History UsefulNotes / ScottishPremierLeague

** The joint biggest and most successful club in Scotland (and officially in all of world football), Rangers have claimed 54 League Championships, 33 Scottish Cups, 27 League Cups, the 1972 Cup Winners Cup, [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg the 2013 Third Division, 2014 League One and 2016 Championship titles]] to their name. The club fell into major financial difficulties in 2011, following the mismanagement of owners David Murray and Craig Whyte, went through administration and liquidation events in summer 2012, resulting in them being thrown out of the league and re-entering the Third (bottom) Division (now known as Scottish League Two). Ibrox Stadium, along with all the clubs assets and history were acquired by a new company - this has caused some contention as Rangers supporters maintain the club's history remains intact whereas just about everyone else sees them as a new club which started in 2012. [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment The football authorities both in Scotland and UEFA consider the club's history to remain unbroken]]. [[HesBack Finally won back promotion in the 2015/16 season]]. Now managed by Liverpool F.C. icon Steven Gerrard, who became manager for the 2018/19 season after having been a coach in Liverpool's youth setup. The official club colours are royal blue, white and red, with a blue shirt and white shorts at home.

* [[OpposingSportsTeam Opposing Sports Teams]]

* UnderdogsNeverLose: [[AvertedTrope Averted]], because RealityEnsues.

** The joint biggest and most successful club in Scotland (and officially in all of world football), Rangers have claimed 54 League Championships, 33 Scottish Cups, 27 League Cups, the 1972 Cup Winners Cup, [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg the 2013 Third Division, 2014 League One and 2016 Championship titles]] to their name. The club fell into major financial difficulties in 2011, following the mismanagement of owners David Murray and Craig Whyte, went through administration and liquidation events in summer 2012, resulting in them being thrown out of the league and re-entering the Third (bottom) Division (now known as Scottish League Two). Ibrox Stadium, along with all the clubs assets and history were acquired by a new company - this has caused some contention as Rangers supporters maintain the club's history remains intact whereas just about everyone else sees them as a new club which started in 2012. [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment The football authorities both in Scotland and UEFA consider the club's history to remain unbroken]]. [[HesBack Finally won back promotion in the 2015/16 season]]. Now managed by Liverpool F.C. icon Steven Gerrard, who became manager for the 2018/19 season after having been a coach in Liverpool's youth setup.

* InternationalShowdownByProxy: Sadly the way in which the Old Firm rivalry has commonly operated, with regards to [[UsefulNotes/TheTroubles Northern Ireland]].

The team with the most points at the end of the season are crowned Champions, and the team with the least amount of points are relegated to the Scottish Championship (which replaced the former Scottish Football League First Division in 2013) and replaced by the winners of the Championship. The 2013–14 season was the first for a promotion/relegation play-off involving the 11th-placed team from the Premiership and the teams placed 2nd through 4th in the Championship, with the winner either remaining in or promoted to the Premiership. In the event of a tie, goal difference and then goals scored are used as tiebreakers between teams.

[[folder:Members of the Scottish Premiership (2017–18 season):]]

** Stadium: Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen (capacity 21,421)

** Stadium: Celtic Park, Glasgow (capacity: 60,355)

** 46 times Champions of Scotland, Celtic won the final two Scottish Premier League trophies in 2012 and 2013, and the first two Scottish Premiership crowns in 2014 and 2015. Celtic, who became the first British side to win the European Cup in 1967 with the legendary 'Lisbon Lions', are one of the two biggest clubs in Scotland and among the most famous and well-supported sides in world football. Ancient enemies of Rangers, the absence of their bitter rivals made them the far-away favourites to retain the title for some time. Celtic play in distinctive green and white hooped shirts. Irish billionaire Dermot Desmond is the majority shareholder. Caught in a scandal in [[TheNineties the 1990s]] when it was revealed that the manager of the Celtic Boys Club, Jim Torbett, had been sexually abusing the younger players during his tenure in TheSeventies. Rangers and Hearts fans like to chant "Big Jock Knew", referring to Jock Stein, Celtic director at the time, who (literally) kicked Torbett out of the club but took no further action. Currently managed by Brendan Rodgers, who despite nearly taking Liverpool to their first title in quarter of a century, was an appointment regarded with scepticism, but under his stewardship, Celtic romped to the 2016/17 title.

