Editing Rangers F.C. (section)

==History==
{{Main|History of Rangers F.C.}}
{{see also|List of Rangers F.C. seasons|Rangers F.C. Hall of Fame}}

===Formation, early years and William Wilton===
[[File:Rangers FC Gallant Pioneers.jpg|thumb|left|alt=The 1877 Scottish Cup Final Rangers team|The 1877 Scottish Cup Final Rangers team]]

Rangers were formed by four founders – brothers [[Moses McNeil]] and [[Peter McNeil (footballer)|Peter McNeil]], [[Peter Campbell (Rangers footballer)|Peter Campbell]] and [[William McBeath]] – who met at West End Park (now known as [[Kelvingrove Park]]) in March 1872. Rangers' first match, in May that year, was a goalless friendly draw with [[Callander F.C.|Callander]] on [[Glasgow Green]]. [[David Hill (Rangers footballer)|David Hill]] was also a founder member.<ref>{{cite book|title=Scotland Who's Who: International Players 1872–2013|author=Paul Smith|publisher=Pitch Publishing|year=2013|page=126}}</ref> In 1873, the club held its first annual meeting and staff were elected.<ref name="Founded 1872">{{cite web|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/world-of-sport/45-000-see-rangers-face-blokes-coming-off-153126585.html|title=45,000 to see Rangers face blokes coming off night shift|work=Eurosport|publisher=Yahoo!|date=17 August 2012|access-date=18 August 2012|quote=Founded: 1872<br />Biggest win: 10–0 v Hibernian 1898<br />Most appearances: John Greig 755 (1960–1978)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818000246/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/world-of-sport/45-000-see-rangers-face-blokes-coming-off-153126585.html|archive-date=18 August 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Official meeting 1873">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-15307021|title=The on-field history of Rangers Football Club 1873–2012|work=BBC News|date=14 February 2012|access-date=18 August 2012|quote=The club's origins date back to 1872 when Moses McNeil, his brother Peter, Peter Campbell and William McBeath formed their own team in Glasgow.<br />The name Rangers was adopted from an English rugby club and the first game, against Callander FC, ended 0–0. The club's official beginning came to be recognised as 1873, when the first annual general meeting was held.<br />By the time of the first Scottish Football League season in 1890, Rangers had arrived at their current home of Ibrox, in the south east of Glasgow, via Burnbank and Kinning Park.<br />Rangers finished joint top of the league with Dumbarton, and after a play-off ended 2–2, a decision was taken to share the title.<br />This was the only time the league has ever been shared, and it marked the first senior honour for Rangers.<br />Rangers won the Scottish Cup for the first time in 1894, beating Celtic 3–1<br />Three years later, the club recorded their first ever Scottish Cup win, beating Celtic 3–1 in the 1894 final.<br />Rangers won the trophy again in 1897 and 1898 with victories over Dumbarton and Kilmarnock.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302040857/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-15307021|archive-date=2 March 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> By 1876, Rangers had its first [[List of Rangers F.C. international footballers|international player]], with Moses McNeil representing [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] in a match against [[Wales national football team|Wales]].<ref name="Rangers first Scottish international player">{{cite web|url=http://www.helensburghheroes.com/heroes/moses_mcneil|title=Co founder of Glasgow Rangers Football Club, Rangers and Scotland Footballer – a true Footballing Pioneer|work=Helensburgh Heroes|publisher=helensburghheroes.com|access-date=23 December 2012|quote=McNeil won two caps for Scotland, the first Ranger to represent his country, the first on 25 March 1876 in a 4–0 win over Wales and the second on 13 March 1880 in a 5–4 win over England, in which he played alongside his brother, Henry. Henry McNeil won a total of 10 caps for his country and scored 5 goals.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130125001733/http://www.helensburghheroes.com/heroes/moses_mcneil|archive-date=25 January 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> 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 F.C.|Vale of Leven]]. Rangers won the [[Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup]] the following year against Vale of Leven 2–1, their first major cup.<ref name="Rangers History">{{cite web|url=http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/history|title=Rangers History|work=Evening Times|access-date=20 January 2013|quote=Rangers were born in March 1872, after a group of teenage rowing enthusiasts watched a game of football in Glasgow Green. Brothers Peter and Moses McNeil and Peter Campbell and William McBeath got their heads together to give rise to the club, who played just two matches in their first year.<br />It is believed that Moses McNeil suggested the name 'Rangers' after seeing it in a book about English rugby. The club played their first game in May 1872 at Flecher's Haugh in Glasgow Green against Callander, a match that ended in a 0–0 draw.<br /> Rangers was officially founded in 1873 as that was the year they elected office bearers. The club first donned blue shirts in their second game, against Clyde (not the present-day club), and won it 11–0.<br />Five years after their founding, Rangers made it to their first major cup final against Vale of Leven. The game was played at First Hampden Park and finished 1–1, so a replay beckoned. Rangers refused to turn up for the replay and Vale were awarded the cup. The teams met the following year in the Charity Cup. Rangers won 2–1 and the Glasgow Merchants' Charity Cup was the first major trophy to be won by the team.<br />The 1890–91 season saw the inception of the Scottish Football League, and Rangers were one of ten original members. Rangers' first ever league match took place on 16 August 1890 and resulted in a 5–2 victory over Hearts. After finishing equal-top with Dumbarton, a play-off was held at Cathkin Park to decide the champions. The match finished 2–2 and the title was shared for the only time in its history – the first of Rangers' 54 championships.|archive-date=17 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117065523/http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/history|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://www.electricscotland.com/history/sport/football/chapter20.htm Chapter XX.—Queen's Park and Glasgow Charity cup], History of the Queen's Park Football Club 1867 – 1917, Richard Robinson (1920), via Electric Scotland</ref> The first-ever match against [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] took place in 1888, the year after the East End club's establishment. Rangers lost 5–2 in a friendly to an opposition composed largely of guest players from [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]].<ref name="First old firm match">{{cite web|url=http://www.football-soccer-camps.com/glasgow-rangers-training.htm|title=Summer Soccer & Football Camps train with the best teams in world football|publisher=football-soccer-camps.com|access-date=20 December 2012|quote=After joining, Rangers finally reached their first final of the Scottish Cup in 1877 but were not victorious.<br /> The eternal rivalry, known as the Old Firm, between the two Glaswegian city teams, Rangers and Celtic has been ongoing since the first Old Firm match in 1888, in which Rangers lost 5–2 in a friendly against the Celtic team which was largely made up of "guest players" from Hibernians.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620144003/http://www.football-soccer-camps.com/glasgow-rangers-training.htm|archive-date=20 June 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Celtic 5 – 2 Rangers">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/sportscotland/asportingnation/article/0003/|title=The Founding of Celtic Football Club 1888|publisher=BBC Scotland|date=November 2005|access-date=3 January 2013|quote=It would be over six months later before the newly-constituted Celtic club played its first ever match, on 28 May 1888 which resulted in a 5–2 win over Rangers, in what was called a 'friendly match'.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914093144/http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/sportscotland/asportingnation/article/0003/|archive-date=14 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Early years">{{cite web|url=http://www.rangers.co.uk/index.php/club/history/club-history/item/499-founding-fathers|title=The Founding Fathers|publisher=Rangers F.C.|access-date=24 August 2012|quote=All those championships and cups would never have found their way into the Ibrox Trophy Room but for that encounter between Peter McNeil, his brother Moses, Peter Campbell and William McBeath.<br />Their first match was an unlikely affair against Callander FC at Flesher's Haugh on Glasgow Green.<br />...<br />The result was 0–0, but that didn't matter. Rangers had been born.<br />The name Rangers was adopted from an English rugby club. By their second fixture – the only other they played that first year – they had donned the light blue. It must have done the trick – Rangers beat Clyde 11–0.<br />In season 1875–76 they moved to [[Burnbank Park]] and towards the end of that season Rangers had their first international; Moses McNeil, one of the four founders, who made his Scotland debut in a 4–0 victory over Wales.<br />The following year Rangers made the breakthrough reaching their first Scottish Cup Final. It took three matches to find a winner, and sadly it was their opponents Vale of Leven. After two drawn games, 0–0 and 1–1, Rangers finally succumbed 3–2 in the second replay.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522090924/http://www.rangers.co.uk/index.php/club/history/club-history/item/499-founding-fathers|archive-date=22 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:RangersFC League Performance.svg|thumb|250px|Chart of Rangers yearly table positions in League play]]

The [[1890–91 in Scottish football|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 F.C.|Heart of Midlothian]]. After finishing joint-top with [[Dumbarton F.C.|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.<ref name="Official meeting 1873" /><ref name="Rangers History" /><ref name="Rangers honours">{{cite web|url=http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/club/rangers/|title=Rangers|publisher=Scottish Football League|date=July 2014|access-date=31 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120817225904/http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/club/rangers|archive-date=17 August 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Rangers uefa page">{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/nationalassociations/teams/50121--rangers/|title=Rangers FC|publisher=UEFA|date=30 December 2010|access-date=19 August 2012|quote=Founded by brothers Moses and Peter McNeil, Peter Campbell and William McBeath, Rangers shared their first championship with Dumbarton FC in 1890/91 then beat Celtic FC 3–1 to win their first Scottish Cup in 1894, clinching their first title outright by winning every game of the 1898/99 campaign.<br />William Struth's 34 years as manager from 1920 onwards ushered in the club's first golden era; Rangers won 18 league championships, ten Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups under Struth, including Scotland's first domestic treble in the 1948/49 season.<br />In 1961, Rangers became the first British club to reach the final of a UEFA competition when they got to the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final only to lose 4–1 on aggregate to ACF Fiorentina; they lost 1–0 to FC Bayern München in the final of the same competition six years later before finally lifting the trophy in 1972 when beating FC Dinamo Moskva 3–2 at the Camp Nou.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124095143/http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/teams/club=50121/profile/index.html|archive-date=24 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> During [[William Wilton]]'s time as match secretary and then team manager, Rangers won ten league titles.

