document_title: Rangers F.C.

question_text: how many times has rangers won the league

question_tokens: how many times has rangers won the league

text: Rangers F.C.

text: History

text: Formation, early years and William Wilton

text: Rangers were formed by four founders – brothers Moses McNeil and Peter McNeil, Peter Campbell and William McBeath – who met at West End Park (now known as Kelvingrove Park) in February 1872. Rangers' first match, in May that year, was a goalless friendly draw with Callander on Glasgow Green. David Hill was also a founder member.[5] In 1873, the club held its first annual meeting and staff were elected.[6][7] By 1876 Rangers had its first international player, with Moses McNeil representing Scotland in a match against Wales.[8] In 1877 Rangers reached the Scottish Cup final; after drawing the first game, Rangers refused to turn up for the replay and the cup was awarded to Vale of Leven. Rangers won the Glasgow Merchants' Charity Cup the following year against Vale of Leven 2–1, their first major cup.[9] The first-ever Old Firm match took place in 1888, the year of Celtic's establishment. Rangers lost 5–2 in a friendly to a team composed largely of guest players from Hibernian.[10][11][12]

text: The 1890–91 season saw the inception of the Scottish Football League, and Rangers, by then playing at the first Ibrox Stadium, were one of ten original members. The club's first-ever league match, on 16 August 1890, resulted in a 5–2 victory over Heart of Midlothian. After finishing joint-top with Dumbarton, a play-off held at Cathkin Park finished 2–2 and the title was shared for the only time in its history. Rangers' first-ever Scottish Cup win came in 1894 after a 3–1 final victory over rivals Celtic. By the start of the 20th century, Rangers had won two league titles and three Scottish Cups.[7][9][13][14] During William Wilton's time as match secretary and then team manager, Rangers won 10 league titles.

text: Bill Struth and Scot Symon

text: Taking over as manager from William Wilton in 1920, Bill Struth was Rangers' most successful manager, guiding the club to 14 league titles before the onset of the Second World War. On 2 January 1939 a British league attendance record was broken as 118,567 fans turned out to watch Rangers beat Celtic in the traditional New Year's Day Old Firm match.[15] Leading the club for 34 years until 1954, Struth won more trophies than any manager in Scottish Football history, amassing 18 league championships, 10 Scottish Cups, two League Cups, seven war-time championships, 19 Glasgow Cups, 17 Glasgow Merchant Charity Cups and other war-time honours.[6][16] During the wartime regional league setup, Rangers achieved their highest score against old firm rivals Celtic with an 8–1 win in the Southern Football League.[17]

text: Scot Symon continued Struth's success, winning six league championships, five Scottish Cups and four League Cups, becoming the second manager to win the domestic treble in 1963–64 season, the era of 'Slim' Jim Baxter, one of the club's greatest players.[18][19] Rangers also lost by their biggest Old Firm margin of 7–1.[17]

text: Rangers reached the semi-finals of the European Cup in 1960, losing to German club Eintracht Frankfurt by a record aggregate 12–4 for a Scottish team.[20] In 1961 Rangers became the first British team to reach a European final when they contested the Cup Winners' Cup final against Italian side Fiorentina, only to lose 4–1 on aggregate.[21] Rangers lost again in the final of the same competition in 1967, by a single goal after extra time to Bayern Munich.[14]

text: Ibrox disaster, European success and Jock Wallace

text: The Ibrox disaster occurred on 2 January 1971 when large-scale crushing on a stairway exit at the culmination of the New Year's Day Old Firm game claimed 66 lives. An enquiry concluded that the crush was likely to have happened 10 minutes after the final whistle and to have been triggered by someone falling on the stairs.[22] A benefit match to raise funds for the victims' families took place after the disaster, a joint Rangers and Celtic team playing a Scotland XI at Hampden, watched by 81,405 fans.[23]

text: In 1972, Rangers emerged from the tragedy of the previous year to finally achieve success on the European stage. A Colin Stein goal and a Willie Johnston double helped secure a 3–2 victory over FC Dynamo Moscow at the Nou Camp, Barcelona, to lift the European Cup Winners' Cup. Captain John Greig received the trophy in a small room within the Nou Camp following pitch invasions by Rangers fans reacting to the heavy handed tactics of the Spanish police, the majority of whom had been brought in from outwith Catalonia.[24] Rangers were banned from Europe for two years for the behaviour of their fans, later reduced on appeal to one year.[25]

text: The following season saw the club compete in the first ever European Super Cup, although the European ban saw it officially recognised as Rangers centenary anniversary match. The side played the European Cup holders Ajax, who had first proposed the idea, in January 1973. The Dutch side proved too strong and recorded a 6–3 aggregate win, with Rangers losing 1–3 at Ibrox and 3–2 in Amsterdam.[26]

text: Emerging from the shadows of Jock Stein's Celtic side, Rangers regained ascendancy with notable domestic success under the stewardship of manager Jock Wallace. In his first season in charge – the club's centenary – Rangers won the Scottish Cup at Hampden in front of 122,714 supporters.[27] In 1974–75, Wallace led Rangers to their first League championship triumph in 11 years, before winning the treble the following season, repeating the historic feat in 1977–78.[28]

text: John Greig served as manager for five years but was unable to achieve the success as a manager that he had as a player. Unable to win the league during his reign, he was replaced by Wallace returning in 1983. Wallace was unable to repeat the success of his first period in charge with a win ratio of less than 50%, and was himself replaced by Graeme Souness in 1986.

text: Graeme Souness and Walter Smith – 9 in a row

text: Every year from the 1988–89 season until the 1996–97 season, Rangers won the league title. This nine-in-a-row achievement equalled Celtic's record, set prior to the forming of the Scottish Football League Premier Division, subsequent to which competing teams met four times a season. The first three of these seasons the club was managed by Graeme Souness; the latter six under the stewardship of Walter Smith.[29][30]

text: Notable seasons included 1990–91, which culminated in a final-day finale, Rangers securing a 2–0 victory at Ibrox over Aberdeen, who needed only a draw to secure the championship. Season 1992–93 was notable for a domestic treble of trophies, as well an extended run in the inaugural UEFA Champions League, the club at one stage only one goal from securing a place in the final.[31]

text: Rangers' ninth consecutive championship title was secured at Tannadice Park on 7 May 1997, with a single-goal victory over Dundee United.[32]

text: Dick Advocaat and Alex McLeish

text: In 1998, Dutchman Dick Advocaat became the club's first foreign manager.[33] Nine-in-a-row era stalwarts having moved on, Advocaat invested heavily in the team with immediate results, leading the club to their sixth domestic treble. The league championship was won with a 3–0 victory at Celtic Park on 2 May 1999.[34] A second-consecutive league title was won by a record 21-point margin,[35] the club securing a domestic double with a 4–0 Scottish Cup final victory over Aberdeen. Rangers' campaign in the Champions League saw them defeat UEFA Cup winners Parma en route.[36][37]

text: Advocaat's third season saw Rangers fail to compete domestically against Celtic under new manager Martin O'Neill. Despite investment in the team, including Tore Andre Flo for a club-record £12 million,[38] European success beyond the Champions League group stages again proved elusive.[39] After a slow start to the following season, Advocaat resigned from his post in December 2001 and was replaced by Alex McLeish.[40]

text: In his first full campaign, the 2002–03 season saw McLeish become the sixth Rangers manager to deliver a domestic treble.[41] The championship was won on goal difference during a dramatic final day 6–1 triumph over Dunfermline Athletic at Ibrox,[42] securing Rangers' 50th league title, the first club in the world to achieve the feat.[43] Major expenditure sanctioned by chairman David Murray had burdened Rangers with considerable debts in the region of £52m.[44] The club's worsening financial state saw many of the team's top players leave in the summer of 2003, the following season failing to deliver any trophies, only the second such occasion since 1985–86.[45]

text: The 2004–05 season restored success to Rangers, who were boosted by signings such as Jean-Alain Boumsong,[46] Dado Pršo[47] and Nacho Novo,[48] along with the return of former captain Barry Ferguson after a spell in England with Blackburn Rovers.[49] The club's league championship triumph culminated in a dramatic final-day finish. The destination of the trophy changed unexpectedly, with Celtic conceding late goals to Motherwell at Fir Park whilst Rangers led against Hibernian, requiring the helicopter carrying the SPL trophy to change direction and deliver the prize to the Easter Road ground in Leith.[50][51]

text: Despite beginning as favourites to retain the championship, Rangers suffered an unprecedented run of poor results between September and November, a club-record run of ten games without a win. Included within this period, a 1–1 draw with Inter Milan took Rangers into the last 16 of the Champions League, the first Scottish team to achieve the feat since 1993,[52] the club eventually exiting on the away goals rule to Villarreal.[53] On 9 February 2006, it was announced by David Murray that McLeish would be standing down as manager at the end of that season.[54]

text: Paul Le Guen and Walter Smith's return

text: Frenchman Paul Le Guen replaced Alex McLeish as manager after season 2005–06.[55] The season started with an early exit from the League Cup[56] whilst Celtic built a commanding lead at the top of the table.[57] In the UEFA Cup, Rangers became the first Scottish side to qualify for the last 32 of the competition, since the introduction of the group phase, after finishing their group unbeaten.[58] However, amid claims of disharmony between the manager and captain Barry Ferguson,[59] it was announced on 4 January 2007 that Le Guen had left Rangers by mutual consent.[60] On 10 January 2007, former boss Walter Smith resigned from his post as Scotland manager to return to the Ibrox helm, with Ally McCoist as assistant manager.[61]

text: The following season Rangers contested the UEFA Cup after dropping into the competition from the Champions League.[62] The club reached the final, defeating Panathinaikos, Werder Bremen, Sporting Lisbon and Fiorentina along the way.[63] The final in Manchester against Zenit St. Petersburg, who were managed by former Rangers manager Dick Advocaat,[64] ended in a 2–0 defeat.[65] An estimated 200,000 supporters[66] travelled to Manchester for the event,[67] and some disorder occurred.