** Stadium: Dens Park (capacity: 11,850)
** Manager: Paul Hartley

** Stadium: New Douglas Park, Hamilton (capacity: 6,078)

** Stadium: Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh (capacity: 17,529)
** Manager: None. Running of the team is split between Head Coach Robbie Neilson and Director of Football Craig Levein.

** Last Season in the Premiership: 2013/14
** Currently: In the Championship
** The green and white half of the two Edinburgh sides. Hibs were the first British club to play in European football, and their most celebrated sides include the "Famous Five" of the 1950s and "Turnbull's Tornadoes" of the 1970s. They have been Champions four times (the last time in 1952) and their last trophy was the 2016 Scottish Cup, which was their first victory in that competition in ''114 years''. Survived a hostile takeover attempt from then-Hearts chairman Wallace Mercer in the 1980s and have since been owned by Sir Tom Farmer. In the 2013–14 season, were in mid-table until going their final 13 games without a win, which sent them into the promotion/relegation play-off. Hibs lost the play-off final to Hamilton Academical on penalties. Their fanbase has an amusing ability to embarrass itself, a notable example being their cringeworthy "Relegation Party" at Tynecastle during the 2013-14 season, when it looked like they might be the team to relegate old rivals Hearts. [[WhosLaughingNow Hearts beat them 2-0 and Hibs ended up relegated as well, having scored even fewer points once Hearts' deduction for going into administration was taken into account.]]

** Stadium: Rugby Park, Kilmarnock (capacity: 18,128)
** Manager: Lee Clark

** Manager: Mark [=McGhee=]

* '''Partick Thistle'''
** Founded: 1876
** Nicknames: The Jags
** Stadium: Firhill Stadium, Glasgow (capacity: 10,102)
** Manager: Alan Archibald
** Thistle, playing in yellow and red stripes, retain the Partick name despite being based in the Maryhill area since 1909. The Jags, one of the non-Old Firm Glasgow clubs, had a short spell in the SPL from 2004 to 2006 which took place in the middle of a chaotic series of relegations and promotions. They were promoted to the Premiership in 2013.

** Stadium: Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow (capacity: 51,082)
** Manager: Mark Warburton
** The joint biggest and most successful club in Scotland (and officially in all of world football), Rangers have claimed 54 League Championships, 33 Scottish Cups, 27 League Cups, the 1972 Cup Winners Cup, [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg the 2013 Third Division, 2014 League One and 2016 Championship titles]] to their name. The club fell into major financial difficulties in 2011, following the mismanagement of owners David Murray and Craig Whyte, went through administration and liquidation events in summer 2012, resulting in them being thrown out of the league and re-entering the Third (bottom) Division (now known as Scottish League Two). Ibrox Stadium, along with all the clubs assets and history were acquired by a new company - this has caused some contention as Rangers supporters maintain the club's history remains intact whereas just about everyone else sees them as a new club which started in 2012. [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment The football authorities both in Scotland and UEFA consider the club's history to remain unbroken]]. [[HesBack Finally won back promotion in the 2015/16 season]].
* '''Ross County'''
** Founded: 1929
** Nicknames: The Staggies
** Stadium: Victoria Park, Dingwall, Ross-shire (capacity: 6,541)
** Manager: Jim [=McIntyre=]
** Members of the Highland League for the majority of their history, County joined the League along with their local rivals ICT in 1994. Slowly working their way up the ranks ever since, County reached the final of the 2010 Scottish Cup after beating Celtic 2-0 in the semi-final. They reached the Premier League for the first time in their history in 2012, replacing ICT as its northernmost member. County play in dark blue, and their nickname (The Staggies) comes from their badge, which features a Caberfeidh, or Stag’s Head.

** Founder members of the SPL. Relegated for the first time in 2007 before returning in 2011. Financial problems have plagued them since their 2012 relegation.

