Rangers Football Club is Scotland's most successful football club. Founded in 1872, Rangers play at the 50,411 seat Ibrox Stadium in southwestern Glasgow. Rangers play in light blue shirts, white shorts and black and red socks.

In 1872, Moses McNeil, Tom Vallance and Peter Campbell saw a group of men playing football and decided to form a team of their own. Three of McNeil's six brothers (Peter, William and Harry) joined him in this this new pastime and together they formed the core of the early Rangers sides. The team's first game was in May of 1872. At first they played under the name Argyle. Moses McNeil suggested the name Rangers after seeing the name in a book about English Rugby.

Identified with the city's protestant community, the club broke with tradition by signing a prominent Scottish (and Celtic-supporting) Roman Catholic player Maurice "Mo" Johnston in 1989. The present side is multinational and multiracial. For most of its history it has enjoyed a fierce rivalry with crosstown opponents Celtic, which in contrast draws much of its support from Glasgow's catholic community. Between them the two clubs dominate Scottish football, and are collectively known as The Old Firm.

The club's correct name is simply Rangers, although they are sometimes (incorrectly) called Glasgow Rangers - often by English commentators seeking to distinguish between them and other similarly named clubs, particularly Queens Park Rangers. The club is nicknamed The Gers by friend and foe alike, although the fans are known as "Bluenoses" or "Bears".

In 1972, Rangers won the European Cup Winners Cup, beating Dynamo Moscow by a score of 3-2 in Barcelona. Rangers have won a world record 50 domestic championships.

During the 1990s the club was controlled by metals tycoon David Murray, who invested heavily in the ground and in buying expensive playing talent. Rangers won the Scottish League championship nine years in a row, from 1989 to 1997, and generally dominated Scottish football during that period. The club was criticised during this time, as some felt the amount spent on foreign players detracted from investment in developing home-grown players. The resurgence of rivals Celtic in the late 1990s has seen Rangers face a revival of significant opposition. Both teams are believed to harbour ambitions to play with leading English clubs in a lucrative "superleague", rather in the (somewhat anaemic) Scottish Premier League. As of 2004 Rangers' corporate debt was in excess of £70 million.

Famous present or former players at Ibrox include: Alan Morton, David Meiklejohn, RS McColl, Willie Waddell, Jock Shaw, Paul Gascoigne, Terry Butcher, Graeme Souness, Ally McCoist, Mark Hateley, Brian Laudrup, Jim Baxter, Ray Wilkins, Andy Goram and William 'Sandy' Jardine.

Past Managers

• William Walton 1899 - 1920
• Bill Struth 1920 - 1954
• Scott Symon 1954 - 1967
• David White 1967 - 1969
• William Waddel 1969 - 1972
• Jock Wallace (twice) 1972 - 1978 and 1983 - 1986
• John Greig 1978 - 1983
• Graeme Souness 1986 - 1991
• Walter Smith 1991 - 1998
• Dick Advocaat 1998 - 2002
• Alex McLeish 2002 - Present

Honours

As of 2004, Rangers shares the all-time worldwide lead for domestic doubles with Northern Ireland club Linfield. Both have 17 doubles to their credit.

Rangers won their 100th major trophy in 2000, the first club in the world to reach that milestone. They were specially honoured by UEFA.

• European Cup Winners Cup 1972 (1)
• Scottish League Champions 1891, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1918, 1920, 1921, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2003 (50)
• Scottish Cup Winners 1894, 1897, 1898, 1903, 1928, 1930, 1932, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1953, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 (31)
• Scottish League Cup Winners 1946, 1948, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1970, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2003 (23)

External link

• Official website (http://www.rangers.co.uk/)