text: The 2008–09 season saw Rangers recover from an early exit from the UEFA Champions League to FBK Kaunas of Lithuania.[68] The club secured its 52nd league championship on the last day of the season with a 3–0 victory at Dundee United.[69] Rangers also successfully defended the Scottish Cup, a 33rd competition triumph, defeating Falkirk 1–0 in the final.[70]

text: The 2009–10 season saw Rangers reach their fifth consecutive domestic final: against St Mirren in the Scottish League Cup, the club overcame a two-men deficit from red cards, a late deciding goal from Kenny Miller securing a record 27th victory in the competition.[71] The league championship title was retained, with three matches remaining, at Easter Road, defeating Hibernian 1–0 with a Kyle Lafferty goal. The 2010–11 season, Smith's final season in charge, saw Rangers retain the League Cup, defeating Celtic at Hampden with a Nikica Jelavić goal in extra time.[72] A third consecutive title was won by beating Kilmarnock 5–1 on the last day of the season, Smith's final match in charge of the club.[73]

text: Ally McCoist, insolvency and the lower leagues

text: Ally McCoist took over from Walter Smith in June 2011 but season 2011–12 started with Rangers eliminated from two European competitions before the end of August: losing to Swedish side Malmö FF in the Champions League third round qualifying match,[74] and to Slovenian side Maribor in a Europa League qualifying match.[75] While good league form saw Rangers in top spot after being unbeaten for the first 15 games, they were knocked out of the League Cup by Falkirk[76] and the Scottish Cup by Dundee Utd at Ibrox.[77] Rangers was placed into administration on 14 February 2012 resulting in the club being deducted 10 points as per SPL rules.[78] Though Rangers avoided having Celtic win the championship at Ibrox on 25 March by winning the game 3–2, Rangers ultimately finished 20 points behind Celtic in second place.[79]

text: On 1 June 2012, after four months in administration, a failure to reach a CVA agreement with creditors led to The Rangers Football Club plc (since renamed RFC 2012 plc)[80] entering the process of liquidation.[81] The administrators completed a sale of the business and assets to a new company, Sevco Scotland Ltd, which later renamed itself The Rangers Football Club Ltd.[82][83] The new company failed to secure the transfer of Rangers' previous place in the Scottish Premier League,[84] but were later accepted into the Scottish Football League. Rangers were awarded associate membership and placed in the lowest division, the Third, rather than the First Division as the SPL and SFA had sought.[85] The transfer of Rangers' SFA membership was agreed by the SFA upon acceptance of a number of conditions, including a one-year transfer ban, in time for the club to begin the 2012–13 season.[86]

text:
With most key first team players having refused to transfer to the new company, a very different Rangers team lined up for the first league match in Third Division. Despite this, Rangers secured a comfortable 5–1 victory over East Stirlingshire in front of a crowd of 49,118, a world record for a football match in a fourth tier league.[87][n 1] Away from home, Rangers started their league campaign with three successive draws before losing 1–0 to Stirling Albion, at the time the bottom club.[89] Rangers were defeated in the third round of the Scottish Challenge Cup by Queen of the South at Ibrox,[90] in the quarter-finals of the Scottish League Cup at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle[91] and in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup by Dundee United.[92] Rangers beat their own new record against Queens Park with an attendance of 49,463[93] and again against Stirling Albion with an attendance of 49,913.[94]
Rangers clinched the Third Division title on 30 March after a goalless draw at Montrose.

text: Apart from being defeated 2–1 by Forfar Athletic in the first round of the League Cup on 3 August, season 2013–14 got off to an excellent start with Rangers winning maximum league points in their first 15 games in League One, before being held to a draw at home by Stranraer on Boxing Day 2013. Rangers secured the League One title and promotion to Scottish football's second tier on 12 March 2014 and went on to end the season unbeaten in league football.[95] Rangers also reached the final of the Scottish Challenge Cup, in which they lost to Raith Rovers[96] and the semi-final of the Scottish Cup, in which they lost 3–1 at Ibrox to Dundee United.

text: Playing in the Scottish Championship in season 2014–15 provided Rangers with a more difficult challenge, with the club losing home and away to both Hibernian[97][98] and Hearts[99][100] and also losing away to Queen of the South[101] in the first half of the season. Rangers also failed to beat Alloa either home or away in the league before losing 3–2 to Alloa in the semi-final of the Scottish Challenge Cup.[102] Amid mounting criticism,[103] McCoist submitted his resignation intending to honour his 12 months notice period but was placed on 'gardening leave' and replaced by Kenny McDowall on a caretaker basis.[104] McDowall remained in charge for just three months before resigning in March 2015. During his time in charge, Rangers won just three matches. Rangers then named former player Stuart McCall as their third manager of the season for the remaining fixtures.[105] Under McCall, Rangers finished third in the league and then reached the Premiership play-off final, which they lost 6–1 on aggregate to Motherwell.[106]

text: Return to the top league

text: In June 2015 it was announced that Mark Warburton had been appointed manager on a three-year deal.[107] Rangers went on to win the 2015–16 Scottish Championship and automatic promotion to the Scottish Premiership, ending their four-year stint in the lower divisions. The club also reached the 2016 Scottish Cup Final, beating Old Firm rivals Celtic in the semi-final at Hampden,[108] before losing to Hibernian in the final.[109] After a poor first half of the 2016–17 season, Mark Warburton and David Weir left Rangers on 10 February 2017, and Graeme Murty was placed in caretaker control of the Rangers first team.[110][111] Pedro Caixinha eventually took over as permanent manager.

text: Caixinha's first full season started with Rangers suffering one of the worst results in their history. After winning 1-0 at Ibrox, Rangers lost 2–0 to Luxembourg minnows Progrès Niederkorn, resulting in Rangers being knocked out 2–1 on aggregate in the first qualifying round of the 2017–18 Europa League. Progrès had never before won a tie and had only ever scored once before in European competition.[112] After that disappointing start to the season the form did not improve, with notable results including a 2–0 reverse to Celtic at home in the league[113] and defeat to Motherwell in the Scottish League Cup semi-final by the same scoreline.[114] On 26 October, a day after a 95th-minute equaliser at Ibrox by last-placed Kilmarnock saw Rangers draw 1–1, Caixinha was sacked and Graeme Murty took over as caretaker manager again. The Portuguese manager's reign was described as "a desperate mess from start to finish".[115]

text: In late December, after a search for a more experienced manager proved unsuccessful, including a failed attempt to appoint Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes, Murty (who had won back-to-back games over Aberdeen[116][117]  and also defeated Hibernian away from home[118] during his interim spell) was appointed to the role until the end of the season.[119] On 1 May 2018, Murty's second spell in charge ended prematurely when he was sacked as manager following a 5–0 defeat to Celtic which resulted in Celtic winning their 7th consecutive league title.[120] Rangers again ended the season in 3rd place, behind Celtic and Aberdeen for the second year in a row.[121]

text: On 4 May 2018, former Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard was confirmed as the new manager of Rangers on a four-year contract.[122]

text: Crest and colours

text: Crest

text: Unusually for a football club, Rangers have two different official crests. Today the original scroll crest appears on the club's strips whereas the lion rampant club crest is used by the media, on club merchandise and on official club documents. Both crests have undergone minor variations since their introduction. It is believed that the scroll crest, representing the letters RFC overlapping, has been used since the club's formation in 1872, although the oldest remaining piece of memorabilia containing this crest is from the 1881–82 season. The scroll crest was replaced in 1959 with the lion rampant club crest which featured a lion rampant, an old-style football and the club's motto Ready, which was shortened from Aye Ready (meaning Always Ready in Scots), all surrounded by the team name, Rangers Football Club. The lion rampant club crest was modernised in 1968; the lion rampant, team name, club motto and old style football all remained. It was again updated ever so slightly in the early 1990s to the current version. The modern circular crest is regularly used on club merchandise and by the media; it has never featured prominently on the club strip. In 1968 the scroll crest made a return appearing on the chest of the club shirt for the first time while the modernised club crest was still the club's official logo. The scroll crest first appeared on the teams shorts for the start of the 1978–79 season.[123][124]

text:
Club crest evolution

Lion rampant club crest 1959–1968. Never appeared on the shirt.

