Rangers are back in the Scottish Premier League, ending a four-year climb from liquidation
Rangers FC are finally back in the top flight of Scotland. The famed club beat Dumbarton, 1-0, on Tuesday to clinch the league and book a spot in the Scottish Championship next season, ending a four-year absence after the club went into financial ruin and were liquidated in 2012.
With Rangers back in Scottish Premier League, the twice annual Old Firm derby against Celtic will be back. The rivalry, one of the most historic and fierest in all of the world, was a staple of Scottish sports for more than a century. But Rangers' being out of the top flight took away the league meetings between the two.
The Glasgow club have been crowned the champions of Scotland 54 times, but they ran up a ton of debt and had to be liquidated in 2012. New ownership took the club's assets and re-formed the club with its name, crest and stadium, but because it was a new club they had to start in the fourth division. Rangers earned promotions in their first two years, but finished third in the Championship last season, dooming them to another season in the second flight. With their league title this year, they will finally be back in the Premier League.
Rangers' 54 league titles are the most by any club in the world for their domestic league. They've won another 61 trophies, including the 1972 European Cup Winners' Cup, and played in the Champions League as recently as 2010.
The club's fall was crushing to the fans, and much of Scottish soccer. Having them back in the top flight will be great not only for Rangers, but the sport in Scotland. Then there are the 48,568 fans at historic Ibrox who were on hand to see the win over Dumbarton and will surely feel the joy and relief of having seen the club make it out of the dark after a difficult four years.
Congratulations, Rangers. You're back.
