List of Rangers F.C. seasons

Last updated

Rangers Football Club was founded in 1872 and is one of the 11 original members of the Scottish Football League in 1890. [1] The club's home ground, Ibrox Stadium, is in the south-west of Glasgow, Scotland.

Contents

Rangers were the first British club to reach a UEFA tournament final and won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1972 after being runner-up twice in 1961 and 1967. A third runners-up finish in Europe came in the UEFA Cup in 2008. A fourth runners-up finish in Europe came in the Europa League in 2022

The table details the club's achievements in all national and European first team competitions and the top scorers for each season. [2]

Overview

Although Rangers had been playing in the Scottish Cup since season 1874–75, being runners-up twice, they did not compete in an official league until 1890–91. In their very first season the club played eighteen championship matches, also a play-off which they drew and so shared the first ever league title with Dumbarton.

The Scottish League Cup did not begin until season 1946–47, Rangers won the inaugural competition by defeating Aberdeen 4–0 in the final. The 1956–57 season saw the club enter the European arena.

Key
Colour coding
ChampionsRunners-up Promoted Relegated

Seasons

Prior to league formation (1872–1890)

SeasonLeague Scottish
Cup
FA Cup Top goalscorerNotes
DivisionPldWDLGFGAPtsPosNameGoals
1874–75 n/a [3] R2n/a [4] Moses McNeil
David Gibb
1
1875–76 R2 John Campbell 3
1876–77 RU Peter Campbell 5 [5]
1877–78 R4Peter Campbell7
1878–79 RUWilliam Struthers6 [6]
1879–80 R1Archibald Steel
William Struthers
2
1880–81 SFGeorge Angus5 [7]
1881–82 SF David Hill 5
1882–83 R2W Corbett
William Pringle
James Watson
2
1883–84 SF James Gossland 5 [8]
1884–85 QFJames Gossland
Alick McKenzie
Peter Morton
3 [9]
1885–86 R1R1No goals scored0
1886–87 R3SFMatthew Lawrie5 [10]
1887–88 R2n/a [4] John Gow 5 [11]
1888–89 R2 Thomas Wylie 8 [12]
1889–90 R3 Donald Gow
Thomas Wylie
5 [13]

League football era, Pre-war (1890–1939)