===Bill Struth and Scot Symon===
Taking over as manager after William Wilton's death 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.<ref name="Record attendance">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2346330/A-lot-of-bottle-in-Old-Firm-duels.html|title=A lot of bottle in Old Firm duels|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=22 September 2006|access-date=24 August 2012|author=Forsyth, Roddy|quote=The record Old Firm gate at a club ground was set on 2 Jan 1939 by a crowd of 118,567 at Ibrox.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208192622/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2346330/A-lot-of-bottle-in-Old-Firm-duels.html|archive-date=8 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Founded 1872" /><ref name="Wilton and struth">{{cite web|url=http://www.rangers.co.uk/index.php/club/history/club-history/item/506-the-dominant-force|publisher=Rangers F.C.|title=The Dominant Force|quote=Sadly, Wilton was not to enjoy this extraordinary success which saw Rangers take the title 15 times in 21 seasons.<br />With the Championship back at Ibrox, Wilton – the club's first manager – died the day after the last game of the season in May 1920, drowning in a boating accident.<br />Struth, who was appointed his successor, lived to become a legend. He managed the club for 34 years, winning a glittering array of trophies – 18 League Championships, 10 Scottish Cups and two League Cups.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522065218/http://www.rangers.co.uk/index.php/club/history/club-history/item/506-the-dominant-force|archive-date=22 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> During the wartime regional league setup (in which the team won all seven seasons, along with official championships either side of the conflict in 1938–39 and 1946–47), Rangers achieved their highest score against Celtic with an 8–1 win in the [[Southern Football League (Scotland)|Southern Football League]].<ref name="Record old firm result">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/dec/30/joy-of-six-new-year-fixtures|title=The Joy of Six: new year football fixtures|work=The Guardian|date=30 December 2011|access-date=6 January 2013|author=Murray, Scott|quote=The humiliated Rangers boss that day was Scot Symon, so it is with a pleasing symmetry that Symon was a player in the other record victory in an Old Firm match. Because while Celtic's 7–1 win is the biggest win in official competition, Rangers went one better in an unofficial wartime Scottish Southern League ne'erday game between the two rivals in 1943. An Ibrox crowd of just over 30,000 watched a strong Rangers side including Symon, George Young and the legendary winger Willie Waddell rattle up an 8–1 victory.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218223906/http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2011/dec/30/joy-of-six-new-year-fixtures|archive-date=18 February 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/rangers-dominated-wartime-football-should-their-titles-be-recognised-record-books-2504693?amp Rangers dominated wartime football but should their titles be recognised in the record books?], The Scotsman, 21 March 2020.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-supporters-campaign-world-war-10952292|title=Rangers supporters campaign for World War Two titles to be recognised by SFA and SPFL|author=Record Sport Online|date=8 August 2017|website=Daily Record|access-date=17 December 2020}}</ref>

[[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 in Scottish football|1963–64 season]], the era of [[Jim Baxter|'Slim' Jim Baxter]], one of the club's greatest players.<ref name="Scot symon">{{cite web|url=http://www.in.com/scot-symon/profile-249707.html|title=About Scot Symon|publisher=in.com|access-date=20 December 2012|quote=He returned to Rangers just one year later where he would steer them to six league championships. He also took Rangers into European football for the first time reaching two Cup Winners Cup finals which was a fine achievement by losing in both finals|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101085803/http://www.in.com/scot-symon/profile-249707.html|archive-date=1 November 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Rangers greats baxter">{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1010809-top-10-rangers-players-of-all-time/page/9|title=Top 10 Glasgow Rangers Players of All Time|work=Bleacher Report|date=5 January 2012|access-date=23 December 2012|author=Stone, Colin|pages=2–11|quote=Regarded as one of Scotland's greatest ever players, Jim Baxter can also be counted amongst the Rangers' greats for his terrific achievements in the '60s.<br />"Slim Jim" joined the club in 1960 for £17,500, a record at the time, and went on to win 10 trophies in the five years he spent in Scotland.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527044149/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1010809-top-10-rangers-players-of-all-time/page/9|archive-date=27 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Rangers also lost by their biggest Old Firm margin of 7–1.<ref name="Record old firm result" />

Rangers reached the semi-finals of the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] in 1960, losing to German club [[Eintracht Frankfurt]] by a record aggregate 12–4 for a Scottish team.<ref name="Record aggregate european lose">{{Cite web|date=2002-05-15|title=Hampden dazzled by white magic|url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/may/15/championsleague.sport|access-date=2021-02-10|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> In 1961 Rangers became the first British team to reach a European final when they contested the Cup Winners' Cup final against Italian side [[ACF Fiorentina|Fiorentina]], only to lose 4–1 on aggregate.<ref name="Rangers first british side in european final">{{cite web|url=http://www.culturewars.org.uk/2001-7/hampden.htm|title='And the cry was "No Defenders"' The Museum of Scottish Football at Hampden Park, Glasgow|work=Culture Wars|publisher=Institute of Ideas|access-date=23 August 2012|author=Baird, Stuart|quote=Rangers were the first British team to reach a European final in 1961|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002010054/http://www.culturewars.org.uk/2001-7/hampden.htm|archive-date=2 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Rangers lost again in the final of the same competition in 1967, by a single goal, after extra time, to [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]].<ref name="Rangers uefa page" />

===Ibrox disaster, European success and Jock Wallace===
[[File:Johngreig.jpg|thumb|left|160 px|alt=The Ibrox Disaster memorial statue, commemorating the 1971 tragedy|The Ibrox Disaster memorial statue, commemorating the 1971 tragedy along with previous disasters]]
The [[1971 Ibrox disaster|Ibrox disaster]] occurred on 2 January 1971 when [[Crush syndrome|large-scale crushing]] on a stairway exit at the culmination of an Old Firm game claimed 66 lives. An enquiry concluded that the crush was likely to have happened ten minutes after the final whistle and to have been triggered by someone falling on the stairs.<ref name="Ibrox disaster">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1312971/Thousands-pay-tribute-to-victims-of-Ibrox-disaster.html|title=Thousands pay tribute to victims of Ibrox disaster|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=19 June 2001|author=Womersley, Tara|quote=David Murray, the chairman of Rangers, yesterday unveiled a bronze statue of John Greig, the captain who led his team against Celtic on the day of the accident. The statue lists the names of those who died in 1971 and 25 fans killed when wooden terraces collapsed during a match between Scotland and England in 1902. Mr Greig then laid a wreath at the plinth of the statue.<br />...<br />An inquiry, however, later discounted the theory and said 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.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212035423/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1312971/Thousands-pay-tribute-to-victims-of-Ibrox-disaster.html|archive-date=12 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> A [[Benefit (sports)|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.<ref name="Old Firm versus Scotrland XI">{{cite web|url=http://www.celticprogrammesonline.com/PROGRAMME%20COVERS/7071/scotlandXI/scotlandXI7071h.htm|title=Scotland XI vs Rangers/Celtic Select Official Programme of the Match|publisher=celticprogrammesonline.com|date=27 January 1971|access-date=17 August 2012|quote=Attendance: 81,405|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520191621/http://www.celticprogrammesonline.com/PROGRAMME%20COVERS/7071/scotlandXI/scotlandXI7071h.htm|archive-date=20 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