Lion rampant club crest 1968–1991. Never appeared on the shirt.

The current lion rampant club crest. Never appeared on the shirt.

text: The way the scroll crest has appeared on the club shirt has varied slightly through the years. Between 1990 and 1994 'Rangers Football Club' and the 'Ready' motto appeared above and below the Crest respectively. Between 1997 and 1999 the scroll crest featured within a shield. After a successful end to the season in 2003, which delivered Rangers a Domestic Treble and their 50th league title; five stars were added to the top of the scroll crest, one for every ten titles won by the club. The team wore a special crest on 8 December 2012 in a home league match against Stirling Albion, to commemorate the 140th anniversary of their formation. '1872–2012' appeared above the scroll crest with the words '140 years' featuring below.[125][126]

text: Kit crest evolution

text:
Scroll crest. Appeared on the chest of the Rangers shirt since 1968.

Scroll crest with 5 stars. Worn on the Rangers shirt since 2003.

text: Colours

text: The club colours of Rangers F.C. are royal blue, white and red. However, for the majority of the first forty-eight years of Rangers existence the club played in a plain lighter blue home shirt. The only deviation from this was a four-season period from 1879 when the side wore the lighter shade of blue and white in a hooped style. Traditionally this is accompanied by white shorts (often with royal blue and/or red trim) and black socks with red turn-downs. Rangers moved from the lighter shade of blue to royal blue in 1921, and have had a royal blue home shirt every year since. Black socks were first included in 1883 for five seasons before disappearing for eight years but became a more permanent fixture from 1896 onwards. When the red turn-downs were added to the socks in 1904, the strip began to look more like the modern day Rangers home kit. Occasionally the home kit will be altered by the shorts and socks, sometimes replacing the black socks with white ones; or replacing the white shorts and black socks combination with royal blue shorts and socks.[126]

text: The basic design of Rangers away strips has changed far more than the traditional home strip. Rangers original change strip, used between 1876 and 1879, was all white featuring blue and white hooped socks and a light blue six pointed star on the chest. White and red have been the most common colours for Rangers alternate strips, though dark and light blue have also featured highly. In 1994 Rangers introduced a third kit. This is usually worn if both the home and away kits clash with their opponents. The colours used in the third kits have included combinations of white, red, dark and light blue as well as black.[127] Orange and blue change strips, first seen in 1993–94,[127] worn once in 2002–03 and reintroduced in 2018–19, have courted controversy because the colours were seen as referencing the Orange Order.[128]

text:
Selection of Rangers kits through history[126]

The blue shirt, white shorts and blue & white hooped socks. Worn 1873–1879

A change kit featuring a white top. Worn 1916–1918, 1921–1932 and 1933–1934

The blue shirt, white shorts and black socks. Worn 1883–1888 and 1896–1904

The royal blue shirt with white collar and black socks with red tops. Worn 1921–1957

The royal blue shirt and red socks with white tops. Worn 1968–1973 and 2012–2013

The royal blue shirt and black socks with red tops. Worn 1958–1968 and 1973–1978

text: Sponsors and manufacturers

text: Since 1978 when Rangers signed a deal with Umbro they have had a specific kit manufacturer and since 1984 have had a kit sponsor. When Rangers played French sides AJ Auxerre and RC Strasbourg in the 1996–97 Champions League and the 1997–98 UEFA Cup respectively, due to a French ban on alcohol advertising the team wore the logo of Center Parcs instead of McEwan's Lager.[129] Later matches played in France (when the club was sponsored by Carling) saw the club have no shirt sponsor at all, versus AJ Auxerre in November 2006[130] and Olympique Lyonnais in October 2007.[131] The following tables detail the shirt sponsors and kit suppliers of Rangers by year:[126]

text:
Kit suppliers[126]

Dates

Supplier

1978–1990

Umbro

1990–1992

Admiral

1992–1997

Adidas

1997–2002

Nike

2002–2005

Diadora[132]

2005–2013

Umbro[133][134]

2013–2018

Puma[135][136]

2018–Present

Hummel[137]

text:
Front of shirt sponsors[126]

Dates

Sponsor

1984–1987

CR Smith[138][139]

1987–1999

McEwan's Lager[138][139]

1999–2003

NTL[140][138]

2003–2010

Carling[141]

2010–2013

Tennent's[142][143]

2013–2014

Blackthorn[144]

2014–Present

32Red[145][146]

text:
Back of shirt sponsors[126]

Dates

Sponsor

2017–2018

Utilita[147]

text: Stadium and training facility

text: The club used a variety of grounds in Glasgow as a venue for home matches in the years between 1872 and 1899. The first was Flesher's Haugh, situated on Glasgow Green, followed by Burnbank in the Kelvinbridge area of the city, and then Kinning Park for ten years from the mid-1870s to the mid-1880s. From February of the 1886–87 season, Cathkin Park was used until the first Ibrox Park, in the Ibrox area of south-west Glasgow, was inaugurated for the following season. Ibrox Stadium in its current incarnation was originally designed by the architect Archibald Leitch, a Rangers fan who also played a part in the design of, among others, Old Trafford in Manchester and Highbury in London. The stadium was inaugurated on 30 December 1899, and Rangers defeated Hearts 3–1 in the first match held there.[148][149]

text: Rangers' training facility is located in Auchenhowie, Glasgow; it is named Murray Park (since renamed) after former chairman and owner Sir David Murray. It was proposed by then-manager Dick Advocaat upon his arrival at the club in 1998.[33] It was completed in 2001 at a cost of £14 million. The training centre was the first purpose-built facility of its kind in Scotland, and incorporates features including nine football pitches, a gym, a hydrotherapy pool, and a video-editing suite. Rangers' youth teams are also accommodated at the centre, with around 140 players between under-10 and under-19 age groups using the facilities. International club teams playing in Scotland, as well as national sides, have previously used the centre for training, and Advocaat's South Korea team used it for training prior to the 2006 World Cup.[150][151]

text: Supporters

text: Rangers are one of the best supported clubs in Europe, the figure for the 2017–18 season being in the 20 largest home league attendances in Europe.[152] The club's website lists over 150 supporters' clubs in Great Britain and Northern Ireland,[153] with 95 further clubs spread across over 20 countries around the world.[154] One of Hong Kong's most popular football clubs Hong Kong Rangers F.C. was set up by an expatriate fan.

text: Rangers fans have contributed to several records for high attendances,[155] including the highest home attendance for a league fixture, 118,567 on 2 January 1939.[15] Rangers record highest attendance was against Hibernian on 27 March 1948 in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park. Rangers beat Hibernian 1–0 in front of a packed 143,570 crowd.

text: In 2008, up to 200,000 Rangers supporters, many without match tickets, travelled to Manchester for the UEFA Cup Final.[156][157] Despite most supporters behaving "impeccably",[158] Rangers fans were involved in serious trouble and rioting. A minority of fans rioted in the city centre, clashing violently with police and damaging property, resulting in 42 being arrested for a variety of offences.[159][160][161]

text: Rivalries

text: The club's most distinct rivalry is with Glasgow neighbours Celtic F.C.; the two clubs are collectively known as the Old Firm. Rangers' traditional support is largely drawn from the Protestant Unionist community, whilst Celtic's traditional support is largely drawn from the Catholic community. The first Old Firm match was won by Celtic and there have been over four hundred matches played to date. The Old Firm rivalry has fuelled many assaults, sometimes leading to deaths, on Old Firm derby days; an activist group that monitors sectarian activity in Glasgow has reported that on Old Firm weekends, admissions to hospital emergency rooms have increased over normal levels and journalist Franklin Foer noted that in the period from 1996 to 2003, eight deaths in Glasgow were directly linked to Old Firm matches, as well as hundreds of assaults.[162][163]

