Gordon Smith, the chief executive of the SFA, has urged Rangers to "become legends" by winning the Uefa Cup final.

The former Rangers striker believes Walter Smith's side can overcome Zenit St Petersburg in Manchester on May 14 after fending off Fiorentina in Florence last night. The penalty shoot-out victory after two goalless legs of the semi-final has kept Rangers on course for a spectacular quadruple of trophies this season. Rangers have won just one European trophy in their history, the 1972 European Cup Winners' Cup, and SFA chief Smith hopes they do the Scottish game proud in 12 days' time.

"This is the biggest games these players will be playing in, unless they achieve something after this," Smith said. "Over the years at Rangers they just get so used to winning league titles. One team that's remembered is the 1972 side and they still talk about it and the players are revered. These players need to realise what they've got themselves into here, a European final and a chance to become legends at the club."

Rangers will face a team led by former manager Dick Advocaat in the final, and the omens for the Scots are good as it was another Russian team, Dynamo Moscow, they beat in 1972.

The SFA chief believes Scottish football has already received a massive shot in the arm with Rangers' run to the final, five years after Celtic did likewise in the same competition.

"I think everyone takes notice if you get a team from your league into a European final," Smith said. "It's tremendous that Celtic achieved it in 2003 and now Rangers have managed to do it. It's great that you get clubs from our league getting into these major games because we want to see the game get a real boost here in Scotland.

"In the Champions League, English football has got a tremendous boost this year with three teams in the semi-final and two in the final, and now Scotland is getting a team through as well.

"It's quite a shock as well because you've got to consider it was Bayern Munich and Fiorentina who were the two losing semi-finalists."

Sir Alex Ferguson, who played for Rangers in the late 1960s, was thrilled for his old club.

Ferguson said: "I'm delighted for Walter, it's fantastic for him. My phone never stopped ringing last night, they think because the game is in Manchester that you have got all the tickets! It's fantastic for the club and they will bring about 50,000 fans down here."

Police have urged Rangers fans not to travel to Manchester for the final, unless they have a ticket for the match.