Rangers Football Club is a cornerstone of Scottish football, with a rich history dating back to its founding in 1872. Based in Glasgow, the club has won the Scottish Premiership a record 55 times, highlighting its dominance over the years.
Additionally, Rangers have claimed the Scottish Cup 34 times and the Scottish League Cup a record 28 times, and achieved the domestic treble on seven occasions. The fierce rivalry with Celtic, known as the Old Firm derby, remains central to Scottish football’s identity.
The club’s immense fanbase is one of the largest in the sport, and betting platforms often see significant activity during their matches. Promotional offers, like the Coral sign up offer, frequently launch around Rangers games to attract attention and engage new users.
The 2023-24 Season
The 2023-24 campaign was another chapter in this fluctuating narrative. Despite high ambitions, Rangers could not clinch the league title, finishing second to Celtic yet again. This inability to topple their rivals has been a recurring issue, frustrating fans and management. While they did manage to reach the Scottish Cup final, they couldn’t secure the trophy, leaving their campaign somewhat underwhelming. However, there was some joy as Rangers lifted the League Cup, providing a silver lining in an otherwise inconsistent season.
The club’s struggles in European competition were also evident. Knocked out in the Champions League play-offs by PSV Eindhoven, Rangers shifted focus to the Europa League, where they managed to progress to the Round of 16—a respectable effort but short of their ambitions. Key player James Tavernier remained pivotal, leading by example with 17 league goals and 24 in all competitions.
Tactically, the team saw significant shifts, particularly after Michael Beale’s sacking. Early season defeats, including an Old Firm loss at Ibrox and failure to qualify for the Champions League group stages, led to Beale’s dismissal. Philippe Clement took the reins, aiming to tighten the squad’s cohesion and tactical flexibility. His arrival sparked some optimism as he quickly oversaw a performance improvement. Yet, the gap to Celtic remained a daunting seven points by mid-season, with Clement needing time to fully implement his ideas.
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The summer transfer window saw Rangers spend around £15 million on eight new faces, including notable arrivals like Jack Butland and Cyriel Dessers. However, mixed performances from these signings highlighted the challenge of integrating new players under a new tactical setup, a task Clement must navigate carefully.
The 2024-25 Season: A Promising Start?
Moving into the 2024-25 season, Rangers appear more determined. Currently sitting third in the league after seven matches, they have accumulated 16 points from five wins, one draw, and a single loss. Their defensive record stands out as a strong point; they have conceded just four goals, resulting in five clean sheets, the second-best in the league.
Offensively, the team has been effective, scoring 12 goals, placing them joint-third in the league for goals scored. Tom Lawrence has emerged as an important contributor, leading the team with three goals. Their form in the last five matches—four wins and one loss—indicates growing consistency, which has renewed fans’ optimism. This string of positive results puts them within reach of climbing higher, although catching Celtic will remain the ultimate test.
Assessing Rangers’ Title Odds and Cup Prospects
With the season still unfolding, Rangers remain firmly in the title race. Their odds of winning the Scottish Premiership currently stand at +500, reflecting the realistic but challenging task ahead of Clement’s side to dethrone Celtic. In the Scottish Cup, Rangers are given odds of +250, indicating a stronger likelihood of success as they defend their domestic cup performance from the previous season.
If Rangers can maintain their defensive solidity and improve further in attack, they can potentially mount a serious title challenge. Philippe Clement’s understanding will be crucial in high pressure games, especially key fixtures like the Old Firm derbies. Their progress, particularly in domestic cup competitions, could serve as a benchmark for Clement’s impact in his first full season.
Final Words
The ongoing 2024-25 season represents a critical period for Rangers. They are rebuilding with a new managerial philosophy and tactical approach, creating a balanced squad to compete domestically and in Europe. The club’s rich history of success places pressure on every manager, but there is a sense that, under Clement, they may be able to return to the summit of Scottish football.
Much will depend on how quickly the new signings settle and whether key players like Tavernier and Lawrence can maintain their form. The strategic rebuild mentioned during the summer of 2024 aimed to find a combination of experienced and young talents who could rise to the occasion. If they manage to do so, Rangers fans could see a resurgence reminiscent of their glory days.
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