The Old Firm Rivalry

Lore & Background

Between them the two clubs are among the most trophied in the world, having won a combined 111 Scottish League championships (Celtic with 56 and Rangers with 55), 77 Scottish Cups (Celtic with 43 and Rangers with 34), and 50 Scottish League Cups (Rangers with 28 and Celtic with 22). Interruptions to their ascendancy have occurred rarely, mainly in the two decades after the Second World War from 1946 to 1965 when five other clubs won the league, and in the first half of the 1980s with the challenge of the New Firm of Aberdeen and Dundee United. Since the 1985–86 season, one half of the Old Firm has won the Scottish League every season, and in all but one of seventeen seasons between 1995–96 and 2011–12, both clubs finished in the top two places. In the early 2010s, Rangers endured financial difficulties, and its holding company was liquidated in 2012. Subsequently, the club had to apply for entry to the bottom (fourth) tier of the Scottish league. As a result of the liquidation, many Celtic supporters maintain that the current Rangers is distinct from the pre-2012 club, and the rivalry no longer exists under the Old Firm identity. Instead, they (and often Celtic themselves) use the more generic term Glasgow derby to refer to the rivalry. While Rangers climbed back through the divisions, Celtic were champions in each of the next nine campaigns; Rangers won the title in 2020–21 to prevent a tenth for Celtic, which would have beaten a record set by Celtic in the 1960s and 1970s and matched by Rangers in the 1980s and 1990s. As of 10 May 2026, Celtic and Rangers have played each other 452 times in major competitions; both clubs have won 172 matches each, with 108 ending in a draw. The origin of the term is unclear but may derive from the two clubs' initial match in which the commentators referred to the teams as 'like two old, firm friends', or alternatively may stem from a satirical cartoon published in 'The Scottish Referee' sports newspaper prior to the 1904 Scottish Cup final between the sides, depicting an elderly man with a sandwich board reading 'Patronise The Old Firm: Rangers, Celtic Ltd', highlighting the mutual commercial benefits of their meetings. The name may also be a reference to these two teams being among the original eleven members of the Scottish Football League formed in 1890. At the turn of the 21st century, the two clubs jointly registered

In Their Own Story

The air inside Ibrox was thick enough to taste, a mixture of cold rain, stale beer, and electric tension. As the players emerged from the tunnel, the roar that greeted them was not just noise; it was a physical force that vibrated through the concrete stands. A sea of blue scarves swayed in unison on one side, while the green and white hoops on the opposing terrace created a visual storm. The referee blew his whistle, but for the next ninety minutes, the rules of football felt secondary to the ancient narrative playing out on the grass. Every tackle was a declaration, every goal a conquest, and the silence that followed a missed chance was heavier than the roar itself.

Reader's Guide

The competition between the two clubs had roots in more than just a simple sporting rivalry. It has as much to do with Northern Ireland as Scotland and this can be seen in the flags, cultural symbols, and emblems of both clubs. It was infused with a series of complex disputes, sometimes centred on religion (Protestant and Catholic), Northern Ireland-related politics (Loyalist and Republican), national identity (British or Irish Scots), and social ideology (conservatism and socialism). Another primary contributor to the intensity of the rivalry in the west of Scotland was that Rangers supporters are historically native Scots and Ulster Scots, and Celtic supporters are historically Irish-Scots. Although the confrontation between the two sets of supporters was often labelled as 'Sectarianism', 'Native-Immigrant tension' was an equally accurate catalyst for hostility between the two teams' supports in Scotland. Rangers' traditional support was largely from the Protestant community, and for decades the club had an unwritten rule whereby they would not knowingly sign a player of the Catholic faith. The policy was decried by Graeme Souness when he became manager, and he brought ex-Celtic forward Mo Johnston to the club in a very public move away from the practice, which no longer continues. Celtic's support was largely from those of Irish Roman Catholic backgrounds and while the club practiced no exclusion of Protestants and signed many of them to play for the team, there was a pro-Catholic mindset among some of the employees. One effect is that Scottish flags are rarer than might be expected amongst both sets of supporters; Celtic fans are more likely to wave the Irish tricolour while Rangers fans tend to wave the Union Jack. Celtic were founded in 1887 on the promise that the club would deliver much-needed money and resources to a poverty-stricken Irish Catholic population in East Glasgow (although records indicated little of this income reached those causes) and quickly drew large crowds at their matches, becoming a symbol for that section of the local population which were marginalised in other areas of society and had previously shown little interest in the emerging sport. Rangers had been founded 15 years earlier in 1872 and had no particular religious leanings in their early decades, indeed they were described by the press as friends of Celtic in match repor

Did You Know?

• The clubs have large fan bases around Glasgow and Scotland and have supporters clubs in many towns throughout Scotland and in cities around the world.
• In 2005 the presence of Rangers and Celtic was estimated to be worth £120 million to the Scottish economy each year.
• The 1902 Ibrox disaster occurred during a Scotland vs. England international match, not an Old Firm fixture.
• Rangers' 2012 status change was an administrative demotion by the SFA following liquidation, not a sporting relegation.

Historical Dominance and Trophy Haul

This dominance has been nearly absolute; since the 1985–86 season, one of these two Glasgow giants has claimed the league title every single year. This statistical supremacy underscores why matches between them are not merely local fixtures but events of global significance, reflecting a competitive balance that has defined Scottish football for over a century.

Sectarian Roots and Cultural Identity

Beyond the pitch, this rivalry is deeply entrenched in complex social, religious, and political divisions mirroring tensions in Northern Ireland. Historically, Rangers drew support from Protestant communities and native Scots, while Celtic became a symbol for Irish-Scots Catholics marginalized by society. This divide manifested in unwritten policies, such as Rangers' historical refusal to sign Catholic players until the 1980s under Graeme Souness, who publicly challenged this exclusion. While modern schools show more mixing of fans, the cultural symbols remain potent; Celtic supporters often display Irish tricolours, whereas Rangers fans frequently wave Union Jacks. The conflict is fueled by a blend of religious sectarianism, national identity disputes between British and Irish Scots, and social ideologies ranging from conservatism to socialism, making every encounter a reflection of broader societal fractures within Scotland.

Financial Crisis and the Rebirth

The early 2010s marked a seismic shift in this historic contest when Rangers faced severe financial collapse, leading to their liquidation in 2012. The club was forced to re-enter the Scottish league system at the bottom tier, creating a unique period where Celtic won nine consecutive titles while Rangers climbed back through the divisions. This era sparked intense debate among supporters regarding the continuity of the rivalry; many Celtic fans and even some within the club argued that the post-liquidation entity was distinct from the pre-2012 institution, preferring the term 'Glasgow derby' over 'Old Firm.' However, the narrative shifted in 2020–21 when Rangers reclaimed the title, preventing a record-breaking tenth consecutive championship for Celtic and reigniting the competitive fire that had been dormant during the reconstruction years.

Global Reach and Economic Impact

The influence of these two clubs extends far beyond Glasgow, boasting massive supporter bases with dedicated fan clubs in towns across Scotland and cities worldwide. Their cultural footprint is so profound that they jointly registered 'Old Firm' as a trademark at the Intellectual Property Office, a status maintained through renewals into 2021.