SeasonLeague Scottish
Cup
Top goalscorerNotes
DivisionPldWDLGFGAPtsPosNameGoals
1890–91 Scottish League 1813325825291stR1 John McPherson 15 [14] [15]
1891–92 Scottish League2211295946245thSFJohn McPherson12
1892–93 Scottish League1812424127282ndQF Hugh McCreadie 13
1893–94 Division One 188464430204thWJames Steel12 [16]
1894–95 Division One1810264126223rdR1John McPherson]]
John Barker
9
1895–96 Division One 1811435739262ndQF Alex Smith 16
1896–97 Division One 1811346430253rdW Tommy Hyslop
John McPherson
15
1897–98 Division One 1813327115292ndW Robert Hamilton 26
1898–99 Division One 1818007918361stRURobert Hamilton25
1899–1900 Division One 1815216927321stSFRobert Hamilton23
1900–01 Division One 2017126025351stR1Robert Hamilton20
1901–02 Division One 1813234329281stSFRobert Hamilton11
1902–03 Division One 2212555630293rdWRobert Hamilton18
1903–04 Division One 2616648033383rdRURobert Hamilton31
1904–05 Division One 2619348328412ndRURobert Hamilton19
1905–06 Division One 3015785848374thQFRobert Hamilton10
1906–07 Division One 3419786933453rdQF Jimmy Speirs 14
1907–08 Division One 3421857440503rdR2 Robert Campbell 25
1908–09 Division One 3419789138454thFRobert Campbell17 [17]
1909–10 Division One 3420687035463rdR2 Willie Hunter 19
1910–11 Division One 3423659034521stQF Willie Reid 41
1911–12 Division One 3424378634511stR2Willie Reid34
1912–13 Division One 3424557641531stR3Willie Reid23
1913–14 Division One 3827567931592ndR3Willie Reid25
1914–15 Division One 38234117447503rdn/a [18] Willie Reid28
1915–16 Division One 3825678739562ndWillie Reid21
1916–17 Division One 3824596832533rd Charlie Duncan 15
1917–18 Division One 3425636624561st Tommy Cairns
Jimmy Gordon
11
1918–19 Division One 3426538616572nd David McLean 29
1919–20 Division One 42319210625711stSF Andy Cunningham 25
1920–21 Division One 4235619124761stRUAndy Cunningham27
1921–22 Division One 42281048326662ndRU Geordie Henderson 27
1922–23 Division One 3823966729551stR2Geordie Henderson24
1923–24 Division One 3825947229591stR3Geordie Henderson23
1924–25 Division One 38251037626601stSFGeordie Henderson32
1925–26 Division One 38196137955446thSFAndy Cunningham
Jimmy Fleming
20
1926–27 Division One 38231058541561stQFJimmy Fleming21
1927–28 Division One 38268410936601stWJimmy Fleming37 [19] [20]
1928–29 Division One 38307110732671stRUJimmy Fleming40
1929–30 Division One 3828469432601stWJimmy Fleming33 [21]
1930–31 Division One 3827659629601stR2 Bob McPhail 22
1931–32 Division One 38285511842612ndW Sam English 53 [22]
1932–33 Division One 382610211343621stR3 Jimmy Smith 35
1933–34 Division One 38306211841661stWJimmy Smith46 [22] [21]
1934–35 Division One 3825589646551stWJimmy Smith44
1935–36 Division One 38277411043612ndWJimmy Smith37
1936–37 Division One 3826938832611stR1Jimmy Smith31
1937–38 Division One 38181377549493rdSFJimmy Smith25
1938–39 Division One 38259411255591stR3 Alex Venters 37
1939–40 Division One 54101439 Willie Thornton 5 [23]

Football during and after the Second World War (1940–1955)

SeasonLeague Scottish
Cup
League
Cup
Top goalscorerNotes
DivisionPldWDLGFGAPtsPosNameGoals
No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1946 due to the Second World War. Rangers entered unofficial competitions including the 1939–40 Emergency League, the 1940 Emergency Cup, the Southern League, the Summer Cup, the Southern League Cup and the 1946 Victory Cup, winning most of them. [24]
1946–47 Division A 3021457626461stR2W Willie Thornton
Jimmy Duncanson
25
1947–48 Division A 3021456428462ndWSFWillie Thornton22
1948–49 Division A 3020646332461stWWWillie Thornton34
1949–50 Division A 3022625826501stWSF Willie Findlay 18
1950–51 Division A 3017496437382ndR2SectWillie Thornton19
1951–52 Division A 3016956131412ndQFRUWillie Thornton27
1952–53 Division A 3018758039431stWSF Derek Grierson 31
1953–54 Division A 3013895635344thSFSF Willie Paton 22
1954–55 Division A 3019386733413rdR6QF Billy Simpson 23
1955–56 Division One 3422848527521stQFSF Johnny Hubbard 27

