Rangers FC - Celtic FC: head to head and statistics

Old Firm: The history of the rivalry that divided Glasgow

The Celtic – Rangers fixture, known as the Old Firm, is one of the most famous football derbies in the world. Rangers were founded in 1872 and quickly became a major force in Scottish football. Celtic were founded in 1887 in Glasgow's East End, with the Irish Marist Brother Walfrid among the key figures behind the club's creation. The club was established to help raise money to provide food for poor children and families in Glasgow's working-class East End, an area with a large Irish immigrant population.

The first match between Celtic and Rangers took place on 28 May 1888 and ended in a 5–2 victory for Celtic. It was a friendly match and also the first game in the history of the newly founded Celtic. Contemporary reports described the atmosphere around the match as friendly.

The term "Old Firm" appeared only several years later. One of the best-documented explanations links its origins to a publication in the Scottish magazine The Scottish Referee in 1904. A satirical cartoon referred to "The Old Firm of Rangers, Celtic Ltd.", suggesting that both clubs benefited financially from the enormous interest generated by their matches.

Religious and social background

Over time, the rivalry came to reflect deep social and religious divisions within Glasgow. Celtic became strongly associated with the city's Irish Catholic community, while Rangers were traditionally associated with Scottish Protestantism and unionism. The divide was also connected with political and social developments in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

For much of the 20th century, Rangers operated an informal policy of not signing Catholic players. One of the most significant moments in the history of this policy came with the signing of Mo Johnston in 1989. The former Celtic player and practising Catholic joined Rangers, becoming the first openly Catholic player signed by the club after the policy had been established. The transfer caused enormous controversy in Scottish football.

Differences between the fanbases

Celtic supporters have traditionally identified strongly with the club's Irish heritage. Irish flags can be seen in the stands, while some of the songs sung by supporters refer to Irish history and the Irish diaspora. The social and charitable work associated with Celtic is also an important part of the club's identity, with its roots reaching back to the work of Brother Walfrid.

Supporters of Rangers have traditionally been more closely associated with British unionism, the United Kingdom and the monarchy. This can be seen, among other things, in the presence of the Union Jack and in some of the songs traditionally sung by supporters.

Both fan communities also have a history of sectarian behaviour, and tensions between supporters have been the subject of efforts by both clubs and public authorities for many years. At the same time, modern supporters of the two clubs should not be viewed as uniform religious or political groups. For many of them, the most important factors are their attachment to the club, family tradition and local identity.

Domestic and European success

In the Scottish championship, Celtic have won 56 league titles, while Rangers have won 55. This means that the two clubs have overwhelmingly dominated the history of Scottish league football.

In Europe, the picture is different.

Celtic were the first British club to win the European Cup. They achieved this in 1967 in Lisbon, where the team managed by Jock Stein defeated Inter Milan 2–1. The team became known as the Lisbon Lions. All 11 players who started the final were born within 30 miles of Celtic Park.

In 1970, Celtic reached the European Cup final again but lost 2–1 to Feyenoord after extra time. It was the club's second appearance in the final of the competition.

Rangers won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1972, defeating Dynamo Moscow 3–2 in the final at Camp Nou. It remains the club's only victory in a UEFA European competition.

In 2008, Rangers reached the final of the UEFA Cup, where they lost 2–0 to Zenit St Petersburg. Fourteen years later, the Scottish club reached another European final. In 2022, Rangers played Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League final. The match finished 1–1 after extra time, with the German club winning the penalty shootout.

Who has had greater success?

In terms of the most prestigious European trophy, Celtic have the stronger record. The club from Glasgow won the European Cup in 1967, while Rangers won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1972. Rangers have also reached two finals of Europe's second-tier competition, in the 2008 UEFA Cup and the 2022 Europa League.

The rivalry between Celtic and Rangers, however, is about much more than a comparison of trophies. Over more than a century, the two clubs have become part of the social history of Glasgow, and their matches remain one of the most distinctive features of Scottish football.