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|Dynamo Moscow]] at the Nou Camp, Barcelona, to lift the [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]]. Captain John Greig received the trophy in a small room within the [[Camp Nou|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.<ref name="European cup winners cup win">{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/destiny-awaits-ibrox-heroes-1-1433001|title=Destiny awaits Ibrox heroes|work=The Scotsman|date=10 May 2008|access-date=22 March 2009|quote=It is hard to take that after Celtic were able to celebrate as much as they liked in Lisbon, our club and supporters were denied a post-match presentation because the Spanish police completely misunderstood the fans' on-field invasion at the end.<br />I played with a stress fracture in my foot. A guy jumped on it late in the final and I ended up with another fracture on the other side, but the euphoria kept the pain away until I was called down to this little room to receive the trophy.<br />It all passed in a blur, but I hobbled down there in agony with our manager Willie Waddell and a UEFA delegate and, in this cramped corner covered in Barcelona memorabilia, the delegate handed me the trophy and basically said: "Here, take the cup Glasgow Rangers, now go away".<br />When I got back to the dressing room all my team-mates were either in the bath or out of it. I felt sorry they didn't get to parade the trophy – ultimately what we were playing for – and even sorrier for all those people who had a paid a lot of money to travel to the Nou Camp and see that.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521042924/http://www.scotsman.com/sport/destiny-awaits-ibrox-heroes-1-1433001|archive-date=21 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Rangers were banned from Europe for two years for the behaviour of their fans, later reduced on appeal to one year.<ref name="Fans riot after win">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/sportscotland/asportingnation/article/0047/|title=Rangers triumph in Europe 1972|publisher=BBC Scotland|date=December 2005|access-date=20 December 2012|quote=Rangers were handed a two-year ban by UEFA for their fans' poor behaviour. Waddell succeeded in getting this reduced to one year, meaning Rangers could not defend their trophy. Waddell argued that the police had over-reacted, that the fans were drunk but not intent on violence, and that recent European finals had witnessed rejoicing Celtic, Bayern Munich and Ajax fans running on to the park and those occasions had been deemed acceptable.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107021304/http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/sportscotland/asportingnation/article/0047/print.shtml|archive-date=7 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Hist">{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/supercup/history/index.html |title=UEFA Super Cup – History |publisher=[[UEFA]] |access-date=17 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014203034/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/supercup/history/index.html |archive-date=14 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Emerging from the shadows of [[Jock Stein]]'s Celtic side, Rangers regained ascendancy with notable domestic success under the stewardship of manager [[Jock Wallace, Jr.|Jock Wallace]]. In his first season in charge – the club's [[Century|centenary]] – Rangers won the Scottish Cup at [[Hampden Park|Hampden]] in front of 122,714 supporters.<ref name="1973 scottish cup final">{{cite web|url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/football.cfm?page=1990|title=Scottish Cup History And Archives|publisher=Scottish Football Association|access-date=20 December 2012|quote=122,714 supporters packed into Hampden on 5 May 1973 for the Scottish Cup Final between Rangers and Celtic.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130102121716/http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/football.cfm?page=1990|archive-date=2 January 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Jock wallace brings success after knocking rangers out in cup as a player">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-jock-wallace-1330513.html|title=Obituary: Jock Wallace|work=The Independent|date=26 July 1996|access-date=20 December 2012|author=McKinney, David|author-link=David McKinney (journalist)|quote=Jock Wallace was a giant of Scottish football. No other description can do justice to the man who ended Celtic's domination of the game in the 1970s and who, as manager, led Rangers to two domestic trebles within three years, the Glasgow club winning the League title, the League Cup and the Scottish Cup.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105060545/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-jock-wallace-1330513.html|archive-date=5 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

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.

===Graeme Souness, Walter Smith and 9-in-a-row===
Every year from the [[1988–89 in Scottish football|1988–89]] season until the [[1988–89 in Scottish football|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]].<ref name="Paying for over spending">{{cite web|url=http://www.thefootypie.com/2012/02/19/rangers-paying-for-overspending-ways/|title=Rangers paying for overspending ways|work=The footy pie|date=February 2012|access-date=31 December 2012|quote=Graham Souness lead the side to their first two championships as player-manager before his assistant, Walter Smith, took the reign, claiming another seven titles to equal a record set by Jock Stein at Celtic in the 1960s and 70s.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520235037/http://www.thefootypie.com/2012/02/19/rangers-paying-for-overspending-ways/|archive-date=20 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Notable seasons included [[1990–91 Scottish Premier Division|1990–91]], which culminated in a last-day finale, Rangers securing a 2–0 victory at Ibrox over Aberdeen, who needed only a draw to secure the championship. Season [[1992–93 Scottish Premier Division|1992–93]] was notable for a [[Treble (association football)#Domestic trebles|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.<ref name="Champions league season 92-93">{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/clubs/50121--rangers/|title=UEFA Champions League 1992/93: Rangers|publisher=UEFA|date=10 August 2011|access-date=26 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018004704/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1992/clubs/club=50121/matches/index.html|archive-date=18 October 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

Rangers' ninth consecutive championship title was secured at [[Tannadice Park]] on 7 May 1997, with a single-goal victory over [[Dundee United F.C.|Dundee United]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbot.com/scot/results/sdprem97.htm|title=Scottish Premier Division 1996–97|access-date=17 August 2012|work=Soccorbot|publisher=soccerbot.com|date=27 June 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517145101/http://www.soccerbot.com/scot/results/sdprem97.htm|archive-date=17 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Dick Advocaat, Alex McLeish and Paul Le Guen===
In 1998, Dutchman [[Dick Advocaat]] became the club's first foreign manager.<ref name="First foreign manager">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/7393259.stm|title=Advocaat's Rangers legacy|work=BBC Sport|date=13 May 2008|author=Campbell, Andy|access-date=6 August 2010|quote=When Dick Advocaat became the Rangers manager in 1998, it was a brave new dawn for the Ibrox club as chairman David Murray attempted to begin a new chapter in the club's history following Walter Smith's departure.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508234855/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/7393259.stm|archive-date=8 May 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Champions again">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/scottish_premier/334094.stm|work=BBC Sport|title=Rangers make history out of chaos|date=3 May 1999|access-date=20 December 2012|quote=Celtic 0–3 Rangers<br />Rangers created history by winning the title at Celtic Park in a stormy Old Firm game which saw referee Hugh Dallas injured by a missile thrown from the pitch.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114041324/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/scottish_premier/334094.stm|archive-date=14 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> A second-consecutive league title was won by a record 21-point margin,<ref name="Rangers can win the league">{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/when-rangers-can-win-the-league-1-796986|title=When Rangers can win the league|work=The Scotsman|date=28 March 2010|access-date=6 August 2010|quote=The biggest winning points margin in the history of the SPL was enjoyed by Rangers in 1999/00, when they finished 21 points clear of Celtic.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019010202/http://www.scotsman.com/sport/when-rangers-can-win-the-league-1-796986|archive-date=19 October 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> the club securing a domestic double with a 4–0 [[2000 Scottish Cup Final|Scottish Cup]] final victory over Aberdeen. Rangers' campaign in the [[1999–2000 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] saw them defeat [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]] winners [[Parma F.C.|Parma]] en route.<ref name="Rangers go out at the group stages">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/champions_league/503436.stm|title=Champions League group tables|work=BBC Sport|date=2 November 1999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104071831/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/champions_league/503436.stm|archive-date=4 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Rangers beat parma">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/417699.stm|title=Rangers put Parma in the shade|work=BBC Sport|date=12 August 1999|access-date=20 December 2012|quote=Rangers 2–0 Parma<br />Rangers secured one of their most impressive European results in years, as Italian giants Parma crashed to defeat in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104071825/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/417699.stm|archive-date=4 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

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 André Flo|Tore Andre Flo]] for a club-record £12&nbsp;million,<ref name="Flo signed for 12m">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/scottish-premier/2993243/Rangers-12m-Flo-gamble.html|title=Rangers' £12m Flo gamble|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=12 November 2000|author=Forsyth, Roddy|access-date=21 December 2012|quote=DAVID MURRAY, the Rangers chairman, moved dramatically last night to end the crisis at Ibrox by setting a new Scottish transfer record of £12&nbsp;million for Chelsea's out-of-favour Norwegian international forward, Tore Andre Flo.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212035427/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/scottish-premier/2993243/Rangers-12m-Flo-gamble.html|archive-date=12 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> European success beyond the [[2000–01 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] group stages again proved elusive.<ref name="Rangers out of champion league 00-01">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/uefa_cup/1059684.stm|title=Kaiserslautern 3–0 Rangers|work=BBC Sport|date=7 December 2000|access-date=6 August 2010|quote=Full time: Kaiserslautern 3–0 Rangers<br />92 mins The Fritz Walter Stadium erupts on the referee's final whistle which brings down the curtain on Rangers' European campaign.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104071605/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/uefa_cup/1059684.stm|archive-date=4 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> After a slow start to the following season, Advocaat resigned from his post in December 2001 and was replaced by [[Alex McLeish]].<ref name="McLeish appointment">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/1701609.stm|title=Rangers unveil McLeish|date=11 December 2001|access-date=16 October 2007|work=BBC Sport|quote=Alex McLeish has been unveiled as Rangers' 11th manager after a dramatic day at Ibrox.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307020922/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/1701609.stm|archive-date=7 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

