'She had an incredible influence on me, and it's like anything else in life: sometimes, sadly, you really don't appreciate it until it's gone' Ally McCoist tells FourFourTwo the four people he admires most

"My mother and father came from working-class environments, and we were a working-class family. My father constantly worked night shifts, and at weekends he took the team I played for. My mother was always around, and also worked two or three jobs just to look after my sister and me. She had a work ethic to look after a family and do the very best for us, like all mothers have, he went on."

"Her door was always open. Our house was the one that everybody came to. We were fortunate: we had a bit of grass at the side of the house, so all of my mates would come and play there. She always made tea and toast for them! She had an incredible influence on me, and it's like anything else in life: sometimes, sadly, you really don't appreciate it until it's gone. You don't tell them enough, until it's too late."

Ally McCoist won 61 Scotland caps and scored over 350 goals for Rangers, beginning his career in 1978 and later playing for St Johnstone and Sunderland. Post-retirement roles included team captain on A Question of Sport, commentary for the FIFA video games series, and punditry for broadcasters such as ITV, TNT and Amazon Prime. McCoist credits his working-class parents with instilling a strong work ethic through long hours and community hospitality, noting his mother's constant care and influence. McCoist also regards Walter Smith as a mentor and manager who took more joy from others enjoying success than from personal accolades.

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