** Stadium: Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk (capacity: 9,200)

** Gretna spent most of their history playing in the English non-league, despite being based in Scotland. They made several attempts to return to the Scottish system before joining the Scottish Football League in 2002. With the financial backing of English businessman Brooks Mileson, the club shot through the leagues and became the first second division team to take part in the UEFA Cup in 2006. They reached the SPL in 2007, but spent most of it in last place. The club hit financial difficulties when Mileson fell fatally ill and removed his backing. Following relegation, they withdrew their League membership were formally dissolved in August 2008.

** Stadium: Caledonian Stadium, Inverness (capacity: 7,918)
** Manager: Richie Foran
** Highland League sides Caledonian FC and Inverness Thistle merged in 1994 to form the new club with the intention of joining the restructured Football League. Their subsequent rise through the ranks was significant and they first really began to catch attention in 2000 when they knocked Celtic out of the Scottish Cup, prompting the following iconic headline in ''The Sun'': SUPER CALEY GO BALLISTIC CELTIC ARE ATROCIOUS.[[note]]This headline is framed in the foyer of their stadium.[[/note]] They first reached the SPL in 2004 and returned in 2010, qualifying for Europe for the first time in 2013. Their home kit is blue and red, a combination of the colours of the predecessor clubs (Caledonian blue, Inverness Thistle red and black stripes).
* '''Livingston'''
** Founded: 1943
** Nicknames: Livi
** Stadium: Almondvale Stadium, Livingston (10,122)
** Last Season in the SPL: 2005/06
** Currently: In League One (former Second Division)
** Originally known as Ferranti Thistle, they became Meadowbank Thistle upon joining the SFL in 1974. In 1995 they left their first home, Edinburgh, for the new town of Livingston, and adopted that name. In 2001 they reached the SPL and in 2002 finished third in the league, qualifying for European football. They first hit financial troubles in 2004 and were relegated in 2006. Further money troubles saw them demoted to the Third Division, but they are currently secure and made it back to the Championship for a few seasons before dropping to League One for the 2016/17 season.
* '''St Mirren'''
** Founded: 1877
** Nicknames: The Buddies, The Saints
** Stadium: St Mirren Park, Paisley (capacity: 8,029)
** Last Season in the Premiership: 2014/15

** The black and white striped club are Paisley's only senior football club. They are named after Saint Mirin, the Patron Saint of Paisley. They have won the Scottish Cup three times, most recently in 1987, and have a famous annual competition with nearby lower division rivals Greenock Morton called the Renfrewshire Cup.

* ButtMonkey: Most relegated sides, especially Gretna, who finished last in their final season as a football team with the lowest ever points tally of just 13. After they were stripped of ten for becoming insolvent.
** Partick Thistle are the common target for jokes about very poor teams. Though it may be a case of WhosLaughingNow considering Partick Thistle finished 2012-13 at the top of the First Division, and are now in the Premiership.
** Rangers, time in the lower leagues is proving to make them the bud of many jokes. Despite winning the Scottish 3rd Division, very comfortably, every draw or loss was met with ridicule. After all their team of rich professionals are now up against part-timers working jobs on the side. The three losses in particular, [[DavidVersusGoliath against Stirling Albion, Annan Athletic and Peterhead]] respectively, were a source of much derision.

* ThrowTheDogABone: Bottom club and ButtMonkey Dundee looked to be saved by Hearts' insolvency. [[YankTheDogsChain It was not to be]]... at least for [[HesBack one season]].

* BigBad: Usually the manager of an opposing team, or part of the "the establishment", or the owner of one's own club, or the referee, or the English, or the Celtic/Rangers/Glasgow/Edinburgh/Central Belt media mafia or fans of another team - everyone can trace all their own sides problems back to one central figure.

[[folder:Members of the Scottish Premiership (2016–17 season):]]

* '''Inverness Caledonian Thistle'''
** Founded: 1994
** Nicknames: Caley Thistle, Caley
** Stadium: Caledonian Stadium, Inverness (capacity: 7,918)
** Manager: Richie Foran
** Highland League sides Caledonian FC and Inverness Thistle merged in 1994 to form the new club with the intention of joining the restructured Football League. Their subsequent rise through the ranks was significant and they first really began to catch attention in 2000 when they knocked Celtic out of the Scottish Cup, prompting the following iconic headline in ''The Sun'': SUPER CALEY GO BALLISTIC CELTIC ARE ATROCIOUS.[[note]]This headline is framed in the foyer of their stadium.[[/note]] They first reached the SPL in 2004 and returned in 2010, qualifying for Europe for the first time in 2013. Their home kit is blue and red, a combination of the colours of the predecessor clubs (Caledonian blue, Inverness Thistle red and black stripes).