In his first full campaign, the [[2002–03 Scottish Premier League|2002–03 season]] saw McLeish become the sixth Rangers manager to deliver a domestic treble.<ref name="Seventh treble">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/2946904.stm|title=Rangers complete Treble|work=BBC Sport|date=31 May 2003|access-date=16 October 2007|quote=Rangers capped a fabulous season with a hard-earned Scottish Cup win over Dundee at Hampden Park to seal the seventh domestic Treble in the club's history.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111020952/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_div_1/2946904.stm|archive-date=11 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The championship was won on goal difference during a dramatic final day 6–1 triumph over [[Dunfermline Athletic F.C.|Dunfermline Athletic]] at Ibrox,<ref name="Championship won on final day">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/2932016.stm|title=Rangers win to clinch title|date=25 May 2003|work=BBC Sport|access-date=9 October 2012|quote=Rangers 6–1 Dunfermline Athletic<br />An injury-time penalty by Mikel Arteta clinched the SPL title for Rangers in an amazing afternoon at Ibrox.<br />Rangers were 5–1 up as the match entered the last few minutes, but with Celtic 4–0 up at Rugby Park and still playing, they knew the championship was not yet theirs.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519000724/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/2932016.stm|archive-date=19 May 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> securing Rangers' 50th league title, the first club in the world to achieve the feat.<ref name="Record 50th title">{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/six-into-one-equals-victory-rangers-secure-a-world-record-50th-championship-as-title-showdown-goes-all-the-way-to-the-wire-1.117675|title=Six into one equals victory Rangers secure a world-record 50th championship as title showdown goes all the way to the wire|work=The Herald|date=26 May 2003|access-date=21 December 2012|author=Grahame, Ewing|quote=Rangers secure a world-record 50th championship|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604221321/http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/six-into-one-equals-victory-rangers-secure-a-world-record-50th-championship-as-title-showdown-goes-all-the-way-to-the-wire-1.117675|archive-date=4 June 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Major expenditure sanctioned by chairman [[David Murray (Scottish businessman)|David Murray]] had burdened Rangers with considerable [[debt]]s in the region of £52m.<ref name="Rangers run up big losses">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/sep/30/newsstory.sport6|title=Rangers stay cool over huge losses|work=The Guardian|date=30 September 2002|quote=Rangers chairman John McClelland has attempted to assure shareholders the club's £52m debt is nothing to be alarmed over.|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804072759/http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2002/sep/30/newsstory.sport6|archive-date=4 August 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The club's worsening financial state saw many of the team's top players leave in the summer of 2003, the [[2003–04 in Scottish football|following season]] failing to deliver any trophies, only the second such occasion since [[1985–86 in Scottish football|1985–86]].<ref name="McLeish fails to win a trophy">{{cite web|url=http://footballblog.co.uk/alex-mcleish-career.html|title=Aston Villa's Alex McLeish, a look at his managerial career|work=Football blog|publisher=footballblog.co.uk|date=29 July 2011|author=Salty|access-date=21 December 2012|quote=At this point McLeish was viewed as one of the hottest managers in the game. Success doesn't last forever and Rangers financial state cost McLeish dear in 2003. Many of his prize assets were sold and subsequently Celtic won the league comfortably. Also, Rangers failed to pick up a single trophy that season.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022185253/http://footballblog.co.uk/alex-mcleish-career.html|archive-date=22 October 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[2004–05 in Scottish football|2004–05 season]] restored success to Rangers, who were boosted by signings such as [[Jean-Alain Boumsong]],<ref name="Boumsong leaves rangers">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/4119197.stm|title=Magpies complete Boumsong signing|work=BBC Sport|date=2 January 2005|access-date=21 December 2012|quote=Boumsong joined Rangers from Auxerre on a free transfer last summer and made just 28 appearances for them before moving to England.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314213023/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/4119197.stm|archive-date=14 March 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Dado Pršo]]<ref name="Rangers sign prso">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/3693503.stm|title=Rangers get Prso|work=BBC Sport|date=9 May 2004|access-date=21 December 2012|quote=Rangers have confirmed the signing of Monaco's Croatian striker Dado Prso.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222232020/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/3693503.stm|archive-date=22 February 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Nacho Novo]],<ref name="Rangers sign novo">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/3856045.stm|title=Rangers sign Novo|work=BBC Sport|date=6 July 2004|access-date=21 December 2012|quote=Rangers have completed the signing of Nacho Novo from Dundee but manager Alex McLeish insists his summer spending spree is not yet over.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104071644/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/3856045.stm|archive-date=4 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> along with the return of former [[captain (association football)|captain]] [[Barry Ferguson]] after a spell in England with [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]].<ref name="Rangers resign ferguson">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/4203441.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |title=Ferguson clinches Rangers return |date=1 February 2005 |access-date=27 July 2011}}</ref> 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 F.C.|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 Stadium|Easter Road]] ground in [[Leith]].<ref name="Rangers in dramatic title triumph">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/4570627.stm|title=Rangers in dramatic title triumph|date=22 May 2005|access-date=16 October 2007|work=BBC Sport|quote=Rangers pipped rivals Celtic to the Scottish Premier League title after a dramatic final day of the season.<br />The Gers went into the final game two points behind their Glasgow rivals but a sensational late fightback by Motherwell gave them the title.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130326191648/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/4570627.stm|archive-date=26 March 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Helicopter sunday">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-flashback-looking-back-on-rangers-1056885|title=Football flashback: Looking back on Rangers' 'helicopter Sunday' triumph in 2005|work=Daily Record|date=22 April 2010|access-date=21 December 2012|author=Jackson, Keith|quote=NACHO Novo will be remembered forever as the man whose goal made the helicopter change direction.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731183619/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-flashback-looking-back-on-rangers-1056885|archive-date=31 July 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

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,<ref name="Rangers through to last 16">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4494912.stm|title=Rangers 1–1 Inter Milan|date=6 December 2005|access-date=16 October 2007|work=BBC Sport|quote=Peter Lovenkrands was the goalscoring hero as Rangers became the first Scottish club to qualify from the group stages of the Champions League.<br />...<br />Criticised by some for his tactics during a run without a win now stretching to 10 games, McLeish got it right on the European stage with the surprise inclusion of Lovenkrands as a lone striker.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104040430/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/4494912.stm|archive-date=4 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> the club eventually exiting on the [[away goals rule]] to [[Villarreal CF|Villarreal]].<ref name="Rangers go out to villarreal">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4778246.stm|title=Villarreal 1–1 Rangers (agg 3–3)|date=7 March 2006|access-date=16 October 2007|work=BBC Sport|quote=Rangers' dream of becoming the first Scottish side in the quarter-finals of the Champions League ended as they lost on the away-goals rule to Villarreal.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104040636/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/4778246.stm|archive-date=4 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> On 9 February 2006, it was announced by David Murray that McLeish would be standing down as manager at the end of that season.<ref name="McLeish to leave rangers in may">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/4697444.stm|title=McLeish to leave Rangers in May|date=9 February 2006|access-date=16 October 2007|work=BBC Sport|quote=Alex McLeish will leave his position as Rangers manager at the end of the season, the club has confirmed|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104040026/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/4697444.stm|archive-date=4 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Rangers F.C. Tifo.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Rangers F.C. showing French card display at Ibrox to welcome Paul Le Guen|Card display at Ibrox to welcome Paul Le Guen]]
Frenchman [[Paul Le Guen]] replaced [[Alex McLeish]] as manager after season 2005–06.<ref name="Le guen new manager">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/4791030.stm|title=Rangers name Le Guen as manager|work=BBC Sport|date=11 March 2006|access-date=18 August 2012|quote=Rangers have announced that Paul Le Guen will replace Alex McLeish as manager at the end of the season.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110403020540/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/4791030.stm|archive-date=3 April 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The season started with an early exit from the [[2006–07 Scottish League Cup|League Cup]]<ref name="Rangers lose to st johnstone">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/6123792.stm|title=Rangers 0–2 St Johnstone|work=BBC Sport|date=8 November 2006|quote=St Johnstone recorded one of their finest results to stun Rangers at Ibrox and reach the CIS Cup semi-finals.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107172623/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_cups/6123792.stm|archive-date=7 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> whilst Celtic built a commanding lead at the top of the table.<ref name="Celtic pile pressure on le guen">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/sep/24/match.celtic?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487|title=Gravesen piles pressure on Le Guen|work=The Observer|date=24 September 2006|author=Glenn, Patrick|quote=Until Gravesen gave the home side the lead there was a wariness about both sides, which betrayed the number of players on each side who were making their first appearance in the conflict. If Celtic were expected to be dominant – with Rangers reliant on the absorption of pressure and the counter-thrust – Gordon Strachan and his players would also be mindful of the four-point advantage they held over their great rivals and the need not to risk having it damaged.|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804055309/http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2006/sep/24/match.celtic?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487|archive-date=4 August 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2006–07 UEFA Cup|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.<ref name="Rangers quailfy from group stages">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/dec/15/match.rangers|title=Hutton sends Rangers clean through to Old Firm match|work=The Guardian|date=15 December 2006|access-date=22 April 2011|author=Murray, Ewan|quote=Paul Le Guen is satisfied his Rangers players will enter Sunday's Old Firm match in as positive a frame of mind as possible after they sealed the top qualifying position from Group A and secured a second consecutive clean sheet.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203154839/http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2006/dec/15/match.rangers|archive-date=3 February 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> However, amid claims of disharmony between the manager and captain Barry Ferguson,<ref name="Disharmony">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/6233959.stm|work=BBC Sport|title=Clash of cultures|date=5 January 2007|author=Austin, Simon|quote=Paul Le Guen's relationship with Barry Ferguson was never likely to be a marriage made in heaven.<br />On one side was an authoritarian French manager used to having the final word and working with clean-living, tee-total players.<br />On the other was a passionate Scottish captain who enjoyed talisman status with the fans and liked to work hard and play hard.<br />There were reported to be differences between the duo soon after Le Guen took over at Ibrox seven months ago. And they came to the surface at a news conference before the last Old Firm derby on 17 December.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010103720/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/6233959.stm|archive-date=10 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> it was announced on 4 January 2007 that Le Guen had left Rangers by mutual consent.<ref name="Le guen departures">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/6231489.stm|work=BBC Sport|title=Le Guen and Rangers part company|date=4 January 2007|quote=Rangers manager Paul Le Guen has left the club by mutual consent.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130101011420/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/6231489.stm|archive-date=1 January 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Walter Smith's return and Ally McCoist===
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 coach|assistant manager]].<ref name="Smith return">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/6233237.stm|work=BBC Sport|title=Smith installed as Rangers boss|date=10 January 2007|quote=Walter Smith has quit as Scotland coach to become boss of Rangers for a second time after agreeing a three-year deal.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323053841/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/6233237.stm|archive-date=23 March 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Uefa Cup Final 2008.jpg|thumb|250 px|left|alt=The 2008 UEFA Cup final in Manchester which Rangers contested|The 2008 UEFA Cup final in [[City of Manchester Stadium|Manchester]], which Rangers contested]]