text: The bitter rivalry with Aberdeen developed following an incident in the 1979 League Cup final when Rangers' Derek Johnstone provoked the fury of the Dons support with what they believed was a blatant dive but which resulted in the dismissal of Aberdeen's Doug Rougvie and a Rangers victory.[164] Then, the following season, Aberdeen's John McMaster had to be given the kiss of life at Ibrox after a vicious stamp on his throat.[164] Relations between fans were further soured during a league match on 8 October 1988, when Aberdeen player Neil Simpson's tackle on Rangers' Ian Durrant resulted in Durrant being injured for two years.[165] Resentment continued and in 1998 an article in Rangers match programme branded Aberdeen fans "scum", although Rangers later issued a "full and unreserved apology" to Aberdeen and their supporters, which was accepted by Aberdeen.[166][167] Fixtures have been described as "even more of a powderkeg than Old Firm games".[168]

text: Rangers' relaunch in the Third Division in the 2012–13 season led to the club's original rivalry with Queen's Park being renewed for the first time since 1958 in the league. Rangers and Queen's Park first played each other in March 1879, some nine years before the start of the Old Firm rivalry.[169][170] Matches with Queen's Park were advertised as the "Original Glasgow Derby" by Rangers and the Scottish media; and as the "Oldest Derby in the World" by Queen's Park.[171]

text: Sectarianism

text: During the 19th century, many immigrants came to Glasgow from Ireland – this was a time of considerable anti-Catholic and anti-Irish sentiment in Scotland. The early success of Celtic, a club associated with the Irish and Catholic community, has been described as sharpening Rangers' Protestant Unionist identity, contributing to the eventual absence of openly Catholic players from the team.[172] From the early 20th century onwards, Catholics were not knowingly signed by the club, nor employed in other prominent roles as an 'unwritten rule'.[173][174][175][176]

text: In 1989, Rangers signed Mo Johnston, "their first major Roman Catholic signing".[177] Johnston was the first high-profile Catholic to sign for the club since the World War I era, though other Catholics had signed for Rangers before.[173][178] Since Johnston's signing, an influx of overseas footballers has contributed to Catholic players becoming commonplace at Rangers.[179] In 1999, Lorenzo Amoruso became the first Catholic captain of the club.[180]

text: Rangers partnered with Celtic to form the Old Firm Alliance, an initiative aimed at educating children from across Glasgow about issues like healthy eating and fitness, as well as awareness of anti-social behaviour, sectarianism and racism. The club's Follow With Pride campaign was launched in 2007 to improve the club's image and build on previous anti-sectarian and anti-racist campaigns.[181][n 2] William Gaillard, UEFA's Director of Communications, commended the SFA and Scottish clubs, including Rangers, for their actions in fighting discrimination.[183] In September 2007, UEFA praised Rangers for the measures the club has taken against sectarianism.[184][185]

text: However, sectarian chanting by supporters has continued to incur criticism and sanctions upon the club as well as convictions against individuals identified.[186][187] In 1999, the vice-chairman of The Rangers Football Club Ltd, Donald Findlay, resigned after being filmed singing sectarian songs during a supporters club event.[188][189][190] UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Body has punished Rangers for incidents during European ties, most notably Villarreal in 2006,[191] Osasuna in 2007,[192] and PSV Eindhoven in 2011.[193][194] In 2013, allegations were made that members of the armed forces were involved in sectarian singing at Ibrox at a weekend set up by the club to celebrate the British armed forces.[195] In February 2015, following sectarian singing from Rangers fans at a match at Raith Rovers, the SPFL came in for criticism for their failure or inability to deal with the issue.[196] The police and courts are taking action, however, as Rangers fans are being charged, convicted and jailed for sectarian behaviour.[197]

text: Friendships

text: The fans of Rangers F.C. have a fan-friendship with the German club Hamburger SV, dating from the 1970s when Scots moved to the German port in search of work and reinforced by their shared affection for the midfielder Jörg Albertz.[198]

text: Ownership and finances

text: Incorporation to limited company and then to a PLC

text: Rangers Football Club incorporated on 27 May 1899, forming The Rangers Football Club Ltd.[80] No single shareholding exceeded 50% until 1985 when the Lawrence Group increased its shareholding in Rangers to a 52% majority, following a deal with then club vice-chairman Jack Gillespie. In November 1988, head of the Lawrence Group Lawrence Marlborough sold out to David Murray for £6 million.

text: In 2000, David Murray decided to list the company on the stock exchange, making it a public limited company. The name of the company was therefore changed to The Rangers Football Club plc.[199]

text: Craig Whyte, administration and liquidation

text: On 6 May 2011, Craig Whyte bought David Murray's shares for £1.[200] On 13 February 2012, Whyte filed legal papers at the Court of Session giving notice of his intention to appoint administrators.[201] The next day, The Rangers Football Club plc – which was subsequently renamed RFC 2012 plc – entered administration over non-payment of £9 million in PAYE and VAT taxes to HM Revenue and Customs.[202][203] In April the administrators estimated that the club's total debts could top £134m which was largely dependent on the outcome of a First Tier Tax Tribunal concerning a disputed tax bill in relation to an Employee Benefit Trust ("EBT") scheme employed by the club since 2001.[204] However, on 20 November 2012, the Tribunal ruled in favour of Rangers. Had that decision been upheld the tax bill could have been significantly reduced from an estimated £74m to under £2m.[205][206] An Upper Tribunal upheld the decision in 2014.[207] HMRC then appealed to the Court of Session, which ruled in November 2015 that Rangers should have paid tax and national insurance on the EBT payments.[208]

text: On 25 June 2012, the Crown Office asked Strathclyde Police to investigate the purchase of Rangers and the club's subsequent financial management during Whyte's tenure.[209]

text: Charles Green agreed a deal with the administrators of The Rangers Football Club plc to purchase the company for £8.5 million if a proposed CVA was agreed or to purchase its business and assets for a £5.5million if the proposed CVA were to be rejected.[210] On 14 June 2012, the formal rejection of the proposed CVA[211] meant that the company would enter the liquidation process.[212][213][214] The accountancy firm BDO were appointed to reveal why the company running the club failed.[215][216]

text: Current ownership

text: Hours after the CVA's rejection, a new company formed by Charles Green's consortium, Sevco Scotland Ltd, completed the purchase of the business and assets of The Rangers Football Club Plc.[217][218]

text: The new company formally applied to acquire the SPL share of The Rangers Football Club plc on 18 June 2012 but, on 4 July, SPL clubs voted by 10–1 to reject the application. Kilmarnock abstained and the old Rangers company voted in favour.[84] Thereafter, an application to the Scottish Football League was successful with Rangers securing associate membership on 13 July 2012 at an SFL meeting by a vote of 29–1. The SFL member clubs voted that Rangers should enter the fourth tier of Scottish Football, Scottish Third Division for the 2012–13 season, rather than the Scottish First Division.[219][220][221]

text: An application was made for a transfer of SFA membership on 29 June 2012, with the new company applying for the transfer of the membership of The Rangers Football Club plc.[222][223] Agreement was reached on the transfer with the new company accepting a number of conditions relating to the old company.[86]

text: At the end of 2012, Rangers International Football Club plc became the holding company for the group, having acquired The Rangers Football Club Ltd on the basis of a one for one share exchange.[224]

text: Social responsibility

text: Support for charities

text: The Rangers Charity Foundation was created in 2002 and participates in a wide range of charitable work, regularly involving Rangers staff and star players. The foundation also has partnerships with UNICEF, The Prostate Cancer Charity and Erskine, and is responsible for over £2.3 million in donations. As well as fundraising, the Rangers Charity Foundation regularly bring sick, disabled and disadvantaged children to attend matches and tours at Ibrox, with the chance to meet the players.[225][226]

text: Through its support of the Rangers Charity Foundation, the club has helped a number of charities with support and financial donations. In 2008, the club became the first Scottish side to be selected as a partner club of UNICEF.[227] The club's Charity Foundation has backed initiatives in Togo and India[227] as well as funding one million vaccinations for a children's vaccination programme.[228] The club has been a firm supporter of Erskine, a charity which provides long-term medical care for veterans of the British Armed Forces, and in 2012, donated £25,000 to fund projects within their care homes.[229] In January 2015, Rangers hosted a charity match for the benefit of former player Fernando Ricksen who had been diagnosed with Motor neurone disease and this raised £320,000 for him and MND Scotland.[230]

text: Work in the community

text: Alongside its work with numerous charities, the club and its Charity Foundation operate various initiatives within the community including courses to help Armed Forces veterans overcome addictions,[231] to raise awareness of social issues and help unemployed people back into work. In October 2015, the club launched its Ready2Succeed programme which was a ten-week course designed to develop participants confidence and employability skills by engaging with football and fitness.[232] Rangers first-team players also visit the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow every year during the festive period where they hand out presents to the children and donate money to the hospital activity fund.[233]

text: Popular culture

text: This section contains a list of miscellaneous information. Please relocate any relevant information into other sections or articles. (April 2018)

