1995–96 Rangers F.C. season

Rangers 1995–96 football season

The 1995–96 season was the 116th season of competitive football by Rangers.

Overview

Rangers played a total of 53 competitive matches during the 1995–96 season. The team finished first in the Scottish Premier Division and won its eighth consecutive league title.

In the cup competitions, the team won the Scottish Cup, beating Heart of Midlothian 5–1. Rangers were knocked out the Scottish League Cup by Aberdeen at the semi-final stage, losing 2–1.

The side reached the group stages of the UEFA Champions League this season and were drawn into a group with Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and Romanian side Steaua Bucharest. After six matches, three draws and three defeats, Rangers were bottom of the table and exited the competition.

Aided by the sale of Duncan Ferguson the previous season, between July and February manager Walter Smith spent nearly £12million on rebuilding his squad by signing the likes of Peter van Vossen, Paul Gascoigne (a then Scottish record signing at £4.3million), Stephen Wright and Gordan Petric. Basile Boli and Oleg Salenko left the club.

Gascoigne was voted player of the year having scored a total of 19 goals in all competitions.

November saw the departure of Mark Hateley as he returned to England in a £1.5million move to Queen's Park Rangers – the largest fee paid for a 34-year-old at this time. Hateley had lost his place in the first team to Gordon Durie who partnered Ally McCoist after two seasons mostly spent on the sidelines due to injuries.

Transfers

In

Out

• Expenditure: £11,500,000
• Income: £3,900,000
• Total loss/gain: £7,600,000

Results

All results are written with Rangers' score first.

Scottish Premier Division

Scottish League Cup

Scottish Cup

UEFA Champions League

Appearances

League table

Source: Soccerbase
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions
Notes:

1. Aberdeen qualified for the UEFA Cup by winning the League Cup.
2. As Rangers, the winners of the Scottish Cup, qualified for the Champions League via their league position, the place in the Cup Winners' Cup was passed to the cup runner-up, Heart of Midlothian.

Champions league table

Source: UEFA

See also

• Nine in a row

References

1. "Aberdeen blues as top defender moves on: Ambition is the key as Wright joins Rangers".
2. "The day Gascoigne took Ibrox, and Scotland, by storm: The Ibrox idol is unveiled".
3. "Another Celtic blow as Rangers sign their wanted man: Salenko to follow the capture of Petric".
4. "Russian joins foreign legion".
5. "McInnes finally signs for Rangers". The Herald. 14 November 1995.
6. "Work permit not an open and shut case for Jardel: Van Vossen to join foreign legion as Salenko departs". The Herald. 16 January 1996.
7. "Dane's arrival may not be end of Rangers' spending spree: Andersen ready, willing and able". The Herald. 1 March 1996.
8. "Dutch keeper leaves Aberdeen with a few regrets but Snelders finds security as Goram's understudy". The Herald. 30 March 1996.
9. "Maxwell transfer first for United". The Herald. 17 June 1995.
10. "Boli off to Monaco". The Herald. 15 August 1995.
11. "Injured Gough is Euro doubt". The Herald. 25 September 1995.
12. "Work permit not an open and shut case for Jardel: Van Vossen to join foreign legion as Salenko departs". The Herald. 16 January 1996.
13. "Serie A players set to strike". The Herald. 12 March 1996.