The following season Rangers contested the [[2007–08 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]] after dropping into the competition from the [[2007–08 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]].<ref name="Rangers lose to lyon">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7134114.stm|title=Rangers 0–3 Lyon|work=BBC Sport|date=12 December 2007|author=Moffat, Colin|quote=Rangers crashed out of the Champions League and into the Uefa Cup with a disappointing home defeat to Lyon.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120408184641/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/7134114.stm|archive-date=8 April 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The club reached the final, defeating [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]], [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]], [[Sporting Clube de Portugal|Sporting Lisbon]] and Fiorentina along the way.<ref name="Rangers reach uefa cup final">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7398449.stm|title=Rangers & Zenit chase Uefa glory|work=BBC Sport|date=14 May 2008|quote=Panathinaikos, Werder Bremen and Fiorentina have been dispatched, along with Sporting since Rangers qualified via their position in the Champions League group stage.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017002004/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/7398449.stm|archive-date=17 October 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> The final in [[Manchester]] against [[FC Zenit Saint Petersburg|Zenit Saint Petersburg]], who were managed by former Rangers manager Dick Advocaat,<ref name="Advocaat says rangers shouldnt change for final">{{Cite web|title=Succescoach Advocaat wordt in Sint-Petersburg nooit vergeten|url=https://nos.nl/l/2236584|access-date=2021-02-10|website=nos.nl|date=15 June 2018 |language=nl}}</ref> ended in a 2–0 defeat.<ref name="Rangers lose uefa cup final">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/henrywinter/2300507/Rangers-run-out-of-steam-as-Zenit-lift-Uefa-Cup.html|title=Rangers run out of steam as Zenit lift Uefa Cup|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=15 May 2008|author=Winter, Henry|author-link=Henry Winter|quote=Zenit St Petersburg (0) 2 Rangers (0) 0<br /> It is not only Scottish fuel stations that have been running on empty recently. The warning light began flashing on Rangers' tank midway through the second half last night, their exhausting schedule finally catching up with them, allowing a superior and fresher Zenit side to lift the Uefa Cup.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212035332/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/henrywinter/2300507/Rangers-run-out-of-steam-as-Zenit-lift-Uefa-Cup.html|archive-date=12 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> An estimated 200,000 supporters travelled to [[Manchester]] for the event,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/battle-of-piccadilly-953792|title=Battle of Piccadilly|publisher=Manchester Evening News|date=19 April 2010|work=men|access-date=21 May 2018}}</ref> and the [[2008 UEFA Cup final riots]] occurred.

The 2008–09 season saw Rangers recover from an early exit from the [[2008–09 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]] to [[FBK Kaunas]] of [[football in Lithuania|Lithuania]].<ref name="Rangers lose to fc kanuas">{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/football/08/05/champions.rangers/index.html|title=Rangers exit Champions League in Lithuania|work=CNN World Sport|publisher=CNN|date=5 August 2008|quote=Scottish giants Rangers slumped to a shock European exit when Linas Pilibaitis gave FBK Kaunas 2–1 an aggregate win in their Champions League second qualifying round tie in Lithuania.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024065004/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/football/08/05/champions.rangers/index.html|archive-date=24 October 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The club secured its 52nd league championship on the last day of the season with a 3–0 victory at Dundee United.<ref name="Rejuvenated rangers win title">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/5379355/Rejuvenated-Rangers-take-SPL-title-in-style-with-victory-at-Dundee-United.html|title=Rejuvenated Rangers take SPL title in style with victory at Dundee United|date=24 May 2009|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=20 August 2010|author=Forsyth, Roddy|quote=With the boundless relief and joie de vivre of a man who has been reprieved on the steps of the gallows and installed in a palace, Rangers produced a climactic performance to snatch their first championship since 2005 at sun-drenched Tannadice.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212035328/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/5379355/Rejuvenated-Rangers-take-SPL-title-in-style-with-victory-at-Dundee-United.html|archive-date=12 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Rangers also successfully defended the Scottish Cup, defeating Falkirk 1–0 in the final.<ref name="Rangers beat falkirk">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/5413108/Rangers-1-Falkirk-0-Scottish-Cup-Final-2009-match-report.html|title=Rangers 1 Falkirk 0: Match report|date=30 May 2009|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=20 August 2010|author=Forsyth, Roddy|quote=Rangers completed the second stage of their Scottish league and cup double in the baking heat of Hampden Park on Saturday thanks to a glorious goal from Nacho Novo, with his first touch of the ball only seconds after arriving as a half-time substitute for Kris Boyd. But the favourites were made to sweat throughout – and not simply because of the sweltering conditions.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212035335/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/5413108/Rangers-1-Falkirk-0-Scottish-Cup-Final-2009-match-report.html|archive-date=12 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[2009–10 Rangers F.C. season|2009–10 season]] saw Rangers reach their fifth consecutive domestic final: against [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]] in the Scottish League Cup, the club overcame a two-men [[wikt:deficit|deficit]] from [[Penalty card#Red card|red cards]], a late deciding goal from [[Kenny Miller]] securing the victory.<ref name="Rangers win cup with nine men">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/mar/21/st-mirren-rangers-scottish-cup-final|title=Kenny Miller sees nine-man Rangers through to victory|date=21 March 2010|work=The Guardian|access-date=20 August 2010|last=Murray|first=Ewan|quote=It would, of course, be churlish not to recognise the winning mentality of a team who have lost just a single domestic fixture since Celtic lifted this trophy at their expense a year ago. Yet this win arrived in the most unlikely of circumstances, sealing the League Cup despite being down to nine men.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325102023/http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/mar/21/st-mirren-rangers-scottish-cup-final|archive-date=25 March 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> The league championship title was retained, with three matches remaining, at [[Easter Road Stadium|Easter Road]], defeating Hibernian 1–0 with a [[Kyle Lafferty]] goal. The [[2010–11 Rangers F.C. season|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.<ref name="Rangers prove doubters wrong">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/9429677.stm|title=Rangers happy to prove doubters wrong after Cup win|work=BBC Sport|date=20 March 2011|quote=Rangers manager Walter Smith described the Co-operative Insurance Cup final win over Celtic as one of his "best ever" victories.<br />Smith, coming to the end of his second spell in charge at Ibrox, clinched a 20th trophy as Rangers boss after the 2–1 extra-time win at Hampden.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010083901/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/9429677.stm|archive-date=10 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> A third consecutive title was won by beating [[Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock]] 5–1 on the last day of the season, Smith's final match in charge of the club.<ref name="Smith's final match">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/9484609.stm|title=Kilmarnock 1 – 5 Rangers|date=16 May 2011|work=BBC Sport|access-date=16 May 2011|author=Moffat, Colin|quote=Rangers gave departing manager Walter Smith the perfect send-off as they wrapped up a third-consecutive Scottish Premier League title in style.<br />A blistering opening saw Kyle Lafferty net twice inside seven minutes, either side of a Steven Naismith strike.<br />Early in the second half, Nikica Jelavic smashed in a free kick and Lafferty completed his hat-trick with a composed finish.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713113455/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/9484609.stm|archive-date=13 July 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