European football era

SeasonLeague Scottish
Cup
League
Cup
European Top goalscorerNotes
DivisionPWDLFAPtsPosNameGoals
1956–57 Division One 3426359648551stR6SR European Cup - R2 Max Murray 36
1957–58 Division One3422578949492ndSFRU European Cup - R1Max Murray35
1958–59 Division One3421859251501stR3SRMax Murray24
1959–60 Division One3417897238423rdWSR European Cup - SF Jimmy Millar 36
1960–61 Division One3423568846511stR3W Cup Winners' Cup - RU Ralph Brand 40
1961–62 Division One3422758431512ndWW European Cup - QFRalph Brand40
1962–63 Division One3425729428571stWSF Cup Winners' Cup - R1Jimmy Millar43
1963–64 Division One3425548531551stWW European Cup - QR Jim Forrest 39
1964–65 Division One3418887835445thQFW European Cup - QFJim Forrest57
1965–66 Division One3425549129552ndWRU George McLean 39
1966–67 Division One3424739231552ndR1RU Cup Winners' Cup - RU Alex Smith 23
1967–68 Division One3428519334612ndQFSR Inter-Cities Fairs Cup - QF Alex Ferguson 22
1968–69 Division One3421768132492ndRUSR Inter-Cities Fairs Cup - SF Willie Johnston 23
1969–70 Division One3419786740452ndQFSR Cup Winners' Cup - R2 Colin Stein 27
1970–71 Division One3416995834414thRUW Inter-Cities Fairs Cup - R1Colin Stein20
1971–72 Division One34212117138443rdSFSR Cup Winners' Cup - WColin Stein25
1972–73 Division One3426447430562ndWSF Derek Parlane 27
1973–74 Division One3421676734483rdR4SF Cup Winners' Cup - R2Derek Parlane22
1974–75 Division One3425638633561stR3SRDerek Parlane18
1975–76 Premier Division 3623856024541stWW European Cup - R2 Derek Johnstone 31 [25]
1976–77 Premier Division36181086237462ndRUSF European Cup - R1Derek Johnstone21
1977–78 Premier Division3624757639551stWW Cup Winners' Cup - R1Derek Johnstone38
1978–79 Premier Division3618995235452ndWW European Cup - QF Gordon Smith 17
1979–80 Premier Division36157145046375thRUR3 Cup Winners' Cup - R2Derek Johnstone21
1980–81 Premier Division36161286032443rdWR3 Colin McAdam 21
1981–82 Premier Division36161195745433rdRUW Cup Winners' Cup - R1 John MacDonald 22
1982–83 Premier Division361312115241384thRURU UEFA Cup - R2John MacDonald20
1983–84 Premier Division36151295341424thQFW Cup Winners' Cup - R2 Ally McCoist 20
1984–85 Premier Division361312114738384thR4W UEFA Cup - R2Ally McCoist18
1985–86 Premier Division36139145345355thR3SF UEFA Cup - R1Ally McCoist27
1986–87 Premier Division4431768523691stR3W UEFA Cup - R3Ally McCoist38
1987–88 Premier Division44268108534603rdR4W European Cup - QFAlly McCoist42
1988–89 Premier Division3626466226561stRUW UEFA Cup - R2 Kevin Drinkell 19
1989–90 Premier Division36201154819511stR4RU European Cup - R1Ally McCoist18
1990–91 Premier Division3624756223551stQFW European Cup - R2 Mo Johnston 19
1991–92 Premier Division44336510131721stWSF European Cup - R1Ally McCoist39
1992–93 Premier Division4433749735731stWW Champions League - GSAlly McCoist49
1993–94 Premier Division44221487441581stRUW Champions League - R1 Mark Hateley 30
1994–95 Premier Division3620976035691stR4R3 Champions League - QRMark Hateley15
1995–96 Premier Division3627638525871stWSF Champions League- GS Gordon Durie 23
1996–97 Premier Division3625568533801stQFW Champions League - GS Brian Laudrup 21
1997–98 Premier Division3621967638722ndRUQF Champions League - QR2
UEFA Cup - R1
Marco Negri 37
1998–99 Premier League 3623857831771stWW UEFA Cup - R3 Rod Wallace 27
1999–2000 Premier League3628629626901stWQF Champions League - GS
UEFA Cup - R3
Rod Wallace21
2000–01 Premier League3826487636822ndQFSF Champions League - GS
UEFA Cup - R3
Jörg Albertz 15
2001–02 Premier League38251038227852ndWW Champions League - QR3
UEFA Cup - R4
Tore André Flo 25
2002–03 Premier League38314310128971stWW UEFA Cup - R1 Ronald de Boer 20
2003–04 Premier League3825677633812ndQFSF Champions League - GS Shota Arveladze 15
2004–05 Premier League3829637822931stR3W UEFA Cup - GS Nacho Novo 25
2005–06 Premier League38211076737733rdR4QF Champions League - L16 Kris Boyd 20
2006–07 Premier League3821986132722ndR3QF UEFA Cup - L16Kris Boyd26
2007–08 Premier League3827568433862ndWW Champions League - GSKris Boyd25
UEFA Cup - RU
2008–09 Premier League3826847728861stWRU Champions League - QR2Kris Boyd31
2009–10 Premier League3826938228871stQFW Champions League - GSKris Boyd26
2010–11 Premier League3830358829931stR5W Champions League - GS
Europa League - Ro16
Kenny Miller 22
2011–12 Premier League3826577728732nd R5R3 Champions League - QR3
Europa League - POR
Nikica Jelavić 17 [26]
2012–13 Third Division 3625838729831stR5QF Challenge Cup - QF Lee McCulloch 26
2013–14 League One 363330106181021stSFR1 Challenge Cup - RU Jon Daly 25
2014–15 Championship 36191076939673rdR5SF Challenge Cup - SF Nicky Law 13 [27]
2015–16 Championship3625658834811stRUR4 Challenge Cup - W Martyn Waghorn 28
2016–17 Premiership 38191095644673rdSFSFMartyn Waghorn16
2017–18 Premiership38217107650703rdSFSF Europa League - QR1 Alfredo Morelos
Josh Windass
18
2018–19 Premiership3823968227782ndQFSF Europa League - GS Alfredo Morelos30
2019–20 Premiership2921446419672nd*QFRU Europa League - Ro16 Alfredo Morelos29
2020–21 Premiership38326092131021stQFQF Europa League - Ro16 James Tavernier 19
2021–22 Premiership3827838031892nd W SF Europa League - RU Alfredo Morelos
James Tavernier
18
2022–23 Premiership3829549337932ndSF RU Champions League - GS James Tavernier
Antonio Čolak
18
2023–24 Premiership38 W Champions League - POR
Europa League - Ro16

