Editing Rangers F.C. (section)

===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>