text: This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

text: In 2002 former Rangers striker Ally McCoist starred in Robert Duvall's film A Shot at Glory as Jackie McQuillan where he would play against Rangers in the Scottish Cup Final for "Kilnockie F.C.", a fictional side.[citation needed]

text: In 2003 a Scottish television documentary series filmed by BBC Scotland, Blue Heaven, followed aspiring young footballers at Rangers as they tried to forge a career in football.[234] The series was originally broadcast in the winter of 2003 with a follow up episode in 2011.[235]

text: In 2008 chef Gordon Ramsay returned to Rangers, the club he played for as a youth, to teach them how to cook in Series 4, Episode 12 of The F Word.[236]

text: The club featured on BBC Scotland comedy Scotch and Wry in 1979 in a scene where Manager (Rikki Fulton) and Chief Scout (Gregor Fisher) unknowingly sign a young Catholic footballer (Gerard Kelly) but then try to void his contract to avoid publicly breaking the clubs "No Catholic" signing policy after finding out.[citation needed]

text: Scottish comedian and boyhood Rangers supporter Lex McLean also mentioned Rangers in many of his sketches with BBC Scotland on his comedy series television show, Lex and Lex Again in the 1960s and The Lex McLean Show in 1972.[citation needed]

text: Owing to the notoriety of the "Rangers Inter City Firm", a football firm associated with the club, Rangers have also featured in TV Documentaries and books about football hooliganism, including Series 1 Episode 5 of The Real Football Factories presented by English actor Danny Dyer on Bravo in 2006 where he visits his first Old Firm match and meets football casuals from Rangers, Celtic, Aberdeen, Hibernian, Dundee United and Dundee.[237]

text: Rangers have appeared in theatre a number of times in shows such as Follow Follow: The Rangers Story at the King's Theatre in 1994 starring Scottish actors Barbara Rafferty, Alexander Morton, Jonathan Watson, Iain Robertson, Ronnie Letham and Stuart Bowman;[citation needed] The Bigot at the Pavilion Theatre in 1996, Singin' I'm No A Billy He's A Tim at the Pavilion Theatre in 2009,[238][239] Divided City at the Citizens Theatre in 2011 and most recently, Billy and Tim and the Wee Glesga Ghost at the Pavilion Theatre in 2015.[citation needed]

text: The Hymn "Follow On", also known in certain cases as "Down in the Valley with My Saviour I Would Go" or "I Will Follow Jesus" written by William Orcutt Cushing has been adopted as the anthem of Rangers, in their club song "Follow Follow". The club has also adopted the anthem of "The Best" written by Mike Chapman and Holly Knight for when Rangers and the opposition team come onto the Ibrox pitch before kick off.[240]

text: Records

text: Club

text:
Record league percentage win
100% 1898–99[241]

Highest Ever Attendance
143,570 vs Hibernian, 27 March 1948[242][243][244]

British record home Attendance
118,567 vs Celtic, 2 January 1939[6][15][245][246]

Highest European Attendance
100,000 vs Dynamo Kyiv, 16 September 1987[247]

World record fourth tier Attendance
50,048 vs Berwick Rangers, 4 May 2013[87][93][94]

Highest scoring match
14–2 vs Whitehill, 29 September 1883[248]
14–2 vs Blairgowrie, 20 January 1934[245][246][248]

Record league victory
10–0 vs Hibernian, 24 December 1898[6][242][248]

World record league titles won
54[249]

World record trebles won
7[250]

World record trophies won
119[citation needed]

text: Player

text:
Record appearances
Dougie Gray, 940 appearances, 1925–1947[251]

Most league appearances
Sandy Archibald, 513 appearances, 1917–1934[252]

Record goalscorer
Jimmy Smith, 381 goals, 1929–1946[253]

Most league goals
Jimmy Smith, 300 goals, 1929–1946[254]

Most Scotland caps whilst playing at Rangers
Ally McCoist, 61 caps, 1983–1998[255][256]

text: Players

text: First team squad

text: Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

text:
No.

Position

Player

1

GK

Allan McGregor

2

DF

James Tavernier (captain)

3

DF

Declan John

4

MF

Graham Dorrans

5

DF

Lee Wallace

6

DF

Connor Goldson (vice-captain)

7

FW

Jamie Murphy

8

MF

Ryan Jack

10

MF

Ovie Ejaria (on loan from Liverpool)

11

FW

Josh Windass

13

GK

Wes Foderingham

14

DF

Lee Hodson

15

DF

Jon Flanagan

16

MF

Andy Halliday

17

MF

Ross McCrorie

18

MF

Jordan Rossiter

19

DF

Nikola Katić

No.

Position

Player

20

FW

Alfredo Morelos

21

MF

Daniel Candeias

22

MF

Greg Docherty

24

DF

Aidan Wilson

25

GK

Jak Alnwick

26

MF

Harry Forrester

28

GK

Robby McCrorie

29

FW

Zak Rudden

33

MF

Jamie Barjonas

36

DF

Myles Beerman

37

MF

Scott Arfield

39

MF

Liam Burt

40

MF

Glenn Middleton

45

FW

Serge Atakayi

DF

Fábio Cardoso

MF

Lassana Coulibaly (on loan from Angers)

FW

Umar Sadiq (on loan from Roma)

text: On loan

text:
No.

Position

Player

23

MF

Jason Holt (on loan at Fleetwood Town until 31 May 2019)

31

FW

Ryan Hardie (on loan at Livingston until 31 May 2019)

MF

Carlos Peña (on loan at Necaxa until 31 December 2018)

No.

Position

Player

FW

Joe Dodoo (on loan at Blackpool until 31 May 2019)

FW

Eduardo Herrera (on loan at Santos Laguna until 31 May 2019)

text: Academy squads

text: For more details on the academy squads, see Rangers F.C. Under-20s and Academy.

text: Retired and reserved numbers

text: Number 12 is reserved for the fans (often referred to as the 12th man)[259]

text: Staff

text: Board of directors

text: Rangers F.C. is owned and operated by The Rangers Football Club Limited ("TRFCL"), which, in turn, is a subsidiary of the holding company Rangers International Football Club Plc ("RIFC"). The latter company, RIFC, also owns other corporations related to Rangers including Rangers Retail Ltd, Rangers Media Ltd and Garrion Security Services Ltd who are responsible for providing match day security at Ibrox Stadium.

text: As of 1 June 2018

text:
Position

Name

Chairman

 Dave King

Deputy Chairman

 Douglas Park

Company Secretary

 James Blair

Non-Executive Director

 John Bennett

Non-Executive Director

 Alastair Johnston

Non-Executive Director

 Graeme Park

text:
Position

Name

Managing Director

 Stewart Robertson

Company Secretary

 James Blair

Director of Finance and Administration

 Andrew Dickson

text: First team staff

text: As of 6 July 2018[262][263]

text:
Position

Name

Manager

 Steven Gerrard

Assistant Manager

 Gary McAllister

First Team Coach

 Michael Beale

Technical Coach

 Tom Culshaw

Goalkeeping Coach

 Colin Stewart

Director of Football

 Mark Allen

Head of Scouting

 Andy Scoulding

Club Scouts

 John Brown Billy McLaren David Swanick

Scouting Coordinator

 Rob Clarkson

Club Doctors

 Dr Mark Waller Dr Paul Jackson

Head of Performance

 Jordan Milsom

Head of Preparation

 Craig Flannigan

Physiotherapist

 Steve Walker

Masseur

 David Lavery

Kit Executive

 Jimmy Bell

text: Club staff

text: As of 1 June 2018

text:
Position

Name

Honorary Life President

 John Greig[264]

Club Ambassadors

 Richard Gough[265] Mark Hateley Derek Johnstone

Head of Commercial

 Scott Steedman[266]

Supporters Liaison Officer

 Greg Marshall[267]

text: Team managers

text: Only 17 men have been manager of Rangers during the club's 146-year history.[61][268][269]  9 men have taken charge of the side on a caretaker basis, while 5 men served as Secretaries choosing the team, prior to the appointment of the club's first manager William Wilton in 1899.

text: The longest serving manager was Bill Struth who served for 34 years and 26 days. Rangers have had three foreign managers during their history; Dick Advocaat (1 June 1998 to 12 December 2001),[33][40] Paul Le Guen (9 May 2006 to 4 January 2007) and Pedro Caixinha (11 March 2017 to 26 October 2017). Graeme Souness is the only player-manager during Rangers' history.[30]

text: The most successful manager in terms of the number of trophies won is Bill Struth with 18 League titles, 10 Scottish Cups and two League Cups, but the most successful manager in terms of trophies to time served is Walter Smith with seven league titles, three Scottish Cups and three League Cups in 7 years 42 days. Smith won three league titles, two Scottish Cups and three League Cups in the 4 years, 126 days of his second spell. Rangers' other manager with notable success was William Waddell who won the European Cup Winner's Cup during his 2 years and 175-day stint.