* '''Hibernian'''
** Founded: 1875
** Nicknames: Hibs, The Hibees
** Stadium: Easter Road, Edinburgh (capacity: 20,421)
** Last Season in the Premiership: 2013/14
** Currently: In the Championship
** The green and white half of the two Edinburgh sides. Hibs were the first British club to play in European football, and their most celebrated sides include the "Famous Five" of the 1950s and "Turnbull's Tornadoes" of the 1970s. They have been Champions four times (the last time in 1952) and their last trophy was the 2016 Scottish Cup, which was their first victory in that competition in ''114 years''. Survived a hostile takeover attempt from then-Hearts chairman Wallace Mercer in the 1980s and have since been owned by Sir Tom Farmer. In the 2013–14 season, were in mid-table until going their final 13 games without a win, which sent them into the promotion/relegation play-off. Hibs lost the play-off final to Hamilton Academical on penalties. Their fanbase has an amusing ability to embarrass itself, a notable example being their cringeworthy "Relegation Party" at Tynecastle during the 2013-14 season, when it looked like they might be the team to relegate old rivals Hearts. [[WhosLaughingNow Hearts beat them 2-0 and Hibs ended up relegated as well, having scored even fewer points once Hearts' deduction for going into administration was taken into account.]]

* InternationalShowdownByProxy: Sadly the way in which the Old Firm rivalry has commonly operated, with regards to [[TheTroubles Northern Ireland]].

[[caption-width-right:350:A two-horse race where one horse just got back from the vet.]]

The SPL was nowhere near as big a financial success as the UsefulNotes/EnglishPremierLeague that inspired it, and during the SPL's history, SIX clubs have entered into insolvency: Motherwell, Dundee (twice), Livingston, Gretna, Rangers and Hearts. Gretna went out of business altogether, whereas Rangers were thrown out of the league altogether and had to start again from the very bottom. Livingston suffered a similar fate to Rangers, although they were not actually thrown out of the league, but rather demoted to the bottom division.

** 46 times Champions of Scotland, Celtic won the final two Scottish Premier League trophies in 2012 and 2013, and the first two Scottish Premiership crowns in 2014 and 2015. Celtic, who became the first British side to win the European Cup in 1967, are one of the two biggest clubs in Scotland and among the most famous and well-supported sides in world football. Ancient enemies of Rangers, the absence of their bitter rivals will make them the far-away favourites to retain the title for some time. Celtic play in distinctive green and white hooped shirts. Irish billionaire Dermot Desmond is the majority shareholder. Caught in a scandal in [[TheNineties the 1990s]] when it was revealed that the manager of the Celtic Boys Club, Jim Torbett, had been sexually abusing the younger players during his tenure in TheSeventies. Rangers and Hearts fans like to chant "Big Jock Knew", referring to Jock Stein, Celtic director at the time, who (literally) kicked Torbett out of the club but took no further action.

** The green and white half of the two Edinburgh sides. Hibs were the first British club to play in European football, and their most celebrated sides include the "Famous Five" of the 1950s and "Turnbull's Tornadoes" of the 1970s. They have been Champions four times (the last time in 1952) and their last trophy was the 2016 Scottish Cup, which was their first victory in that competition in ''114 years''. Survived a hostile takeover attempt from then-Hearts chairman Wallace Mercer in the 1980s and have since been owned by Sir Tom Farmer. In the 2013–14 season, were in mid-table until going their final 13 games without a win, which sent them into the promotion/relegation play-off. Hibs lost the play-off final to Hamilton Academical on penalties. Their fanbase has an amusing ability to embarrass itself, a notable example being their cringeworthy "Relegation Party" at Tynecastle during the 2013-14 season, when it looked like they might be the team to relegate old rivals Hearts. [[WhosLaughingNow Hearts beat them 2-0 and Hibs ended up relegated as well, having scored even fewer points once Heart's deduction for going into administration was taken into account.]]

