Stuttgart boss Markus Babbel can’t wait to lock horns with Rangers manager Walter Smith in the clubs’ Champions League clash tonight.

While Smith has been in management for over 30 years, former Liverpool defender Babbel has only been in his role for 10 months.

And having come across both Smith and defender David Weir in Merseyside derbies, Babbel is full of respect for the Rangers boss ahead of their Group G showdown.

He said: “It is a great challenge for me to compete against a wily old fox like Walter Smith.

“I can only pay him compliments for everything he has achieved in his coaching career. He has a huge amount of experience in all aspects of the game.

“He is someone who has always managed to guide Rangers into the Champions League or to the important stages of good competitions, even though the Scottish Premier League is maybe not the strongest in the world.

“He has also managed the Scottish national team and achieved good results so, again, all I can say is my compliments to his achievements in football.”