text:
R.F.C. managers

Name

Period

 William Wilton
1899–1920

 Bill Struth
1920–1954

 Scott Symon
1954–1967

 David White
1967–1969

 William Waddell
1969–1972

 Jock Wallace
1972–1978

1983–1986

 John Greig
1978–1983

 Graeme Souness
1986–1991

 Walter Smith
1991–1998

2007–2011

 [270]

Name

Period

 Dick Advocaat
1998–2001

 Alex McLeish
2001–2006

 Paul Le Guen
2006–2007

 Ally McCoist
2011–2014

 Mark Warburton
2015–2017

 Pedro Caixinha
2017

 Graeme Murty
2017–2018

 Steven Gerrard
2018–

text: Honours

text: As of June 2018[13]

text: Domestic honours

text: Scottish first-tier League Championships: 54

text: Scottish second-tier League Championships: 1

text: Scottish third-tier League Championships: 1

text: Scottish fourth-tier League Championships: 1

text: Scottish Cup: 33

text: Scottish League Cup: 27

text: Scottish Challenge Cup: 1

text: European honours

text:
European Cup Winners' Cup: 1
1971–72
Runners-up (2): 1960–61, 1966–67
UEFA Cup:
Runners-up (1): 2007–08
UEFA Super Cup:
Runners-up (1): 1972

text: Doubles and trebles

text: League Title, Scottish Cup, League Cup: 7

text: League Title and Scottish Cup: 11

text: League Title and League Cup: 10

text: Scottish Cup and League Cup: 4

text: Notable statistics

text: Rangers became the first British side to reach a UEFA-sanctioned European final in 1961.[271]

text: UEFA Club Coefficient Rankings

text:
Ranking
Country
Club
17/18 Points
Total Points
National Association Points

262

FC Dinamo Brest

0.500

0.500

3.725

263

FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk

0.250

3.250

3.725

264

St Johnstone F.C.

0.250

2.500

3.725

265

Rangers F.C.

0.250

0.250

3.725

266

FC Torpedo-BelAZ Zhodino

0.650

1.250

3.725

267

Hibernian F.C.

0.800

1.000

3.725

268

Heart of Midlothian F.C.

0.800

0.500

3.725

text: Notable former players

text: Club Captains

text: For further information, see Rangers club captains

text:
R.F.C. Captains

Name

Period

 Tom Vallance
1876–1882

 David Mitchell
1882–1894

 John McPherson
1894–1898

 Robert Hamilton
1898–1906

 Robert Campbell
1906–1916

 Tommy Cairns
1916–1926

 Bert Manderson
1926–1927

 Tommy Muirhead
1927–1930

 David Meiklejohn
1930–1938

 Jimmy Simpson
1938–1940

 Jock Shaw
1940–1957

 George Young
1953–1957

 Ian McColl
1957–1960

 Eric Caldow
1960–1962

 Bobby Shearer
1962–1965

 John Greig
1965–1978

 Derek Johnstone
1978–1983

 John McClelland
1983–1984

 [273]

Name

Period

 Craig Paterson
1984–1986

 Terry Butcher
1986–1990

 Richard Gough
1990–1997

1997–1998

 Brian Laudrup
1997

 Lorenzo Amoruso
1998–2000

 Barry Ferguson
2000–2003

2005–2007

2007–2009

 Craig Moore
2003–2004

 Stefan Klos
2004–2005

 Gavin Rae
2007

 David Weir
2009–2012

 Steven Davis
2012

 Carlos Bocanegra
2012

 Lee McCulloch
2012–2015

 Lee Wallace
2015–2018

 James Tavernier
2018-

text: Greatest ever team

text: The following team was voted the greatest ever Rangers team by supporters in 1999. When the vote was launched it was feared that younger voters would ignore the great service of many of the pre-war stars (notably the most successful captain and most successful manager the club has ever had, Davie Meiklejohn and Bill Struth respectively). When the ballot was launched Donald Findlay stated it would be limited to post Second World War players because "few can recall players of these earlier eras":[275]

text:
Andy Goram
 Sandy Jardine
 Richard Gough
 Terry Butcher
 John Greig – Voted greatest ever Ranger
 Brian Laudrup – Voted Rangers' greatest ever foreign player
 Paul Gascoigne
 Jim Baxter – Voted third greatest ever Ranger
 Davie Cooper
 Ally McCoist – Voted second greatest ever Ranger
 Mark Hateley

text: Scotland Football Hall of Fame

text: As of 2018, 29 players and managers to have been involved with Rangers in their careers have entered the Scottish Football Hall of Fame:[276]

text:
John Greig – 2004 Inaugural Inductee
 Graeme Souness – 2004 Inaugural Inductee
 Sir Alex Ferguson – 2004 Inaugural Inductee
 Jim Baxter – 2004 Inaugural Inductee
 Willie Woodburn – 2004 Inaugural Inductee
 Alex McLeish – 2005 Inductee
 Willie Waddell – 2005 Inductee
 George Young – 2005 Inductee
 Alan Morton – 2005 Inductee
 Davie Cooper – 2006 Inductee
 Brian Laudrup – 2006 Inductee
 Sandy Jardine – 2006 Inductee
 Willie Henderson – 2006 Inductee
 Richard Gough – 2006 Inductee
 Walter Smith – 2007 Inductee
 Ally McCoist – 2007 Inductee
 Eric Caldow – 2007 Inductee
 Derek Johnstone – 2008 Inductee
 Bill Struth – 2008 Inductee
 David Meiklejohn – 2009 Inductee
 Mo Johnston – 2009 Inductee
 Andy Goram – 2010 Inductee
 Robert Smyth McColl – 2011 Inductee
 Terry Butcher – 2011 Inductee
 Bob McPhail – 2012 Inductee
 Scot Symon – 2013 Inductee
 Davie Wilson – 2014 Inductee
 Bobby Brown – 2015 Inductee
 Jock Wallace – 2016 Inductee

text: Scotland Roll of Honour

text: The Scotland national football team roll of honour recognises players who have gained 50 or more international caps for Scotland. The nine inductees to have won caps while playing for Rangers are:[277]

text:
David Weir – 2006 Inductee, 69 Caps
 Kenny Miller – 2010 Inductee, 69 Caps
 Christian Dailly – 2003 Inductee, 67 Caps
 Richard Gough – 1990 Inductee, 61 Caps
 Ally McCoist – 1996 Inductee, 61 Caps
 George Young – 1956 Inductee, 54 Caps
 Graeme Souness – 1985 Inductee, 54 Caps
 Colin Hendry – 2001 Inductee, 51 Caps
 Alan Hutton – 2016 Inductee, 50 Caps

text: Scottish Sports Hall of Fame

text: In the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame, 3 Rangers players have been selected, they are:[278]

text:
Jim Baxter – 2002 Inductee
 John Greig – 2002 Inductee
 Ally McCoist – 2007 Inductee

text: Sponsors

text: As of 1 June 2018, Rangers are sponsored by:[279]

text:
Official Club Sponsor – 32Red
Official Technical Kit Supplier – Hummel[280]
Official Retail Partner – Sports Direct
Official Soft Drink – Coca-Cola
Official Sports Drink – Powerade
Official Energy Partner – Utilita Energy
Official Life Insurance Partner – Bon Accord Life
Official Tailors - Forbes Tailoring
Official Team Travel Partner - Thomas Cook Airlines
Official Vaping Partner – Vapourized

text: A full list of Rangers commercial partners and sponsors can be found on the official club website and in the Rangers matchday programme, available at every home game.


document_title: The Great Mouse Detective

question_text: what is the bat's name in the great mouse detective

question_tokens: what is the bat 's name in the great mouse detective

root

text: The Great Mouse Detective

text: Plot

text: In 1897 London, a young mouse named Olivia Flaversham is celebrating her birthday with her toymaker father, Hiram. When a bat with a crippled wing and peg leg bursts into the family's workshop, he kidnaps Hiram. Olivia searches to find the famed Great Mouse Detective named Basil of Baker Street, but gets lost. A surgeon named Dr. David Q. Dawson, who returned from a lengthy service of the Mouse Queen's 66th Regiment in Afghanistan, meets Olivia, and escorts her to Basil's house. Upon their arrival at his residence, Basil is initially indifferent, but when Olivia mentions the peg-legged bat that kidnapped her father, Basil realizes that Olivia saw Fidget, a henchman of Professor Ratigan, a villain Basil attempted to arrest for years. It is then revealed that Ratigan kidnapped Hiram to create a clockwork robot, which mimics the Queen of the Mice so Ratigan can rule England. Hiram initially refuses to participate in the scheme, but gives in when Ratigan threatens to harm Olivia. Ratigan then announces his plans to kill the Queen and become "supreme ruler of all mousedom" to his henchmen.