** Manager: ''Vacant''
** Highland League sides Caledonian FC and Inverness Thistle merged in 1994 to form the new club with the intention of joining the restructured Football League. Their subsequent rise through the ranks was significant and they first really began to catch attention in 2000 when they knocked Celtic out of the Scottish Cup, prompting the following iconic headline in ''The Sun'': SUPER CALEY GO BALLISTIC CELTIC ARE ATROCIOUS. They first reached the SPL in 2004 and returned in 2010, qualifying for Europe for the first time in 2013. Their home kit is blue and red, a combination of the colours of the predecessor clubs (Caledonian blue, Inverness Thistle red and black stripes).

[[folder:Members of the Scottish Premiership (2016-17 season):]]

* GodzillaThreshold: Before the SPL/SFL merger, Rangers said that if the merger went through, they [[http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/jan/09/rangers-leave-scottish-football-charles-green would leave Scotland entirely]] and compete in the English leagues. However, they remained in Scotland for 2013–14.

** Averted now that Rangers have been relegated, with second place being the main target for most Premiership clubs.

[[caption-width-right:350:A two-horse race, where one horse is at the vet (they'll be back next season, though).]]

'''Current Holders''': Celtic (have also clinched the 2015/16 season).

[[folder:Members of the Scottish Premiership (2015-16 season):]]

** Manager: Ronny Deila

** Manager: John Hughes (no, not [[Creator/JohnHughes that one]])

** Stadium: Fir Park Stadium, Motherwell (13,677)

** Stadium: Firhill Stadium, Glasgow (10,102)

* '''Rangers'''
** Founded: 1872
** Nicknames: The 'Gers, The Teddy Bears
** Stadium: Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow (capacity: 51,082)
** Last Season in the SPL: 2011/12
** Currently: Playing in the Scottish Championship (formerly known as the First Division)
** The joint biggest and most successful club in Scotland (and officially in all of world football), Rangers have claimed 54 League Championships, 33 Scottish Cups, 27 League Cups, the 1972 Cup Winners Cup, [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg the 2013 Third Division title and 2014 League One title]] to their name. The club fell into major financial difficulties in 2011, following the mismanagement of owners David Murray and Craig Whyte, went through administration and liquidation events in summer 2012, resulting in them being thrown out of the league and re-entering the Third (bottom) Division (now known as Scottish League Two). Ibrox Stadium, along with all the clubs assets and history were acquired by a new company - this has caused some contention as Rangers supporters maintain the club's history remains intact whereas just about everyone else sees them as a new club which started in 2012. [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment The football authorities both in Scotland and UEFA consider the club's history to remain unbroken]]. [[HesBack Finally won back promotion in the 2015/16 season.]]

** Manager: Mixu Paatelainen
** Rose to their greatest achievements in the 1980s under the reign of manager Jim [=McLean=]. The one-time Champions (in 1983) reached the semi-finals of the European Cup in 1984 and were runners up in the 1987 UEFA Cup final. Playing in a vibrant orange first adopted in 1969, United are the dominant force in Dundee and have been far more successful than their close neighbours in recent years. Uniquely, Barcelona have failed to beat them in every competitive match they have played together. Stephen Thompson succeeded his late father as Chairman in 2008.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Former Members:]]

** Currently: In League One (former Second Division)

** Currently: In the Championship
** Originally known as Ferranti Thistle, they became Meadowbank Thistle upon joining the SFL in 1974. In 1995 they left their first home, Edinburgh, for the new town of Livingston, and adopted that name. In 2001 they reached the SPL and in 2002 finished third in the league, qualifying for European football. They first hit financial troubles in 2004 and were relegated in 2006. Further money troubles saw them demoted to the Third Division, but they are currently secure and back in the Championship.