Ally McCoist took over from Walter Smith in June 2011 but [[2011–12 Rangers F.C. season|season 2011–12]] started with Rangers eliminated from two European competitions before the end of August: losing to Swedish side [[Malmö FF|Malmö]] in the [[2011–12 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] third round qualifying match,<ref name="Rangers lose to malmo">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/aug/03/malmo-rangers-champions-league-qualifying|title=Rangers crash out of Champions League after seeing red twice at Malmo|work=The Guardian|date=3 August 2011|quote=Rangers' Champions League hopes were shattered as they crashed out of the competition at the hands of Malmo after being reduced to nine men in the qualifier in Sweden. Steven Whittaker and Madjid Bougherra were both shown straight red cards, before Malmo's Ricardinho was also dismissed by the referee Vladislav Bezborodov at the Swedbank stadium|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110804214249/http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/aug/03/malmo-rangers-champions-league-qualifying|archive-date=4 August 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> and to Slovenian side [[NK Maribor|Maribor]] in a [[2011–12 UEFA Europa League|Europa League]] qualifying match.<ref name="Rangers lose to maribor">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14569511.stm|title=Rangers 1 – 1 NK Maribor (agg 2 – 3)|work=BBC Sport|date=25 August 2011|author=Campbell, Andy|quote=Rangers exited the Europa League as Maribor claimed an aggregate victory to progress to the group stages.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713115510/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/14569511|archive-date=13 July 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> While good league form saw Rangers in top spot after being unbeaten for the first 15 games, they were knocked out of the [[2011–12 Scottish League Cup|League Cup]] by [[Falkirk F.C.|Falkirk]]<ref name="Rangers go out of cup to falkirk">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15016733.stm|title=Ally McCoist fuming as Falkirk kids dump Rangers out of cup|work=BBC Sport|date=22 September 2011|quote=Manager Ally McCoist believes his Rangers players have only themselves to blame for their shock League Cup defeat by a very youthful Falkirk line-up.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614004930/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/15016733|archive-date=14 June 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[2011–12 Scottish Cup|Scottish Cup]] by [[Dundee United F.C.|Dundee United]] at Ibrox.<ref name="Rangers lose to dundee utd in scottish cup">{{cite news|author=Campbell, Andy|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16778861|title=Rangers 0–2 Dundee Utd|work=BBC Sport|date=5 February 2012|access-date=12 April 2012|quote=Dundee United knocked Rangers out of the Scottish Cup with a deserved fifth-round victory at Ibrox.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302042219/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16778861|archive-date=2 March 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Rangers were placed into administration on 14 February 2012 resulting in the club being deducted 10 points as per SPL rules.<ref name="Rangers enter administration">{{cite news|title=Rangers' 10-point deduction confirmed by SPL|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17032099|date=14 February 2012|work=BBC Sport|quote=Rangers have been deducted 10 points after entering administration.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218103449/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17032099|archive-date=18 February 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Rangers deny celtic title win at parkhead">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17419735|work=BBC Sport|date=25 March 2012|title=Rangers 3–2 Celtic|author=Lindsay, Clive|quote=Reigning champions Rangers prevented the Scottish title being won on their own patch despite a dramatic late rally from nine-man runaway leaders Celtic.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115133803/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17419735|archive-date=15 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Insolvency and the lower leagues===
On 1 June 2012, after four months in administration, a failure to reach a [[Company voluntary arrangement|CVA]] agreement with [[creditor]]s led to The Rangers Football Club plc (since renamed <nowiki>RFC 2012</nowiki> plc)<ref name="RFC 2012 PLC">{{cite web|url=http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/SC004276|title=RFC 2012 P.L.C.|work=Companies House|publisher=UK Government|access-date=22 December 2012|quote=IncorporationDate 27/05/1899<br />PreviousNames<br />CONDate 31 July 2012<br />CompanyName THE RANGERS FOOTBALL CLUB P.L.C.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101174610/http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/SC004276|archive-date=1 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> entering the process of liquidation.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/9327256/Rangers-in-crisis-the-final-whistle-sounds-on-Rangers-140-years-of-history.html Rangers in crisis: the final whistle sounds on Rangers' 140 years of history] ''The Daily Telegraph''. Retrieved 26 March 2013.</ref> The administrators completed a sale of the business and assets to [[Phoenix club (sports)|a new company]], Sevco Scotland Ltd (which later renamed itself The Rangers Football Club Ltd), though most first-team players refused to transfer across.<ref name="Rangers company enters liquidation">{{cite web|url=http://www.rangers.co.uk/index.php/club/administrators-information/item/download/28_7fc3a3f0da9d1df61b3d05625e9468ef|title=Interim Report to Creditors|work=Duff and Phelps|publisher=Rangers F.C.|format=pdf|date=10 July 2012|quote=The continuation of trading operations enabled the Joint Administrators to put the CVA Proposal to the creditors of the Company and after the CVA Proposal was rejected by creditors, the Joint Administrators were able to secure a going concern sale of the business, history and assets of the Company to Sevco|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827020746/http://www.rangers.co.uk/index.php/club/administrators-information/item/download/28_7fc3a3f0da9d1df61b3d05625e9468ef|archive-date=27 August 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=31 August 2012}}</ref><ref name="Lord Nimmo Smith Commission">{{cite web|url=http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/commission-decision-2013-02-28/mediaassets/doc/Commission%20Decision%2028%2002%202013.pdf|title=Lord Nimmo Smith Commission|publisher=Scottish Professional Football League|date=28 February 2013|quote=On 14 June 2012 a newly incorporated company, Sevco Scotland Limited, purchased substantially all the business and assets of Oldco, including Rangers FC, by entering into an asset sale and purchase agreement with the joint administrators.|access-date=25 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219023336/http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/commission-decision-2013-02-28/mediaassets/doc/Commission%20Decision%2028%2002%202013.pdf|archive-date=19 December 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The new company failed to secure the transfer of Rangers' previous place in the Scottish Premier League,<ref name="Newco refused spl admission">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18703183|title=Rangers newco refused SPL entry after chairmen vote|work=BBC Sport|date=4 July 2012|access-date=20 December 2012|quote=BBC Scotland has learned that 10 of the 12 clubs were in opposition, with Kilmarnock abstaining and Rangers voting in favour.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114102205/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18703183|archive-date=14 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>[http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/rangers-in-crisis-ibrox-newco-to-play-1166724 Rangers in crisis: Ibrox newco to play in Third Division after SFL clubs vote] Daily Record, 13 July 2012.</ref> 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 Rangers F.C. season|2012–13 season]].<ref name="SFA membership transferred">{{cite web|title=Agreement on Transfer of Membership|url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=2986&newsID=10252&newsCategoryID=1|date=27 July 2012|publisher=Scottish Football Association|access-date=30 July 2012|quote=We are pleased to confirm that agreement has been reached on all outstanding points relating to the transfer of the Scottish FA membership between Rangers FC (In Administration), and Sevco Scotland Ltd, who will be the new owners of The Rangers Football Club.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802012743/http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=2986&newsID=10252&newsCategoryID=1|archive-date=2 August 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