tag: p

text: Meanwhile, as Basil is deducing the case, Fidget appears through the window, scaring Olivia. They give chase as Basil finds Fidget's footprints, declaring that they purse him in order to find Hiram. Basil, along with Dawson and Olivia, takes Toby, Sherlock Holmes's pet Basset Hound, to track Fidget's scent, where they locate him in a toyshop stealing clockwork mechanisms and toy soldiers' uniforms. Fidget ambushes Olivia from inside a toy cradle and kidnaps her. Basil and Dawson pursue Fidget, but become entangled and fall behind. While searching the shop, Dawson discovers Fidget's checklist, to which Basil does some chemical tests to discover the list came from a riverfront near the Thames. Basil and Dawson disguise themselves as sailors, and head to a tavern called the "Rat Trap" and follow Fidget to Ratigan's headquarters. They are caught, and Ratigan has his hooligans tie them to a spring-loaded mousetrap connected with a Rube Goldberg machine laid out to kill them both. Ratigan sets out for Buckingham Palace, where Fidget and Ratigan's accomplices kidnap the queen. Basil, along with Dawson, deduces the trap's weakness and escape just in time, shortly after Dawson helps Basil out of a state of self-pity that he allowed himself into, thanks to Ratigan and his allies ambushing them both (not helped by mental block over what to do next until being suggested to "set the trap off now" with the right timing).

text: At Buckingham Palace, Ratigan forces Hiram to operate the toy Queen, while the real one is taken to be fed to Felicia, Ratigan's pet cat. The toy Queen declares Ratigan the ruler of all Mousedom, and he announces his tyrannical plans for his new "subjects". After Basil, Dawson and Olivia save Hiram and the real Queen, they restrain Fidget and Ratigan's other henchmen. Basil seizes control of the mechanical queen, making it denounce Ratigan as a fraud and tyrant while breaking it into pieces. The crowd, enraged by Ratigan's treason, start climbing on him and defeating his guards. Ratigan frees himself and escapes on his dirigible with Fidget, holding Olivia hostage. Basil, Dawson and Hiram create their own craft with a matchbox, and some small helium-filled balloons, held together by the Union Jack. Ratigan tosses Fidget overboard to lighten the load, and he attempts to drive the dirigible himself. Basil jumps onto the dirigible to confront Ratigan, causing it to crash straight into the Big Ben clocktower.

text: Inside the clocktower, Basil manages to get Ratigan's cape stuck on some gears. He rescues Olivia and safely delivers her to Hiram. Ratigan breaks free and attacks Basil, eventually knocking him to the dirigible. When the clock strikes ten, the bell hits for the loudest sound and Ratigan falls to his death, taking Basil with him. However, Basil grabs the part of Ratigan's dirigible saves himself and reunites with the others. Back at Baker Street, Basil and Dawson recount their adventures, as well as the queen's gratitude for saving her life. After the Flavershams leave the house, a distraught new client solicits arrives and asks Basil and Dawson for help, with Basil noting that Dawson is his trusted associate, prompting him to remain and assist him.

text: Voice cast

text:
Barrie Ingham as Basil, a detective, based on the fictional sleuth Sherlock Holmes. His main goal is to arrest Professor Ratigan and rescue Olivia Flaversham's father, while simultaneously preventing a royal assassination. There are a few differences between Basil in the book series and in the film version, such as mood swings in the latter. He also plays the violin quite well in the film, whereas the book series stated Basil's violin playing was atrocious — instead, Basil played the flute.
Vincent Price as Professor Ratigan, Basil's enemy. He is based on Professor Moriarty from the Sherlock Holmes stories. He plots to seize control of the British monarchy. He and Basil are long-established arch-enemies. In the book series, his given name is Padraic and he is a mouse; in the film he denies that he is a rat. At the end of the film, he falls off Big Ben and disappears into the fog below, following a savage battle with Basil, similar to the Sherlock Homes story "The Final Problem".
Val Bettin as Major Dr. David Q. Dawson, previously of the Queen's 66th Regiment in Afghanistan. His character is based upon Dr. John H. Watson from the Sherlock Holmes stories. The interaction between him and Basil mimics that of Watson and Holmes, as Dawson is constantly amazed by Basil's quick-witted deductions. He eventually becomes Basil's associate, friend, and personal biographer. Dawson also serves as the film's narrator.
Susanne Pollatschek as Olivia Flaversham, An eight-year-old female mouse of Scottish descent who seeks Basil's help in finding her toymaker father.
Candy Candido as Fidget, Ratigan's bumbling bat right-hand henchman. He tends to do the dirty work for his boss. He has a crippled wing and a peg leg, and, as a result, he cannot fly. Ratigan throws him off the side of his flying machine near the end of the film, and he falls into the Thames. He survives the fall in the book (how is not explained). Candido also voices a reprobate in the pub.
Frank Welker as Toby, Basil's loyal basset hound. He technically belongs to Sherlock Holmes, who lives above Basil.
Alan Young as Hiram Flaversham, Olivia's affectionate Scottish father. He works as a toymaker, and is kidnapped by Fidget to make the Queen Mousetoria robot for the evil Ratigan.
Frank Welker as Felicia, Ratigan's large and pompous pet cat. Ratigan calls upon her by ringing a special bell to dispose of traitors or anyone who makes him angry. She is chased by Toby and eaten by Royal Guard Dogs during the climax of the film.
Diana Chesney as Mrs. Judson, Basil's housekeeper. She adores Basil, but gets very annoyed when he mistreats her good pillows by shooting them with a pistol. She is based on Mrs. Hudson.
Eve Brenner as Queen Mousetoria, the mouse queen of England, whom Ratigan attempts to depose of. She is a parody of Queen Victoria and the setting for this film coincides with the real Victoria's Diamond Jubilee (as can be seen with humans entering Buckingham Palace at the same time the mice are).
Melissa Manchester (uncredited) as Miss Kitty Mouse, a singer at a seedy tavern called The Rat Trap.
Barrie Ingham as Bartholomew, one of Ratigan's henchmen. He meets his demise early on during Ratigan's song when he drunkenly calls his boss a rat; enraged, Ratigan throws him outside and summons Felicia, who devours him.
Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes, the famous human detective who lives above Basil. His voice is taken from The 1966 Caedmon Records recording of the Sherlock Holmes story "The Adventure of the Red-Headed League".
Laurie Main as Dr. Watson, the medical associate/partner of Sherlock Holmes, who also lives above Basil. Unlike Rathbone, voice samples of Nigel Bruce were not used for the voice of Watson.
Wayne Allwine, Tony Anselmo, Walker Edmiston and Val Bettin as the Thug Guards

tag: ul

text: Production

text: The idea of doing an animated film about Sherlock Holmes with animals was first discussed about during the production of The Rescuers. Veteran layout artist Joe Hale is credited with suggesting to adapt the children's book series Basil of Baker Street by Eve Titus, but the project fell into development limbo because of the similarities to The Rescuers.[2] In 1982, Ron Clements proposed adapting the children's book series into an animated feature and, along with story artist Pete Young, it was pitched to Disney President and CEO Ron Miller who approved the project.[3] Earlier in his career, Clements created a fifteen-minute Sherlock Holmes animated short recorded on Super 8 film.[4] Because the animators were displeased with the direction The Black Cauldron was heading, Basil of Baker Street was approved as an alternative project.[2][5]

text: Burny Mattinson and John Musker were assigned as the original directors while Dave Michener was also added as co-director. Miller became the producer for the film. The first idea for the victim was for Olivia—then an older and potential love interest whom Dawson falls for, but Miller suggested the character to be "a little girl, someone they [the audience] can feel sorry for." One of the dropped characters was a stool pigeon who always hung around Buckingham Palace and tipped Basil off about the skullduggery. The writers dropped the characters deciding for Bail to figure it out for himself.[4]

text: With the departure of Miller in 1984, the board of directors appointed Michael Eisner, who had resigned from Paramount Pictures, to become the new CEO. Eisner recruited former production head Jeffrey Katzenberg to become studio chairman over Disney's film division. Following a story reel screening of Basil, Eisner and Katzenberg complained about the slow pacing of the story and ordered for rewrites before animation would commence. With the intended release set for Christmas 1987,[6] Michael Eisner slashed the projected production budget at $24 million in half where it was green-lit at $10 million, and moved the release date up to July 1986 giving the production team one year to complete the film.[7] To replace Miller who had been producer, Feature Animation chairman Roy E. Disney assigned Mattinson to serve as director/producer, but finding both tasks much too laborious, Mattinson decided to remain as producer. Musker and Michener remained as directors, but with the shortened production schedule, Clements became as an additional director.[2]

