There are few more famous club sides in the United Kingdom than Rangers. The Scottish team is one of the most followed in Europe, with many fans opting to follow the club despite being born in England or Wales.
Rangers have achieved major victories throughout their history, but it hasn’t all been about the high points. The club survived a financial crisis in the early 2010s, which led to a shock administration.
Due to their recent successes, the Gers are often considered a top choice when placing bets with sportsbooks featured on this website. Additionally, you can explore betting opportunities with a no deposit bonus. Let’s explore the rich and storied history of Glasgow Rangers in greater detail.
Early History
Glasgow Rangers were formed by four brothers in March 1872. The club played its first official match just two years later against Callander. David Hill was the founding member of the team, and the first official staff members were elected in 1873. A historic moment for the team was achieved in 1876 when Moses McNeil became the first international player for the club. The first major cup success was achieved in 1878 after beating Vale of Leven in the Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup.
The 1890-91 season marked the start of a new era for football in Scotland, with the establishment of the top-flight league. It was also during this first season of top-flight football that Rangers started to play their fixtures at Ibrox Stadium. A first-ever league win was achieved in August 1890, before the Gers finished joint top of the standings, with the league title being shared with Dumbarton for the only time in history.
The club’s first Scottish Cup success was achieved in 1894 after defeating arch-rivals Celtic in the final. The end of the 19th century was hugely successful for Rangers, with the club winning two league titles and the Scottish Cup on three occasions.
Ibrox Disaster & European Success
One of the darkest moments in the history of Rangers would come on January 2, 1971, as the Ibrox Disaster claimed the lives of 66 fans. The incident occurred after a large-scale crushing on the stairway following an Old Firm clash. The report following the incident claimed that the crush would have likely happened regardless after ten minutes following the full-time whistle. Celtic and Rangers joined forces in the aftermath to raise funds for the families of the victims who were involved in the disaster.
A moment of celebration would follow the disaster, as 12 months after the incident, Rangers would achieve their first European success. Willie Johnston netted twice in a 3-2 success against Dynamo Moscow to lead the Gers to a European Cup Winners’ Cup success at the Nou Camp. However, the fans’ behavior after storming the pitch following the victory would see Rangers initially banned from European competition for two seasons before the ban was reduced to a year.
Nine-In-A-Row Domination
The period between 1988 and 1997 would be a hugely successful run for Rangers, as the club would win the SPL title on nine straight occasions. The record matched the feat achieved by Celtic, with Walter Smith guiding the Scottish giants to six league titles. Dick Advocaat would become the first foreign manager in the club’s history in 1998, and the Dutchman would win the league title on two occasions.
Walter Smith made a shock return to the club in 2007, and club legend Ally McCoist joined him in the dugout. The duo led the Gers to the UEFA Cup final in 2008, attracting 200,000 fans to Manchester for the event. However, despite the massive support, the club suffered a 2-0 defeat. The next two seasons would end with SPL glory before McCoist took over the permanent job following Smith’s departure.
Administration & Battle Through Lower Leagues
The darkest day in the club’s history would arrive in February 2012, as the Gers were placed into administration. After four months, the initial company for Rangers was put into liquidation, and the newly formed company to take over the club saw the Gers placed into the Third Division. The club immediately set its sights on getting back into the top flight after winning the fourth-tier title in 2013.
Back-to-back promotions would later follow, but the Gers would fail to make it out of the Championship at the first time of asking in 2014-15. But, Mark Warburton was an inspired appointment, as he led the club to automatic promotion in 2015-16, as well as reaching the Scottish Cup final.
Return To The Top
A new era arrived at Ibrox following the appointment of former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard in May 2018. Gerrard was tasked with landing a first league title since entering administration, and despite early issues, he was finally able to get over the line when winning the 2020-21 title after going undefeated and picking up a club-record haul of 102 points.
However, Gerrard’s head was turned by the prospect of managing in the Premier League, which saw the England star replaced by Giovanni van Bronckhorst in November 2021. The Dutchman would enjoy an excellent stay at the club, leading them to a first European final in 14 years before losing on penalties against Eintracht Frankfurt.
However, it has been an indifferent period since his departure, with Michael Beale being axed following poor results in October 2023. However, the challenge of bringing more success to the club now rests on the shoulders of Philippe Clement. The initial signs following his appointment have been incredibly promising as the club looks back on the right track.
Conclusion
There have been few more successful teams in Scottish history than Rangers, meaning that there is always the pressure to win when playing for the club. The end of the 2023-24 season promises to be a thrilling one for the Gers as they remain in the hunt to win the league title.
However, they will likely need to win all remaining fixtures to finish ahead of Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.