The 2004–05 Scottish Premier League was won by Rangers, who claimed the title on the final day of the season by a single point from Celtic, who had gone into the final fixtures leading and were still ahead in the closing minutes of their last game against Motherwell until they conceded two goals (both scored by striker Scott McDonald),Motherwell 2-1 Celtic, BBC Sport, 22 May 2005 costing them the title with Rangers winning their match against Hibernian in Edinburgh.Hibernian 0-1 Rangers, BBC Sport, 21 May 2005 The dramatic events became known in popular culture as 'Helicopter Sunday' due to the aircraft ceremonially delivering the championship trophy changing direction in mid-flight as the identity of its winners altered suddenly.Helicopter Sunday: Rangers' last-gasp triumph, 15 years on, BBC Sport, 21 May 2020
As league champions, Rangers qualified for the UEFA Champions League group stage, with runners-up Celtic also qualifying to the third qualifying round. Third-placed Hibernian qualified for the UEFA Cup, as did Dundee United, who took the Scottish Cup place despite losing the final to Celtic.
Dundee were relegated, and Scottish First Division winners Falkirk were promoted.
John Hartson was the top scorer with 25 goals for Celtic, whose manager Martin O'Neill stepped down at the end of the season after five years and a host of major trophies.
Teams Promotion and relegation from 2003–04 Promoted from First Division to Premier League Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Relegated from Premier League to First Division Partick Thistle
Stadia and locations
Aberdeen Celtic Dundee Dundee United Pittodrie Stadium Celtic Park Dens Park Tannadice Park Capacity: 20,866 Capacity: 60,411 Capacity: 11,506 Capacity: 14,223 Dunfermline Athletic Heart of Midlothian East End Park Tynecastle Park Capacity: 12,509 Capacity: 17,420 Hibernian Inverness Caledonian Thistle Easter Road Caledonian StadiumInverness played their first eleven home fixtures at Pittodrie Stadium, while the Caledonian Stadium was expanded. Capacity: 16,531 Capacity: 7,500 Kilmarnock Livingston Motherwell Rangers Rugby Park Almondvale Stadium Fir Park Ibrox Stadium Capacity: 17,889 Capacity: 10,016 Capacity: 13,677 Capacity: 50,817
Personnel
Team Manager Aberdeen Jimmy Calderwood Celtic Martin O'Neill Dundee Jim Duffy Dundee United Gordon Chisholm Dunfermline Athletic Jim Leishman Heart of Midlothian Steven Pressley John McGlynn (joint caretakers) Hibernian Tony Mowbray Inverness Caledonian Thistle Craig Brewster Kilmarnock Jim Jefferies Livingston Richard Gough Motherwell Terry Butcher Rangers Alex McLeish
Managerial changes Team Outgoing manager Date of vacancy Manner of departure Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment Aberdeen Steve Paterson24 May 2004SackedPre-season Jimmy Calderwood28 May 2004 Dunfermline Athletic Jimmy Calderwood28 May 2004Signed by Aberdeen David Hay17 June 2004 Livingston David Hay1 June 2004Contract Expired Allan Preston4 June 2004 Heart of Midlothian Craig Levein29 October 2004Signed by Leicester City6th John Robertson3 November 2004 Inverness Caledonian Thistle John Robertson3 November 2004Signed by Heart of Midlothian9th Craig Brewster25 November 2004 Livingston Allan Preston25 November 2004Sacked12th Richard Gough30 November 2004 Dundee United Ian McCall14 March 2005 Gordon Chisholm14 March 2005 (interim)14 May 2005 (permanent) Dunfermline Athletic David Hay3 May 2005 Jim Leishman3 May 2005 Heart of Midlothian John Robertson9 May 20055th Steven Pressley John McGlynn (joint caretakers)11 May 2005
League table
Results Matches 1–22 During matches 1–22 each team played every other team twice (home and away).
Matches 23–33 During matches 23–33 each team played every other team once (either at home or away).
Matches 34–38 During matches 34–38 each team played every other team in their half of the table once.
Top six
Bottom six
Top scorers
ScorerClubGoals John HartsonCeltic25 Derek RiordanHibernian20 Nacho NovoRangers19 Dado PršoRangers18 Kris BoydKilmarnock17 Scott McDonaldMotherwell15 Garry O'ConnorHibernian14 Steve LovellDundee12 Chris SuttonCeltic12 Darren MackieAberdeen12 Stiliyan PetrovCeltic11 Paul HartleyHearts11
Source: SPL official website
Attendances The average attendances for SPL clubs during the 2004–05 season are shown below:
TeamAverageCeltic57,906Rangers48,676Aberdeen13,576Hibernian12,541Hearts12,219Dundee United8,210Motherwell6,960Dundee6,879Dunfermline Athletic6,192Kilmarnock5,930Livingston5,157Inverness CT4,067
Source: SPL official website
Awards
Monthly awards
MonthManagerPlayerYoung PlayerAugust Jimmy Calderwood (Aberdeen) Alan Thompson (Celtic) Alexander Diamond (Aberdeen)September Terry Butcher (Motherwell) Scott McDonald (Motherwell) Derek Riordan (Hibernian)October John Robertson (Inverness CT) Fernando Ricksen (Rangers) Steven Fletcher (Hibernian)November Alex McLeish (Rangers) Nacho Novo (Rangers) Derek Riordan (Hibernian)December Tony Mowbray (Hibernian) Aiden McGeady (Celtic) Derek Riordan (Hibernian)January Martin O'Neill (Celtic) Chris Sutton (Celtic) Derek Riordan (Hibernian)February Alex McLeish (Rangers) Dado Pršo (Rangers) Lee Miller (Hearts)March Craig Brewster (Inverness CT) Craig Bellamy (Celtic) Aiden McGeady (Celtic)April Gordon Chisholm (Dundee United) Burton O'Brien (Livingston) Lee Miller (Hearts)May Tony Mowbray (Hibernian) Dado Pršo (Rangers) Derek Riordan (Hibernian)
Annual awards
Player awards
AwardWinnerClubPFA Players' Player of the Year (joint winners) Rangers CelticPFA Young Player of the Year HibernianSFWA Footballer of the Year CelticSFWA Young Player of the Year Hibernian
Manager awards
AwardWinnerClubSFWA Manager of the Year Hibernian
References