Scottish football’s two fiercest rivals will meet in the League Cup final for the 16th time in their history and if there is half the drama that has been served up in some of the meetings over the last six decades then we could be in for a treat on Sunday.
There have been record scorelines, record crowds, schoolboy age scorers, red cards, hat-trick heroes and so, so much more. And as holders Celtic prepare to defend their title against Rangers at Hampden on Sunday, Record Sport looks back on each final and picks out one interesting fact for which the match is remembered.
The trophy has been the first instalment of trebles - or quadruples in the case of Jock Stein’s 1967 legends - over the years. There have been underdog stories, refereeing controversies and Ange Postecoglou and Michael Beale could be in for a roller-coaster ride in Mount Florida if this lot are anything to go by…
1957/58 - Celtic 7 Rangers 1
Nicknamed ‘Hampden in the Sun’, this thrashing was the heaviest ever defeat for the Light Blues which was equalled earlier this season when Liverpool dished out a Champions League thumping. Gers defender John Valentine copped most of the flak.
1964/65 - Rangers 2 Celtic 1
Jim Baxter captained Rangers with Jim Forrest netting a brace and Jimmy Johnstone on target for the Hoops.
1965/66 - Celtic 2 Rangers 1
A crowd of A crowd of 107,609 turned out and that is still the record attendance for a League Cup final. A John ‘Yogi’ Hughes penalty double won it for Jock Stein’s men.
1966/67 - Celtic 1 Rangers 0
This was part one of an all-conquering season for Jock Stein’s legendary Lisbon Lions. Bobby Lennox kicked off the club’s greatest ever season with a volleyed winner.
1970/71 - Rangers 1 Celtic 0
Bailey Rice became the youngest Rangers player to feature in a league game when he came on against Livingston, aged 16 years and 137 days. Derek Johnstone was 16 years and 355 days when he netted the only goal in this final.
1975/76 - Rangers 1 Celtic 0
This wasn't a game for the purists and maybe a surprisingly low crowd of less than 60,000 was a factor with Alex MacDonald heading the only goal of the game.
1977/78 - Rangers 2 Celtic 1
This was to be Jock Stein’s last final as Celtic boss in a disastrous season. Gordon Smith’s extra time goal won the trophy for the Ibrox side with Davie Cooper also on target. Johannes Edvaldsson scored for Celtic.
1982/83 - Celtic 2 Rangers 1
Danny McGrain lifted the League Cup as captain for the only time with Rangers signing Gordon Smith on loan from Brighton just 48 hours before the final. Charlie Nicholas and Murdo MacLeod scored on a rain-lashed day.
1983/84 - Rangers 3 Celtic 2
Ally McCoist’s treble in this game was the last hat-trick in a competitive Old Firm fixture until Moussa Dembele achieved that feat seven years ago.
1986/87 - Rangers 2 Celtic 1
Incident-packed game with David Syme sending off Celtic’s Tony Shepherd after believing he’d been struck by the midfielder - only for it later to be confirmed he was hit by a coin. Mo Johnston was also dismissed with Davie Cooper’s late penalty proving decisive after Brian McClair cancelled out Ian Durrant’s opener.
1990/91 - Rangers 2 Celtic 1
Two central defenders were on target with Paul Elliot giving Celtic the lead but that was cancelled out by Mark Walters Richard Gough had the final say, though, with the winner.
2002/03 - Rangers 2 Celtic 1
John Hartson missed a last minute penalty which would have taken the game to extra time with the Welshman also having a goal wrongly disallowed for offside.
Claudio Caniggia and Peter Lovenkrands scored for the Light Blues and Henrik Larsson was on target for Celtic.
2008/09 - Celtic 2 Rangers 0
Glenn Loovens and Pedro Mendes lined up against each other having been on opposite sides of the previous season’s English FA Cup - for Cardiff City and Portsmouth respectively. Darren O’Dea hadn’t scored all season until headed the Hoops into an extra time lead at Hampden. Aiden MGeady added a second with Kirk Broadfoot sent off for Gers.
2010/11 - Rangers 2 Celtic 1
The last time the Light Blues lifted this trophy, a statistic they’ll be hoping to change on Sunday. Neil Lennon had to watch from the stand along with Ally McCoist as the pair served touchline bans following their infamous touchline rammy. Nikica Jelavic netted extra time winner.
2019/20 - Celtic 1 Rangers 0
This is when Jeremie Frimpong uttered his “Oh my days” line as he gave a raw post match interview after being sent off. Alfredo Morelos failed to capitalise as he missed the resulting penalty with Christopher Jullien netting the only goal and Fraser Forster producing an heroic display.
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