Rangers fans have only just stopped celebrating the club’s world record 55th title win that ended a decade-long wait for a major honour to return to Ibrox – but winning the title in 2021/22 and making it 56 is even more important for the Light Blues.
Steven Gerrard and his players sealed their place in history with a rampant title triumph that saw record after record fall and Celtic’s quest for an historic tenth title in a row end in protests and boycotts on the green side of Glasgow.
For many, that left the season just completed as a winner-takes-all shootout where one half of the Old Firm would deal a monumental blow to the other and secure their place in history. 55 or 10 in a row.
The scenes of celebration that followed show just how much the title success meant to Rangers fans after a decade that saw the Light Blues have to climb back up from the fourth tier of Scottish football to reclaim their place as the champions of Scotland.
There were plenty of bumps, mis-steps and false dawns along the way as the title triumph that would herald the end of what became known as ‘The Journey’ edged closer and closer.
Yet, thanks to the impressive performances by Rangers in Europe over the last two seasons, next season is even more important for the Ibrox giants.
While it’s always the easy football cliche to say the next one is the most important, there are actual, tangible reasons why ending 2021/22 as champions.
Why the 2021/22 title is crucial for Rangers
Securing the title next season would leave Rangers fans with the bragging rights over their Old Firm rivals again but, more importantly, it would give Steven Gerrard’s side automatic entry to the Champions League Group Stages – and the riches that come with it.
Qualification for the groups is worth an estimated £30million to the Scottish champions which, dwarves the near £10million Rangers made for making it to the last 16 of the Europa League.
Having that sort of windfall fill the coffers at Ibrox would be a massive boost for the Gers and would give Gerrard and sporting director Ross Wilson far more scope to improve the squad.
With the Gers in the Third Qualifying Round of this year’s competition, they could yet pocket millions this season, as they look to build on 55 and dominate the Premiership for years to come.
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