Twenty-two players will take the pitch at Glasgow’s Hampden Park on April 17 with the same objective: to defeat their club’s fiercest rival.
The so-called Old Firm derby--Celtic v. Rangers--may be one of the footballing world’s most noted--and notorious--rivalries, known just as much for what happens off the pitch as on it. However, some great players have suited up for each of the Glasgow giants. Here’s a “best XI” of players who have made their mark in the memorable match-ups between the two clubs.
Goalkeeper: Andy Goram, Rangers
“The Flying Caravan” backstopped the Ibrox side for much their nine-in-a-row title-winning run in the 1990s, making 184 appearances for the club in total. He saved some of his best, well, saves for Old Firm clashes, such as this one in 1996:
Left back: Sandy Jardine, Rangers
Jardine made more than 450 appearances for ‘Gers, and scored 42 goals from the back. Celtic may have taken all the spoils in 1967, but Jardine scored this memorable goal in an Old Firm match that season:
Center back: Terry Butcher, Rangers
Butcher is well-known for his exploits with the English national team, but he was a stalwart for ‘Gers for much of the 1980s as well. He was at the center of one of the most notorious Old Firm matches in history: the so-called “Shame Game” of 1987. Three players saw red in this match, and Butcher was among those charged with “conduct likely to provoke a breach of the peace” in its aftermath:
Center back: Billy McNeill, Celtic
“Caesar” will be forever known in Celtic lore for captaining the 1967 Lisbon Lions European Cup champions, but he also had a knack for scoring big goals--including this one in the 1969 Scottish Cup Final against Rangers:
Right back: Danny McGrain, Celtic
McGrain, who grew up a Rangers supporter, made over 650 appearances for the Hoops in the 1970s and 1980s, becoming known as one of the world’s top defenders. He didn’t score many goals, but his shot in the 1980 Scottish Cup Final was redirected into the Rangers’ goal by George McCluskey to give Celtic a 1-0 win:
Midfielder: Graeme Souness, Rangers
Souness made only 50 appearances as a Rangers player, toward the end of his career on the pitch, but he could still control matches from the midfield, as he demonstrates in this Old Firm moment:
Midfielder: Brian Laudrup, Rangers
Laudrup’s time in Glasgow was also relatively brief--from 1994 to 1998--but he made an indelible impact, scoring 33 goals for ‘Gers in 116 appearances. He scored some memorable goals against the Hoops during his time as well:
Midfielder: Jimmy Johnstone, Celtic
“Wee Jinky” is arguably the greatest player to ever play for either side of the Old Firm. A member of Celtic’s 1967 Lisbon Lions team, of course, Johnstone saved some of his best performances for matches against Rangers, scoring two in the league title clincher that magical season:
Striker: Henrik Larsson, Celtic
The King of Goals scored 11 in his career against Rangers, a post-war record. Sandy McMahon holds the all-time record for the Hoops with 15. Most notably, Larsson scored in the so-called “Demolition Derby,” a 6-2 thrashing by Celtic over Rangers in 2000:
Striker: Ally McCoist, Rangers
Yes, we’re going with a 4-3-3 and we have to include McCoist, who netted 17 goals for the Blues against their rivals from across the Clyde. His goal in the Scottish Cup semifinal in 1992 spurred Rangers to victory:
Striker: John Hartson, Celtic
“Big John” reportedly failed a medical at Ibrox, then crossed the divide and signed for Celtic. He scored eight goals in his career in Old Firm matches, with one of them coming in a third-round Scottish Cup tie in 2005:
Manager: Jock Stein, Celtic
The peerless Stein grew up a Rangers fan, but took special joy in beating his boyhood idols as Hoops manager:
