Rangers, founded in 2012 and based at Ibrox Stadium, remain Celtic’s most watched domestic rival – for obvious reasons and with little need for embroidery. Their recent honours give the modern club a clear place in the Scottish game: the 2020/21 Premiership title and the 2021/22 Scottish Cup sit within a wider record of four league titles, three Scottish Cups and two League Cups.
Last season was less persuasive. Rangers finished sixth in the Premiership, with a run-in that included defeats to Hibernian, Celtic, Hearts and Motherwell before a draw at Dundee United, though there was also a 5-2 win at Falkirk. They also featured in the League Cup second round and the Europa League qualifying third round.
The squad is sizeable, with 35 players and an average age of 24. Its market value is listed at around £115m by Transfermarkt, a figure that underlines the scale of resources at Ibrox even when the league table has been less flattering.
With the 2026/27 Premiership campaign still to begin, Rangers enter pre-season as a major domestic reference point rather than a settled force. For Celtic supporters, their relevance is unchanged: a rival with money, pressure and a recent season that left plenty to repair.
📈 Key stats and insights
⚔️ How they compare to Celtic
Celtic have the clearer attacking edge in the supplied comparison, especially at home, where their scoring rate is far stronger than Rangers’. Rangers’ defensive numbers are tighter in the sample, particularly away from home, but for Celtic supporters the contrast is obvious: Celtic look the more reliable chance creators, Rangers the side leaning harder on containment and set-piece pressure.