With most key Rangers players having refused to transfer to the new company, a very different Rangers team lined up for the first league match in the [[Scottish League Two|Third Division]] though it secured a comfortable 5–1 victory over [[East Stirlingshire F.C.|East Stirlingshire]] in front of a crowd of 49,118, a [[world record]] for a football match in a fourth tier league.<ref name="World record fourth tier attendance">{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/fourthtier-rangers-shatter-world-record-20120819-24gfv.html|title=Fourth-tier Rangers shatter world record|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=19 August 2012|access-date=19 August 2012|quote=Rangers manager Ally McCoist paid tribute to the troubled club's fans after 49,118 packed into Ibrox to watch Saturday's 5–1 thrashing of East Stirling, a world record attendance for fourth-tier football.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207051918/http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/fourthtier-rangers-shatter-world-record-20120819-24gfv.html|archive-date=7 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|However this attendance was unofficially exceeded prior to this match in Brazil. But this attendance was not officially recorded.<ref name="Unofficial record">{{cite web|url=http://www.rsssfbrasil.com/miscellaneous/attbrasd.htm|title=Best attendances of Brazilian Championship of 4th Level|publisher=RSSSF Brasil|access-date=22 August 2012|quote=1 Santa Cruz (PE) 0&nbsp;×&nbsp;0 Treze (PB), 59.966, 16/10/2011, Estádio do Arruda|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802222417/http://www.rsssfbrasil.com/miscellaneous/attbrasd.htm|archive-date=2 August 2012|url-status=live|language=pt}}</ref>|group="n"}} Away from home, Rangers started their league campaign with three successive draws before losing 1–0 to [[Stirling Albion F.C.|Stirling Albion]], at the time the bottom club in the country.<ref name="Rangers away form poor in 3rd division">{{cite news|title=Stirling Albion 1–0 Rangers|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19857024|date=6 October 2012|work=BBC Sport|quote=Rangers suffered a shock first loss in the Third Division after crashing to defeat against bottom side Stirling Albion.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116003707/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19857024|archive-date=16 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Rangers were defeated in the third round of the [[2012–13 Scottish Challenge Cup|Scottish Challenge Cup]] by [[Queen of the South F.C.|Queen of the South]] at Ibrox,<ref name="Rangers beat by queen of south in cup">{{cite news|title=Ramsdens Cup: Rangers 2–2 Queen of the South (3–4 pens)|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19629218|author=Lindsay, Clive|work=BBC Sport|date=18 September 2012|access-date=18 September 2012|quote=Rangers made a shock exit in the Ramsdens Cup after a penalty shoot-out defeat by Queen of the South at Ibrox.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109014656/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19629218|archive-date=9 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> in the quarter-finals of the [[2012–13 Scottish League Cup|Scottish League Cup]] at home to [[Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.|Inverness Caledonian Thistle]]<ref name="Rangers out of cup to inverness caley">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20053656|title=Rangers 0–3 Inverness Caley Thistle|work=BBC Sport|author=Lamont, Alasdair|author-link=Alasdair Lamont|date=31 October 2012|quote=Inverness Caledonian Thistle advanced to the semi-finals of the Scottish Communities League Cup for the first time with an ultimately comfortable defeat of Rangers.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123063304/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20053656|archive-date=23 November 2012|url-status=live|access-date=4 November 2012}}</ref> and in the fifth round of the [[2012–13 Scottish Cup|Scottish Cup]] by Dundee United.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21209424 Dundee United 3–0 Rangers] BBC, 2 February 2013.</ref> Rangers beat their own new record against [[Queen's Park F.C.|Queens Park]] with an attendance of 49,463<ref name="Rangers beat there own 4th tier world record">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/match/2012/oct/20/rangers-v-queenspark|title=Rangers v Queen's Park Match facts|work=The Guardian|date=20 October 2012|access-date=22 December 2012|quote=Attendance 49,463|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130420210303/http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/match/2012/oct/20/rangers-v-queenspark|archive-date=20 April 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> and again against Stirling Albion with an attendance of 49,913.<ref name="Rangers beat their record again">{{cite news|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/272760/form|title=THE IRN-BRU SCOTTISH THIRD DIVISION|publisher=Sky Sports|date=8 December 2012|access-date=22 December 2012|quote=IBROX STADIUM (ATT 49,913)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104172538/http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/272760/form|archive-date=4 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>
Rangers clinched the [[2012–13 Scottish Third Division|Third Division]] title on 30 March after a goalless draw at [[Montrose F.C.|Montrose]].

Apart from being defeated 2–1 by [[Forfar Athletic F.C.|Forfar Athletic]] in the first round of the [[2013–14 Scottish League Cup|League Cup]] on 3 August, [[2013–14 Rangers F.C. season|season 2013–14]] got off to an excellent start with Rangers winning maximum league points in their first 15 games in [[Scottish League One|League One]], before being held to a draw at home by [[Stranraer F.C.|Stranraer]] on Boxing Day 2013. Rangers secured the [[2013–14 Scottish League One|League One]] title and promotion to [[Scottish Championship|Scottish football's second tier]] on 12 March 2014 and went on to end the season unbeaten in league football.<ref>[http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/rangers/268342-rangers-clinch-scottish-league-1-title-after-3-0-win-over-airdrieonians/ Rangers clinch Scottish League 1 title after 3–0 win over Airdrieonians] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413141212/http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/rangers/268342-rangers-clinch-scottish-league-1-title-after-3-0-win-over-airdrieonians/ |date=13 April 2014 }} stv.tv. Retrieved 10 April 2014.</ref> Rangers also reached the final of the [[2013–14 Scottish Challenge Cup|Scottish Challenge Cup]], in which they lost to [[Raith Rovers F.C.|Raith Rovers]]<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26807030 Raith Rovers 1:0 Rangers] BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2014.</ref> and the semi-final of the [[2013–14 Scottish Cup|Scottish Cup]], in which they lost 3–1 at Ibrox to Dundee United.

Playing in the [[Scottish Championship]] in [[2014–15 Rangers F.C. season|season 2014–15]] provided Rangers with a more difficult challenge, with the club losing home and away to both Hibernian<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29305945 Rangers 1:3 Hibernian] BBC, 29 September 2014.</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30559314 Hibs 4:0 Rangers] BBC.co.uk 27 December 2014.</ref> and Hearts<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28647379 Rangers 1:2 Hearts] BBC, 10 August 2014.</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30066072 Hearts 2:0 Rangers] BBC, 22 November 2014.</ref> and also losing away to Queen of the South<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30340965 Queen of the South 2:0 Rangers] BBC, 12 December 2014.</ref> 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 [[2014–15 Scottish Challenge Cup|Scottish Challenge Cup]].<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30021373 Alloa 3:2 Rangers] BBC 9 December 2014.</ref> Amid mounting criticism,<ref>[http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11788/9609846/spfl-ally-mccoist-due-to-meet-rangers-board-today SPFL: Ally McCoist due to meet Rangers board on Wednesday] Skysports, 17 December 2014.</ref> 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.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30571507 Ally McCoist: Rangers manager leaves club & on gardening leave] BBC News 21 December 2014.</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31839589|title = Rangers: Stuart McCall appointed manager until summer|date = 12 March 2015|access-date = 9 May 2015|work=BBC Sport}}</ref> 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.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/sport/live/football/32934323 "Motherwell 3–0 Rangers"] – BBC Sport, 31 May 2015.</ref>

===Warburton, Premiership return, Caixinha and Murty===
In June 2015, it was announced that [[Mark Warburton]] had been appointed as manager on a three-year deal.<ref>{{ cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/15/rangers-appoint-mark-warburton-manager | title=Rangers appoint Mark Warburton as manager on three-year contract | location=London| work=The Guardian| date=15 June 2015}}</ref> 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 F.C.|Celtic]] in the semi-final at Hampden,<ref>{{cite news|title=Rangers in Scottish Cup Final |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36008631 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=17 April 2016}}</ref> before losing to Hibernian in the final.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36292302|title=Scottish Cup final: Rangers 2–3 Hibernian|work=BBC Sport|first=Richard|last=Wilson}}</ref> After a poor first half of the 2016–17 season, [[Mark Warburton]] and [[David Weir (Scottish footballer)|David Weir]] left Rangers on 10 February 2017, and [[Graeme Murty]] was placed in caretaker control of the Rangers first team.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/club-statement-74/ |title=Club Statement |publisher=Rangers F.C. |date=10 February 2017 |access-date=10 February 2017 |archive-date=16 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216223001/https://rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/club-statement-74/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Rangers: Mark Warburton replaced as manager ahead of Scottish Cup tie|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38939432|work=BBC Sport |access-date=11 February 2017|date=10 February 2017}}</ref> [[Pedro Caixinha]] eventually took over as permanent manager.

Caixinha's first full season started with Rangers suffering one of the worst results in their history. After winning 1–0 at Ibrox, Rangers [[Progrès Niederkorn 2–0 Rangers|lost 2–0]] to [[Luxembourg]] minnows [[FC Progrès Niederkorn|Progrès Niederkorn]], resulting in Rangers being knocked out 2–1 on aggregate in the [[2017–18 UEFA Europa League#First qualifying round|first qualifying round]] of the [[2017–18 UEFA Europa League|2017–18 Europa League]]. Progrès had never before won a tie and had only ever scored once before in European competition.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40475647 |title=Progres Niederkorn 2–0 Rangers (agg 2–1) |work=BBC Sport |access-date=4 July 2017 |date=4 July 2017}}</ref> 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<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41290216|title=Rangers 0–2 Celtic|work=BBC Sport|date=23 September 2017|access-date=22 December 2017}}</ref> and defeat to Motherwell in the Scottish League Cup semi-final by the same scoreline.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41683732|title=Rangers 0–2 Motherwell|work=BBC Sport|date=22 October 2017|access-date=22 December 2017}}</ref> 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".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41762385|title=Rangers: Pedro Caixinha sacked as manager after board meeting|work=BBC Sport|date=26 October 2017|access-date=22 December 2017}}</ref>

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<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/report?gameId=485845 |title=Rangers back to winning ways with comfortable victory over Aberdeen |website=ESPN|date=29 November 2017 |access-date=22 December 2017 }}</ref><ref name=rehearsal>{{cite news|title=Aberdeen 1 Rangers 2: Derek McInnes remains favourite for Ibrox job despite losing dress rehearsal at Pittodrie|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/12/03/aberdeen-1-rangers-2derek-mcinnes-remains-favourite-ibrox-job/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/12/03/aberdeen-1-rangers-2derek-mcinnes-remains-favourite-ibrox-job/ |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|last=Forsyth|first=Roddy|newspaper=Daily Telegraph|date=3 December 2017|access-date=22 December 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>  and also defeated Hibernian away from home<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42244866|title=Hibernian 1–2 Rangers|work=BBC Sport|date=13 December 2017|access-date=22 December 2017}}</ref> during his interim spell) was appointed to the role until the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42457229|title=Graeme Murty: Rangers appoint interim boss as manager for rest of season|work=BBC Sport|date=22 December 2017|access-date=22 December 2017}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43961178|title=Rangers: Graeme Murty sacked as manager|work=BBC Sport|date=1 May 2018|access-date=4 May 2018}}</ref> Rangers again ended the season in 3rd place, behind Celtic and Aberdeen for the second year in a row.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/national/scotland/premier-league/20172018/2nd-phase/r41507/|title=Scottish Premiership 2nd Phase|work=Soccerway|access-date=15 May 2018}}</ref>