Rangers were deducted 10 points when the club entered administration. [28]
* Season finished early due to COVID-19 pandemic. [29]

Notes

  1. Gammelsæter, Hallgeir; Senaux, Benoit (2011). The Organisation and Governance of Top Football Across Europe. Routledge. p. 48. ISBN   9781136705335 . Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  2. "Welcome to Rangers@FitbaStats". fitbastats.com. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  3. The club did not start playing league football until 1890.
  4. 1 2 The club did not play.
  5. Scorers of 3 goals in this season are unknown.
  6. Scorers of 4 goals in this season are unknown.
  7. Scorers of 8 goals in this season are unknown.
  8. Scorers of 20 goals in this season are unknown.
  9. Scorers of 19 goals in this season are unknown.
  10. Rangers also reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
  11. Scorers of 5 goals in this season are unknown.
  12. Scorers of 2 goals in this season are unknown.
  13. Scorers of 12 goals in this season are unknown.
  14. From goals in the League and in the Scottish Cup
  15. Shared with Dumbarton after a play off finished 2–2
  16. Rangers win their first Scottish Cup, thanks to a 3–1 win over Celtic
  17. Final between Rangers and Celtic was abandoned due to a riot. The trophy was withheld.
  18. The competition was withdrawn due to the outbreak of the First World War. Unofficial wartime tournaments included the Navy and Army War Fund Shield and the 1919 Victory Cup.
  19. Club wins its first ever double, the league and Scottish Cup
  20. Also won the Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup for three trophies in a season.
  21. 1 2 Also won the Glasgow Cup and Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup, winning all four tournaments entered.
  22. 1 2 Season saw the joint greatest number of goals scored in the league
  23. The 1939–40 season was suspended following the outbreak of the Second World War, see below for details of wartime season
  24. Rangers dominated wartime football but should their titles be recognised in the record books?, The Scotsman, 21 March 2020
  25. Also won the Glasgow Cup, winning all four domestic tournaments entered.
  26. Following administration and pending liquidation of the club's commercial entity, the team was refused entry to the top division and was instead admitted to the fourth tier of Scottish Football.
  27. Rangers lost 6-1 on aggregate in the play-off final against Motherwell.
  28. "Rangers Football Club enters administration". BBC News. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  29. "Celtic champions & Hearts relegated after SPFL ends season". BBC Sport . 18 May 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.

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