Planet Rangers

History Of Glasgow Rangers Football Club

The Glasgow Rangers Football Club is one of the top teams in Scotland. They have one of the most storied histories of any soccer club in the world. They have more trophies and league titles than any other club in the world. In over 130 years of play, there have only been a dozen managers. That remarkable consistency has made the Rangers one of the best teams in the world.

History

The club was formed in 1872 by a rowing team in Glasgow, Scotland. In 1876, the team began playing a formal schedule. In 1890, the Rangers were one of the ten founding teams of the Scottish Premier League. Along with Celtic, the Rangers have played in the Premier League every year of its existence. They have never faced relegation. The Rangers shared the league title the first year, setting the stage for their long tradition of greatness. In 1894, the Rangers hoisted their first Scottish Cup. The Rangers won every match during the 1898-99 season to seal another league championship. The early part of the twentieth century saw the Rangers battle Celtic for dominance in the English Premier League. Celtic dominated the first decade of the century, but the Rangers started regaining form. They scored over one hundred goals in the 1920 season, but lost their original manager when William Wilton died. His assistant, Bill Struth, took over the club.

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Under Struth, the Rangers continued to build their reputation as an elite force. He managed the club for 34 years, winning 18 league titles and 10 Scottish Cups. Scot Symon took over for Struth in 1954 and continued the team's successful run. They reached the European Cup for the first time during the 1956-57 season. Symon's era ended after Celtic overtook the Rangers as the dominant team in Scotland during the 1960's. Between 1964 and 1975, the Rangers failed to win a Scottish Premier League title. Tragedy also struck the team in 1971. During a game against Celtic at Ibrox, the stadium the Rangers have called home throughout most of their history, an incident on the stairs led to the deaths of 66 spectators.

In 1972, the Rangers claimed their only European title. They won the Cup Winner's Cup by defeating a team from Russia. The Rangers have reached several international competitions since. However, they have yet to bring home another trophy. The late 1980's and the 1990's saw the Rangers dominate the Scottish Premier League. They won a stunning nine titles in a row. Walter Smith was the manager for the last six of those championships, but he left after seven years. After a couple of other managers, Smith returned to the Rangers in 2007. He promptly led them to the final match of the UEFA Cup. They won the Scottish Premier League title in 2009 and 2010, leading to automatic spots in the Champion's League.

Legacy

The Rangers have won 53 Scottish Premier League titles. That puts them well ahead of their main rival Celtic and their 42 league titles. They have also taken home 33 Scottish Cups and 26 League Cups. That makes them the most decorated soccer club in the world. They have played at Ibrox Stadium for over one hundred years. The club has two huge rivalries with Celtic and Aberdeen. The record attendance at Ibrox was over 118,000 people for a 1939 match against Celtic. Currently, the stadium seats around 50,000 spectators.

John Greig played in over 750 games for the Rangers between 1960 and 1978. That remains the record for any player. Sandy Archibald holds the record for most appearances in Scottish Premier League matches. Barry Ferguson holds the record for appearances in European competitions. Ally McCoist holds the scoring record for the Rangers. He scored 355 goals in the 1980's and 1990's. With their storied history and elite play, the Rangers are sure to add to their strong legacy. Every year, they are a favorite to win another Scottish title.