The 1988–89 season was the 92nd season of competitive football in Scotland.
Notable events
Rangers regained their league title and retained the League Cup, but defeat by Celtic in the Scottish Cup final ended their hopes of a domestic treble.
Graeme Souness's acquisition of English players continued with the signing of Norwich City striker Kevin Drinkell and Everton defender Gary Stevens. For the title run-in, he also signed defender Mel Sterland from Sheffield Wednesday, only to sell him to Leeds United in the close season.
Hearts enjoyed the best European run out of all the Scottish clubs, reaching the quarter finals of the UEFA Cup, where they were narrowly beaten by the West German giants Bayern Munich.
Alex Smith and Jocky Scott took joint charge of Aberdeen for the 1988–89 season following the departure of Ian Porterfield after less than two years in charge, but were still unable to return to the club to the glory days of Alex Ferguson, as Rangers and Celtic collected all the major prizes once again.
Scottish Premier Division
Champions: Rangers Relegated: Hamilton Academical
Scottish League Division One
Promoted: Dunfermline Athletic Relegated: Kilmarnock, Queen of the South
Scottish League Division Two
Promoted: Albion Rovers, Alloa Athletic
Other honours
Cup honours CompetitionWinnerScoreRunner-upScottish Cup 1988–89Celtic1 – 0RangersLeague Cup 1988–89Rangers3 – 2AberdeenYouth CupCeltic1 – 0HibernianJunior CupCumnock Juniors1 – 0Ormiston Primrose
Non-league honours
Senior CompetitionWinnerHighland League 1988–89PeterheadEast of Scotland LeagueGala FairydeanSouth of Scotland LeagueDalbeattie Star
Individual honours
SPFA awards AwardWinnerClubPlayers' Player of the Year Theo Snelders AberdeenYoung Player of the Year Billy McKinlay Dundee United
SFWA awards AwardWinnerClub Footballer of the Year Richard Gough RangersManager of the Year Graeme Souness Rangers
Scottish clubs in Europe
Results for Scotland's participants in European competition for the 1988–89 season
Celtic DateVenueOpponentsScoreCompetitionCeltic scorer(s)European Cup7 September 1988Bozsik Stadion, Budapest (A)Budapest Honvéd0–1EC15 October 1988Celtic Park, Glasgow (H)Budapest Honvéd4–0EC1Billy Stark, Andy Walker, Frank McAvennie, Mark McGhee26 October 1988Celtic Park, Glasgow (H)Werder Bremen0–1EC28 November 1988Weserstadion, Bremen (A)Werder Bremen0–0EC2
Dundee United DateVenueOpponentsScoreCompetitionDundee United scorer(s)UEFA Cup Winners' Cup6 September 1988Ta'Qali Stadium, Valletta (A)Floriana0–0CWC15 October 1988Tannadice, Dundee (H)Floriana1–0CWC1Raphael Meade26 October 1988Tannadice, Dundee (H)Dinamo Bucharest0–1CWC29 November 1988Dinamo Stadium, Bucharest (A)Dinamo Bucharest1–1CWC2Dave Beaumont
Aberdeen DateVenueOpponentsScoreCompetitionAberdeen Scorer(s)UEFA Cup7 September 1988Pittodrie, Aberdeen (H)Dynamo Dresden0–0UC15 October 1988Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion, Dresden (A)Dynamo Dresden0–2UC1
Heart of Midlothian DateVenueOpponentsScoreCompetitionHearts scorer(s)UEFA Cup7 September 1988Richmond Park, Dublin (A)St Patrick's Athletic2–0UC1Wayne Foster (pen.), Mike Galloway5 October 1988Tynecastle, Edinburgh (H)St Patrick's Athletic2–0UC1Mike Galloway, Kenny Black26 October 1988Tynecastle, Edinburgh (H)FK Austria Vienna0–0UC29 November 1988Prater Stadion, Vienna (A)FK Austria Vienna1–0UC2Mike Galloway23 November 1988Tynecastle, Edinburgh (H)Velež Mostar3–0UC3Eamonn Bannon, Mike Galloway, John Colquhoun7 December 1988Bijeli Brijeg Stadium, Mostar (A)Velež Mostar1–2UC3Mike Galloway28 February 1989Tynecastle, Edinburgh (H)Bayern Munich1–0UCQFIain Ferguson14 March 1989Olympiastadion, Munich (A)Bayern Munich0–2UCQF
Rangers DateVenueOpponentsScoreCompetitionRangers scorer(s)UEFA Cup7 September 1988Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow (H)GKS Katowice1–0UC1Mark Walters5 October 1988Ul. Bukowa, Katowice (A)GKS Katowice4–2UC1Terry Butcher (2), Ian Durrant, Derek Ferguson26 October 1988Müngersdorfer Stadion, Cologne (A)1. FC Köln0–2UC29 November 1988Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow (H)1. FC Köln1–1UC2Kevin Drinkell
Scotland national team
DateVenueOpponentsCompetitionScotland scorer(s)14 SeptemberUllevaal Stadion, Oslo (A)2–1WCQG5Paul McStay, Maurice Johnston19 OctoberHampden Park, Glasgow (H)1–1WCQG5Maurice Johnston22 DecemberStadio Renato Curi, Perugia (A)0–2Friendly8 FebruaryTsirion Stadium, Limassol (A)3–2WCQG5Maurice Johnston, Richard Gough (2)8 MarchHampden Park, Glasgow (H)2–0WCQG5Maurice Johnston (2)26 AprilHampden Park, Glasgow (H)2–1WCQG5Maurice Johnston, Ally McCoist27 MayHampden Park, Glasgow (H)0–2Rous Cup30 MayHampden Park, Glasgow (H)2–0Rous CupAlan McInally, Murdo MacLeod
Key: (H) = Home match (A) = Away match WCQG5 = World Cup qualifying – Group 5 F = Friendly
See also 1988–89 Aberdeen F.C. season 1988–89 Dundee United F.C. season 1988–89 Rangers F.C. season Dubai Champions Cup
Notes and references