Alan Brazil reacts live on talkSPORT to what Ally McCoist told him about Rangers and Celtic
Ally McCoist believes Rangers and Celtic have “dominated” Scottish football for 100 years despite other teams having good periods in the past.
Speaking on talkSPORT on Thursday (14 March), the pundit highlighted how Dundee United reached the semi-finals of the European Cup in the 1983-84 season before being runners-up in the UEFA Cup final just three years later.
Alan Brazil asked what has happened to Scottish football since then, adding that the Old Firm has now “run away with it”, with Aberdeen’s title success in 1985 being the last time a team outside of the Glasgow clubs won the SPL.
But McCoist insisted that, although the likes of Dundee United and Aberdeen were “brilliant” in the 1980s, Rangers and Celtic have led the way since Scottish football began.
“Listen, Dundee United got beat in a European Cup semi-final and they were actually cheated, they got beat by Roma 3-0 away from home, it was a disgrace,” said McCoist. “They beat them 2-0 at home in the semi-final of the European Cup and then got beat 3-0 away. Unless I’m wrong, three years later, they were runners-up in the UEFA Cup final.”
“It was amazing,” replied Brazil. “So what has happened, Ally? Celtic and Rangers now run away with it. Well, Celtic have done, Rangers have come back, but what’s going on?”
“With the greatest respect, Celtic and Rangers have dominated Scottish football for 100 years,” added McCoist. “There was that period where Dundee United and Aberdeen were brilliant and there have been periods where other teams have come up, but generally speaking, Rangers and Celtic have dominated Scottish football since it began.”
Rangers and Celtic continue to dominate Scottish football
There have certainly been periods where Rangers and Celtic have been tested by the other Scottish clubs, but there is no doubt that they have pretty much dominated Scottish football since its inception.
The Old Firm sides have amassed a whopping 108 SPL titles between them, with Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibernian level on four league titles each.
While everyone would like the league to be a bit more competitive, it’s just so difficult for the other teams to compete when the Glasgow clubs generate significantly more money and have larger fanbases.
There have been times, though, when just one of the Gers or Hoops have dominated proceedings as each club has had decent decades before the other has then taken over for a few years.
There is very little to separate them in the title race this year, with Philippe Clement’s side sitting two points above the Parkhead club at the top of the table with just a few games left to play.
In other Rangers news, Keown has raved about an underappreciated Gers star after what he’s seen.
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