The 1989–90 season was the 93rd season of competitive football in Scotland.
Notable events Rangers won their third league title in four seasons under the management of Graeme Souness.
Aberdeen won their first major honours since the departure of Alex Ferguson, winning a cup double of the Scottish Cup and the League Cup.
Celtic finished the season without winning a trophy, mounting the pressure on manager Billy McNeill.
Rangers abandoned their longstanding signing policy by acquiring Mo Johnston, who was the first high-profile Catholic player to sign for Rangers. Johnston joined Rangers after having come close to rejoining his old club Celtic from French club Nantes. Also arriving at Rangers was the Everton and England winger Trevor Steven, filling the gap on the right wing left by club hero David Cooper, who signed for Motherwell.
Rangers had four players – more than any other club – selected for the England World Cup squad. Goalkeeper Chris Woods, defenders Gary Stevens and Terry Butcher, and winger Trevor Steven helped them reach the semi-finals.
Scottish Premier Division
Champions: Rangers Relegated: Dundee
Scottish League Division One
Promoted: St Johnstone Relegated: Albion Rovers, Alloa Athletic
Scottish League Division Two
Promoted: Brechin City, Kilmarnock
Other honours
Cup honours CompetitionWinnerScoreRunner-upReportScottish Cup 1989–90Aberdeen0–0 (9 – 8 pen.)CelticWikipedia articleLeague Cup 1989–90Aberdeen2–1 RangersWikipedia articleYouth CupHibernian0–0 (4 – 2 (Pen.)Dundee UnitedJunior CupHill of Beath Hawthorn1–0Lesmahagow
Senior CompetitionWinnerHighland League 1989–90Elgin CityEast of Scotland LeagueAnnan AthleticSouth of Scotland LeagueGirvan
Individual honours
SPFA awards AwardWinnerClubPlayers' Player of the Year Jim Bett AberdeenYoung Player of the Year Scott Crabbe Heart of Midlothian
SFWA awards AwardWinnerClub Footballer of the Year Alex McLeish Aberdeen Manager of the year Andy Roxburgh Scotland
Scotland national team
DateVenueOpponentsCompetitionScotland scorer(s)6 September 1989Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb (A) Yugoslavia1–3WCQG5Gordon Durie11 October 1989Parc des Princes, Paris (A) France0–3WCQG515 November 1989Hampden Park, Glasgow (H) Norway1–1WCQG5Ally McCoist28 March 1990Hampden Park, Glasgow (H) Argentina1–0FriendlyStewart McKimmie25 April 1990Hampden Park, Glasgow (H)East Germany0–1Friendly16 May 1990Pittodrie, Aberdeen (H) Egypt1–3FriendlyAlly McCoist19 May 1990Hampden Park, Glasgow (H) Poland1–1FriendlyMaurice Johnston28 May 1990Ta'Qali Stadium, Valletta (A) Malta2–1FriendlyAlan McInally (2)11 June 1990Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa (N) Costa Rica0–1WCGC16 June 1990Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa (N) Sweden2–1WCGCStuart McCall, Maurice Johnston20 June 1990Stadio Delle Alpi, Turin (N) Brazil0–1WCGC
Key: (H) = Home match (A) = Away match WCQG5 = World Cup qualifying – Group 5 WCGC = World Cup – Group C
See also 1989–90 Aberdeen F.C. season 1989–90 Dundee United F.C. season 1989–90 Rangers F.C. season
Notes and references