While Rangers are now back in the Scottish Premier League, there is still a lot of work to be done to restore the club to former glories.
Rangers’ Ian Black (R) in action with Hibernian’s Liam Craig
It has been a long way since the 2012/13 season, when Rangers found themselves in Division Three of the Scottish league system. Fast forward five years, and Rangers are back in the Scottish top flight and back in Europe.
After finishing third in the Scottish Premier League, Rangers will enter the Europa League qualifying stages – which is some stark contrast to how things were half a decade ago, but it could even be another five years before Rangers are back to the position they were before.
Rangers’ Barrie McKay is fouled by Alloa’s Kyle McAusland in the area resulting in a penalty to Rangers
Ally McCoist did his part by winning the Third Division and then League One with Rangers, though considering the players the club retained and then signed, it was hardly a surprise or achievement to win those titles, but more a necessity.
Under Mark Warburton things got a lot better, and Rangers won the Scottish Championship, the Challenge Cup and came runners up in the Scottish Cup, but then it seems that fan expectation shot through the roof for their return to the Premier League for the 2016/17 season.
Rangers fans
While it’s half understandable given that Rangers’ mentality has long been that ‘second isn’t good enough’, but it seemed like they expected Warburton’s Rangers to immediately challenge Celtic – which of course, was never going to happen.
Warburton ended up leaving in acrimonious circumstances and now Pedro Caixinha has taken the reins, but while the club have made huge strides since that colossal setback, they’re a long way from being the force they were that could routinely challenge Celtic for the title.
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha before the match
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
