Steven Gerrard leads Rangers to first Scottish title in 10 years



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The Rangers have won the Scottish Premiership for the first time in 10 years, after Celtic failed to beat Dundee United on Sunday. The success is his first as coach of former Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard, who took over at Ibrox in 2018.

The title means the Rangers have now extended their world record to 55, one more than Northern Ireland’s Linfield. Celtic cannot become the first Scottish club to win the league for the tenth time in a row.

The Rangers remain unbeaten in the league with six games remaining this season and earned a 3-0 win against St. Mirren on Saturday to maintain their 100% record at home and set up Sunday’s clinch.

“It is very difficult to put into words at the moment,” Gerrard told the club’s official website. “I am on a high emotional and real level and it has been a journey that has not ended. There is more to come and the next for me, when you win, it is always about what is next, and I am very proud of the players, first and foremost. They are the most important people in the club.

He continued: “This is March and I need them to keep delivering until the end of the season. We need to enjoy this and prepare for the next challenge. Glasgow Rangers is about winning and we all live under that pressure, and that responsibility.”

After Saturday’s victory, Rangers players ran to the corner of the field and saluted the fans who had gathered outside the gates. Gerrard, meanwhile, was poking his head out of the dressing room windows.

And the celebrations continued on Sunday despite ongoing lockdown measures, with the BBC reporting that some arrests were made. The behavior of the fans was criticized by the Scottish government, but Gerrard understood why so many were eager to celebrate.

“This club has been to hell and back for the last 10 years,” Gerrard said. “I’ve only been a part of this for three, but I can certainly relate and I have that feeling and that affection with the fans and I know what they’ve been through.”

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The club’s last league title came in 2011, but they went into financial crises and were demoted to the bottom tier of Scotland in 2012 after entering administration. They returned to the top flight five years ago.

The Rangers’ first league game as champions will be against Celtic in the Old Firm derby on March 21. (broadcast LIVE on ESPN +).

Information from Reuters has been included in this report.



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