===The Gerrard era===
On 4 May 2018, former [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] and [[England national football team|England]] captain [[Steven Gerrard]] was confirmed as the new manager of Rangers on a four-year contract.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/steven-gerrard-confirmed-as-manager/|title=Steven Gerrard Confirmed As Manager|publisher=Rangers.co.uk|date=4 May 2018|access-date=4 May 2018}}</ref> Gerrard's era started successfully with Rangers remaining unbeaten in their first 12 games, clinching a place in the UEFA Europa League group stage in the process.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45342102|title=FC Ufa 1 : 1 Rangers|publisher=BBC|date=30 August 2018|access-date=10 November 2018}}</ref> However, Rangers were then defeated by Celtic in the first Old Firm match of the season,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45312088|title=Celtic 1 : 0 Rangers|publisher=BBC|date=2 September 2018|access-date=10 November 2018}}</ref> and the following month were eliminated from the League Cup by Aberdeen.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45934006|title=Aberdeen 1: 0 Rangers|publisher=BBC|date=28 October 2018|access-date=10 November 2018}}</ref> On 29 December, Rangers defeated Celtic at Ibrox to inflict [[Brendan Rodgers]]' first defeat in 13 Old Firm games; Rangers first win over Celtic since a Scottish Cup victory in April 2016 and their first league win over Celtic since March 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/46656785|title=Rangers 1-0 Celtic|publisher=BBC|date=29 December 2018|access-date=30 December 2018}}</ref> Aberdeen knocked Rangers out of a cup for the second time in the season after securing a 2–0 victory in the Scottish Cup at Ibrox on 12 March 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47450648|title=Rangers 0-2 Aberdeen|publisher=BBC|date=12 March 2019|access-date=12 March 2019}}</ref>

The 2019–20 season began with Rangers again qualifying for the UEFA Europa League group stage before losing 2–0 to Celtic at Ibrox in the first Old Firm match of the season on 1 September. The following day, the club signed [[Ryan Kent]] from Liverpool for £7 million. Rangers reached the final of the League Cup, but despite a dominant performance, were beaten 1–0 by Celtic.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50672183 |title=Rangers 0:1 Celtic |publisher=BBC |date=8 December 2019 |access-date=8 December 2019}}</ref> On 12 December, Rangers progressed to the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 as group runners-up after a 1–1 draw with [[BSC Young Boys|Young Boys]] which secured European football beyond Christmas for the first time since the 2010–11 season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50672304 |title=Rangers 1-1 Young Boys |publisher=BBC |date=12 December 2019 |access-date=12 December 2019}}</ref> On 29 December, Rangers beat Celtic 2–1 at Celtic Park, their first win at their arch rival's stadium since October 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50882543 |title=Celtic 1-2 Rangers |publisher=BBC |date=29 December 2019 |access-date=29 December 2019}}</ref> However, a slump in form thereafter, including losing to Hearts in the Scottish Cup and Hamilton in the league within five days, left Rangers 13 points adrift of Celtic a week into March.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51772454 |title=Rangers: Steven Gerrard aims to arrest form slump and quell fans' anger |publisher=BBC |date=7 December 2019 |access-date=7 December 2019}}</ref> However, all professional football in Scotland was suspended later that month due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Coronavirus in Scotland: Which Scottish events have been cancelled due to COVID-19? |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18304715.coronavirus-scotland-scottish-events-cancelled-due-covid-19/ |access-date=16 March 2020 |work=Herald Scotland |date=14 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=McDermott |first=Scott |title=Celtic and Rangers title spat shows SPFL must consider the null and void elephant in the room |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/celtic-rangers-title-spat-shows-21852483 |access-date=13 April 2020 |work=Daily Record |date=12 April 2020}}</ref> On 18 May 2020, the SPFL officially ended the season, and Celtic were awarded the league title which was determined by points per game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/ladbrokes-premiership-and-spfl-season-201920-cur |title=Ladbrokes Premiership and SPFL Season 2019/20 curtailed {{!}} SPFL |access-date=2021-02-10|website=spfl.co.uk}}</ref>

On 7 March 2021, Rangers won the league title for the first time in ten years,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/rangers/story/4331641/steven-gerrard-steers-rangers-to-first-scottish-title-in-10-years |title=Steven Gerrard steers Rangers to first Scottish title in 10 years |website=ESPN |date=7 March 2021 }}</ref> going on to end the league campaign undefeated, with a club record 102 points.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://talksport.com/football/881323/rangers-lift-scottish-premiership-title-gerrard-fans-celebrate-ibrox/ |title=INVINCIBLES Rangers finally lift Scottish Premiership title and THOUSANDS of fans celebrate outside Ibrox as Steven Gerrard's side complete unbeaten season |website=talksport.com |date=15 May 2021 }}</ref>

===Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Europa League Final, Michael Beale return and Philippe Clement===
Midway through the 2021–22 season, Steven Gerrard left Rangers for [[Aston Villa]], and was replaced by former Rangers midfielder [[Giovanni van Bronckhorst]] on 11 November 2021. He led Rangers to their first European final in fourteen years, beating [[Borussia Dortmund]], [[Red Star Belgrade]], [[S.C. Braga|Braga]] and [[RB Leipzig]] on the way to facing [[Eintracht Frankfurt]] in the [[2022 UEFA Europa League Final]]. He also took the club to their first [[Scottish Cup]] final in six years, in which they beat [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Hearts]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Rangers beat Hearts in extra time to win Scottish Cup |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61447048 |access-date=2022-05-23}}</ref>

In the 2022–23 season, Rangers qualified for the [[2022–23 UEFA Champions League group stage|UEFA Champions League group stage]] for the first time since the [[2010–11 UEFA Champions League|2010–11 season]]. They went on to lose all six group matches against [[S.S.C. Napoli|Napoli]], [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]], and [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] with only two goals scored and a −20 goal difference overall, setting the worst performance in a Champions League group stage, surpassing [[GNK Dinamo Zagreb|Dinamo Zagreb]]'s −19 goal difference in the [[2011–12 UEFA Champions League group stage|2011–12 season]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Church |first1=Ben |title=Six losses and 22 goals conceded: Glasgow Rangers suffers worst Champions League group stage campaign in tournament history |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/02/football/rangers-champions-league-worst-record-spt-intl/index.html |access-date=3 November 2022 |work=CNN |date=2 November 2022}}</ref> Giovanni van Bronckhorst was sacked on 21 November 2022, after also falling nine points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Van Bronckhorst sacked as Rangers manager |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63535011 |access-date=2023-10-08}}</ref> Michael Beale, a coach under previous manager Steven Gerrard, succeeded van Bronckhorst on 28 November 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rangers Confirm Michael Beale as Manager |url=https://www.rangers.co.uk/Article/rangers-confirm-michael-beale-as-manager/78EvJ6oEQDnXMpW19wJApY |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=www.rangers.co.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref> After a winning start, Beale had turned around results quickly; however, they lost out in both cup competitions against Celtic and finished the [[2022–23 Scottish Premiership|2022–23 season]] seven points behind their rivals. After a summer rebuild, Rangers lost on the opening day of the [[2023–24 Scottish Premiership|2023–24 season]] to Kilmarnock; their hopes of qualifying for that seasons Champions League was also crushed after losing to [[PSV Eindhoven]]. Beale was sacked as manager on 1 October 2023, the defeat to Aberdeen at Ibrox the culmination of a very poor run of results.

[[Philippe Clement]] was appointed manager on 15 October 2023, Rangers' sixth permanent manager in ten years, with [[Steven Davis]] being the interim manager prior to Clement's appointment. The club won their 28th League Cup title, and their first in twelve years.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Murray |first=Ewan |date=2023-12-17 |title=Rangers edge Aberdeen in League Cup final for Philippe Clement's first trophy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/dec/17/rangers-aberdeen-scottish-league-cup-final-match-report |access-date=2025-01-31 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Rangers finished runners up to Celtic in the league and the Scottish Cup. After being defeated by Dynamo Kyiv in the 2024–25 Champions League Third Qualifying Round, Rangers entered the Europa League, where they placed eighth in the new format, placing them directly in the Round of 16.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Murray |first=Scott |date=2025-01-30 |title=Tottenham and Rangers win to claim last-16 places: Europa League – as it happened |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2025/jan/30/tottenham-v-elfsborg-rangers-v-union-saint-gilloise-and-more-europa-league-live |access-date=2025-01-31 |work=the Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Clement was sacked as manager on 23 February 2025.<ref name="Clement out">{{ cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c39n1ey8m88o| title=Rangers sack Clement following loss to St Mirren | work=BBC Sport | date=23 February 2025 | first=Chris | last=McLaughlin}}</ref>