The team with the most points at the end of the season are crowned Champions, and the team with the least amount of points are relegated to the Scottish Championship (which replaced the former Scottish Football League First Division in 2013) and replaced by the winners of the Championship. The 2013–14 season is the first for a promotion/relegation play-off involving the 11th-placed team from the Premiership and the teams placed 2nd through 4th in the Championship, with the winner either remaining in or promoted to the Premiership. In the event of a tie, goal difference and then goals scored are used as tiebreakers between teams.

** The green and white half of the two Edinburgh sides. Hibs were the first British club to play in European football, and their most celebrated sides include the "Famous Five" of the 1950s and "Turnbull's Tornadoes" of the 1970s. They have been Champions four times (the last time in 1952) and their last trophy was in 2007. Infamously, they have not won the Scottish Cup since 1902 and lost the 2012 final to fierce rivals Hearts. Survived a hostile takeover attempt from then-Hearts chairman Wallace Mercer in the 1980s and have since been owned by Sir Tom Farmer. In the 2013–14 season, were in mid-table until going their final 13 games without a win, which sent them into the promotion/relegation play-off. Hibs lost the play-off final to Hamilton Academical on penalties. Their fanbase has an amusing ability to embarrass itself, a notable example being their cringeworthy "Relegation Party" at Tynecastle during the 2013-14 season, when it looked like they might be the team to relegate old rivals Hearts. [[WhosLaughingNow Hearts beat them 2-0 and Hibs ended up relegated as well, having scored even fewer points once Heart's deduction for going into administration was taken into account.]]

* '''Dundee United'''
** Founded: 1909
** Nicknames: The Arabs, The Terrors
** Stadium: Tannadice Park (capacity: 14,229)
** Manager: Mixu Paatelainen
** Rose to their greatest achievements in the 1980s under the reign of manager Jim [=McLean=]. The one-time Champions (in 1983) reached the semi-finals of the European Cup in 1984 and were runners up in the 1987 UEFA Cup final. Playing in a vibrant orange first adopted in 1969, United are the dominant force in Dundee and have been far more successful than their close neighbours in recent years. Uniquely, Barcelona have failed to beat them in every competitive match they have played together. Stephen Thompson succeeded his late father as Chairman in 2008.

-->'''None yet.'''

'''Current Holders''': Celtic

[[folder:Promoted Teams (will play in SPL next season):]]

** Manager: Gary Locke[[note]]not to be confused with [[NamesTheSame the Gary Locke]] who served two terms as the governor of the U.S. state of Washington and as U.S. Commerce Secretary[[/note]]

** Highland League sides Caledonian FC and Inverness Thistle merged in 1994 to form the new club with the intention of joining the restructured Football League. Their subsequent rise through the ranks was significant and they first really began to catch attention in 2000 when they knocked Celtic out of the Scottish Cup, prompting the following iconic headline in ''The Sun'': SUPER CALEY GO BALLISTIC CELTIC ARE ATROCIOUS. They first reached the SPL in 2004 and returned in 2010, qualifying for Europe for the first time in 2013.

** Accies stormed to promotion from the First Division in 2008 and remained for two seasons before being relegated back in 2011. They returned to the Prem by winning the 2014 Championship promotion/relegation play-off. Their biggest contribution to modern football is James [=McArthur=], [[UsefulNotes/EnglishPremierLeague now of Wigan]].

'''Current Holers''': Celtic

[[caption-width-right:350:A two-horse race where one horse is at the vet.]]

[[folder:Former Members:]]

** The joint biggest and most successful club in Scotland (and officially in all of world football), Rangers have claimed 54 League Championships, 33 Scottish Cups, 27 League Cups, the 1972 Cup Winners Cup, [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg the 2013 Third Division title and 2014 League One title]] to their name. The club fell into major financial difficulties in 2011, following the mismanagement of owners David Murray and Craig Whyte, went through administration and liquidation events in summer 2012, resulting in them being thrown out of the league and re-entering the Third (bottom) Division (now known as Scottish League Two). Ibrox Stadium, along with all the clubs assets and history were acquired by a new company - this has caused some contention as Rangers supporters maintain the club's history remains intact whereas just about everyone else sees them as a new club which started in 2012. [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment The football authorities both in Scotland and UEFA consider the club's history to remain unbroken]].