With the flags marked ‘Champions 55’ and the torches burning, Rangers fans braved the exclusion of the pandemic to gather their thousands to celebrate the decade-long title drought that ends Sunday.
The Ibrox Stadium, to which they have not had access for a year, was the destination for fans after Celtic drew 0-0 with Dundee United. It concluded the dethronement of Glasgow rival Celtic and ended the nine-year-long Scottish Premiership series.
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It is a world record 55th local league title for Rangers, but not for the rivals who claim it is the first reborn club, after being forced to start in the fourth division again after a financial explosion and liquidation in 2012.
The offensive celebrations could eventually prevent Glasgow from hosting the four European Championships in Hampden Park in June, with UEFA requiring fans to be allowed in, but Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon is concerned about easing coronavirus restrictions.
“I congratulate @RangersFC on the title win and acknowledge what a moment it is for fans,” she tweeted. “But the gathering of crowds is now endangering lives, and may delay the closure for everyone else. If those who all gather care at all for the safety of others and the country, they will go home.”
It was the second consecutive day that fans flooded into Ibrox, rather than staying home as required by law. They came together when Rangers for St. Louis on Saturday. Mirren beat 3-0.
Now Steven Gerrard’s team has an unbeatable 20-point lead with six games left.
Celtic have dominated since Rangers were relegated to the lowest professional league in 2012, but have now been prevented from winning the title for an unprecedented tenth consecutive season, and for a 52nd time overall.
This is the first league title ever won by Gerrard, who has spent most of his career at Liverpool. Gerrard came anxiously close in 2014 to finally win the one club award that eluded him: the Premier League title. Furthermore, Gerrard’s own slip against Chelsea contributed to a 2-0 loss that cost Liverpool the title when Manchester City emerged victorious.
After seeing the last two years of his career at the Los Angeles Galaxy, the midfielder retired in 2016 and began his coaching career with Liverpool’s youth teams.
Gerrard took the step to managing the first team in 2018 when he was hired by Rangers’ side after being beaten 4-0 by Celtic in a semi-final of the Scottish Cup. It took three years before Gerrard Rangers recovered in his once normal position as champions of Scotland.
“There’s a great spirit in the group,” Gerrard said. “I think everyone – and I too – at one point, when we got closer, expected to see nerves or tension or inexperience. But it shows the strength of the dressing room.”
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Gerrard is no longer just apparently dependent on striker Alfredo Morelos. Captain James Tavernier, a right-back, scored 17 goals. Goalkeeper Allan McGregor and defender Connor Goldson were part of the barrier that resulted in Rangers conceding just nine goals in 32 league games. The team also stays in the Europa League match.
“There are a lot of fearless young players and some calm heads,” Gerrard said. “We have the balance right now. That does not mean we are set. We have to keep moving forward and improving things – and we will do it.”