at that age, is something I'll never forget."