text: Following the box office under-performance of the 1985 Paramount/Amblin film Young Sherlock Holmes, Eisner decided to rename Basil of Baker Street into The Great Mouse Detective feeling the name "Basil" was "too English".[7] The re-titling of the film proved to be unpopular with the filmmakers so much that animator Ed Gombert wrote a satirical interoffice memo, allegedly by studio executive Peter Schneider, which gave preceding Disney films generic titles such as Seven Little Men Help a Girl, The Wonderful Elephant Who Could Really Fly, The Little Deer Who Grew Up, The Girl with the See-through Shoes, Two Dogs Fall in Love, Puppies Taken Away, and A Boy, a Bear and a Big Black Cat.[8][9] These generic titles would later become a category on Jeopardy!.[10]

text: Casting

text: Following a succession of American and British actors who read for the part of Basil, Royal Shakespeare actor Barrie Ingham won the role within six minutes of his audition so much that a compelling portion of it was used in the finished film. Val Bettin was co-director Ron Clements's first choice for Dawson.[11] For Olivia, Susanne Pollatschek was selected over hundreds of other applicants while Alan Young, who had voiced Scrooge McDuck for Mickey's Christmas Carol, was selected to voice her father Hiriam because of his authentic Scottish brogue.[2]

text: When the filmmakers watched the 1950 comedy film Champagne for Caesar to study Ronald Colman's performance as a possible model for Basil, they immediately decided to cast Vincent Price, who also starred in the film, as Ratigan.[12] A veteran actor for fifty-two years, Price was willing to an audition commenting "If anybody but Disney had asked me, I would have been offended."[13] Following a voice test, veteran voice artist Candy Candido recorded his dialogue for Fidget in one hour. To heighten the pitch, the tape recording of his voice was sped up.[14] Candido's natural voice was kept for one character shouting "Get off, you eight-legged bum."[2]

text: Animation

text: Basil was first modeled on Bing Crosby, but the animators eventually took inspiration from Leslie Howard.[4] Initially, Ratigan had been designed as thin, weasely, and ratlike. Following the screening of Champagne for Caesar, Glen Keane noted that following the casting of Price, "[h]is expressive voice and attitude inspired us to further redesign the character."[2] Additionally, during one story meeting, Glen Keane decided to base the stature of Ratigan on then-Disney CEO Ron Miller,[15] who was a 6'6" former football player for the Los Angeles Rams.[2] Furthermore, Keane lifted his personality as he was thumbing through these "photographs of people of London in the 1800s, of railroad men, and there was this one guy smoking a cigar — he had a top hat and there was just something about this guy — this Ratigan...this rat sucking the cigar, completely dressed to the hilt, he was sharp and perfect — he's a sewer rat dressed like a king and he lives as a king!"[16] The following supervising animators included Mark Henn for Basil, Hendel Butoy for Dawson, Rob Minkoff for Olivia, Andreas Deja for Queen Moustoria, Ruben Aquino for Mrs. Judson, and Mike Gabriel for Toby and Felicia.[17]

text: The original finale was to take place on the hands of Big Ben with Ratigan eventually falling to his demise. However, layout artist Mike Peraza approached Musker with the idea of restaging the final confrontation so the characters would break through the face of the Big Ben with the grinding clockwork gears providing added menace, in which Musker agreed.[18] Pereza and his team was sent to London for video reference and were granted unprecedented access to the clockworks inside Big Ben. Because the bells would chime at every quarter-hour, the team completed their research in one hour.[19] Back at the Feature Animation building, animators Phil Nibbelink and Dave Gielow spent months designing the interior of Big Ben, with each gear produced as wire-frame graphics on a computer that was printed out and traced onto animation cels onto which the colors and characters were added.[18]

text: Music

text:
The Adventures of the Great Mouse Detective (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Film score

Released
May 9, 1992

Recorded
1986

Label
Varèse Sarabande

Producer
Henry Mancini

tag: table

text: This marked the debut of Henry Mancini for score composition of an animated feature aside from the animated opening for The Pink Panther.[20] Initially, Mancini composed a song titled "Are You the One Who Loves Me?" to serve as parody of a Victorian British music hall. Already in rough animation, the song was recorded by Shani Wallis. However, Katzenberg and the new management desired a more contemporary song as they would help make the film more marketable.[2] Michael Jackson was considered by Eisner to voice a character who would enter the saloon, confront Basil,[21] and sing a song at the tavern, but the suggestion was met with uncomfortable silence for which Eisner withdrew the idea; Eisner later proposed for Madonna to perform the song. Eventually, Melissa Manchester was brought in where she wrote and performed "Let Me Be Good to You" by which the rough animation had to be re-timed and often re-animated to properly sync with the song.[2] Mancini also co-wrote two of the film's three original songs, "The World's Greatest Criminal Mind" and "Goodbye So Soon" (both performed by Vincent Price). Unusually for a Disney animated feature, there was no soundtrack album released alongside the film; it was released in 1992 alongside the film's reissue under its new title by Varèse Sarabande, the only Disney cartoon to have an original soundtrack on the label to date (and the only one not to be issued under a Walt Disney imprint).

text:
Main Title (1:40)
Dawson Finds Olivia (1:20)
Enter Basil (2:12)
Enter Ratigan (2:17)
Crushed Box (1:30)
The World's Greatest Criminal Mind – Vincent Price (M&L: Ellen Fitzhugh/Larry Grossman/Henry Mancini) (5:09)
Unusual Foot Prints (1:40)
Here's Toby (3:53)
Check Mate (2:41)
Reunion (2:38)
Let Me Be Good to You – Melissa Manchester (M&L: Melissa Manchester) (3:01)
Ratigan's Plan (2:01)
Goodbye So Soon – Vincent Price (M&L: Ellen Fitzhugh/Larry Grossman/Henry Mancini) (2:55)
Cat Nip (1:44)
Big Ben Chase (5:33)
Wrap-Up (3:08)
End Title/"Goodbye So Soon" (chorus) (1:51)

tag: ol

text: Reception

text: Critical reception

text: On their syndicated television show, At the Movies, the film received a "two thumbs up" rating from critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert.[22] In his print review for The Chicago Tribune, Siskel enthusiastically praised as the most "truly memorable animated feature in 25 years" that "travels a wide emotional range, taking us from cuddly to scary, from recognition to wonder."[23] London's Time Out magazine wrote, "As usual with film noir [...] it is the villain who steals the heart and one is rooting for in the breathtaking showdown high up in the cogs and ratchets of Big Ben."[24] The New York Times film reviewer Nina Darnton applauded that "[t]he heroes are appealing, the villains have that special Disney flair – humorous blackguards who really enjoy being evil – and the script is witty and not overly sentimental."[25] Johanna Steinmetz, also from The Chicago Tribune, graded the film three-and-a-half stars (out of four) writing "This movie is cute, cute, cute, but it's a higher grade of cute than The Rescuers (1977) and The Fox and the Hound (1981). The key to good Disney animation is character and facial expression, and Detective abounds in both."[26]

text: The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported that the film received an 81% approval rating with an average rating of 6.9/10 based on 16 reviews. The website's consensus states that "The Great Mouse Detective may not rank with Disney's classics, but it's an amiable, entertaining picture with some stylishly dark visuals."[27]

text: Box-office

text: The film grossed around $50 million worldwide against a budget of $14 million during its initial release.[28] Its moderate success after its predecessor's under-performance gave the new management of Disney confidence in the viability of their animation department.[29][30] Re-titled as The Adventures of the Great Mouse Detective, the film was re-released theatrically on February 14, 1992 where it grossed $13,288,756.[31] The Great Mouse Detective has had a lifetime North American gross of $38.7 million across its original release and reissue.[32]

text: Home media

text: Following the theatrical re-release in February 1992, the film was released on VHS and Laserdisc in July 1992 as part of the Walt Disney Classics series (It was not included in the "Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection"). It was placed into moratorium on April 30, 1993.[33] It was released again on VHS in August 1999 (with a game sheet inside it as part of a contest) and on DVD in 2002 with a short making-of featurette. In the UK, it was first released on VHS in 1992 followed by re-releases in 1993 and 1995.

text: A "Mystery in the Mist Edition" of The Great Mouse Detective was released on DVD on April 13, 2010 and on Blu-ray Disc on October 9, 2012. Unlike previous home media releases, which all used the 1992 reissue title print (The Adventures of the Great Mouse Detective), this DVD restored the original 1986 title card, which had previously not been seen since the original 1986 release. The DVD also has the film in 1.78:1 aspect ratio Widescreen revealing more picture, bringing it closer to its original theatrical aspect ratio. The Blu-ray edition is region-free and thus can be played in any region of the world.[34] The Blu-ray was finally released in the UK on November 9, 2015 and released in France on Blu-ray on October 20, 2015.