The 1998–99 Scottish Premier League season (also known as the 1998–99 Bank of Scotland Scottish Premier League for sponsorship reasons from 11 March) was the inaugural season of Scottish Premier League football, the top division of Scottish football. It began on 1 August 1998 and concluded on 23 May 1999.
The league was made up of the ten clubs that broke away from the Scottish Football League at the end of the 1997–98 season. Celtic went into the season as the defending Scottish champions, having won the 1997–98 Scottish Premier Division.
Rangers won the title with 3 matches still to play on 2 May 1999, after defeating Old Firm rivals Celtic 3–0 in controversial circumstances at Celtic Park. Three players were red-carded during the game and referee Hugh Dallas was struck by a coin thrown by a Celtic supporter and required treatment from paramedics on the field.
Teams On 8 September 1997, the clubs in the Premier Division decided to split from the Scottish Football League and form a Scottish Premier League (SPL). This followed an earlier example in England, which came into force during the 1992–93 season. This decision was fuelled by a desire by the top clubs in Scotland to retain more of the revenue generated by the game. Originally, league sponsorship money was divided proportionally between clubs in all four divisions. After the SPL was formed, its clubs retained all of its commercial revenues except for an annual payment to the SFL and a parachute payment to relegated clubs.
The new league followed the same format as the previous season's Premier Division, with the ten clubs playing each other four times, twice at home and twice away. Hibernian were relegated to the First Division after finishing bottom of the 1997–98 Scottish Premier Division. They were replaced by Dundee, the champions of the previous season's First Division.
Stadia and locations Aberdeen Celtic Dundee Pittodrie Stadium Celtic Park Dens Park Capacity: 20,866 Capacity: 60,411 Capacity: 11,506 Dundee United Dunfermline Athletic Heart of Midlothian Tannadice Park East End Park Tynecastle Park Capacity: 14,223 Capacity: 11,480 Capacity: 18,008 Kilmarnock Motherwell Rugby Park Fir Park Capacity: 17,889 Capacity: 13,677 Rangers St Johnstone Ibrox Stadium McDiarmid Park Capacity: 50,817 Capacity: 10,696
Personnel and kits
Team Manager Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Aberdeen Paul Hegarty (caretaker) Puma Atlantic Telecom Celtic Jozef Vengloš Umbro Umbro Dundee Jocky Scott Avec Sport Scottish Hydro Electric Dundee United Paul SturrockOlympic SportsTelewest Dunfermline Athletic Dick Campbell Avec SportLandmark Heart of Midlothian Jim JefferiesOlympic SportsStrongbow Kilmarnock Bobby Williamson Puma Sports Division Motherwell Billy DaviesXaraMotorola Rangers Dick AdvocaatNikeMcEwan's St Johnstone Sandy ClarkXara Scottish Hydro Electric
Managerial changes Team Outgoing manager Date of vacancy Manner of departure Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment Celtic Wim Jansen 11 May 1998 Resigned Pre-season Jozef Vengloš 17 July 1998 Rangers Walter Smith31 May 1998 Retired Dick Advocaat1 June 1998 Dundee United Tommy McLean 5 September 1998 Mutual consent 9th Paul Sturrock 5 September 1998 St Johnstone Paul Sturrock 5 September 1998 Signed by Dundee United 8th Sandy Clark 7 September 1998 Motherwell Harri Kampman 4 October 1998 Resigned 8th Billy Davies 14 October 1998 Aberdeen Alex Miller 8 December 1998 Mutual consent 10th Paul Hegarty (caretaker) 8 December 1998 Dunfermline Athletic Bert Paton 6 January 1999 Resigned 10th Dick Campbell 6 January 1999
Overview The 1998–99 Scottish Premier League season ended in success for Rangers who, managed by Dutchman Dick Advocaat, won the title by six points from nearest rivals Celtic. Dunfermline Athletic were relegated after three seasons in the top division. As champions, Rangers qualified for the Champions League while Celtic were joined by St Johnstone in qualifying for the UEFA Cup. Fourth placed Kilmarnock also gained a UEFA Cup place via the UEFA Fair Play ranking.
The season began on 1 August 1998 with the first SPL goal scored by Aberdeen's Eoin Jess as they defeated newly promoted Dundee 2–0 at Dens Park. Also on the first day of the season, Craig Burley scored the SPL's first hat-trick as defending champions Celtic defeated Dunfermline Athletic 5–0 at Celtic Park.
1998–99 saw the introduction of a three-week break during January, which was well received by both players and managers. In its inaugural year, the SPL was broadcast to over 120 countries worldwide, while attendances increased and more money was invested in youth development than ever before. A new Scottish transfer record was also set as Rangers paid Fiorentina £5.5m for former Manchester United and Everton winger Andrei Kanchelskis.
Rangers clinched the SPL title on 2 May 1999 by beating Old Firm-rivals Celtic 3–0 at Celtic Park. Three players were red-carded during the game and referee Hugh Dallas was struck by a coin thrown by a Celtic supporter and required treatment from paramedics on the field.
Dunfermline Athletic were relegated to the Scottish First Division on 8 May 1999 after a 2–1 defeat to Celtic at East End Park.
League table
Results
Matches 1–18 During matches 1–18 each team plays every other team twice (home and away).
Matches 19–36 During matches 19–36 each team plays every other team a further two times (home and away).
Top scorers
Player Goals Team Henrik Larsson 29 Celtic Rod Wallace 19 Rangers Billy Dodds 16 Dundee United Eoin Jess 14 Aberdeen Robbie Winters 13 Aberdeen Gary McSwegan 11 Hearts Jörg Albertz Rangers Craig Burley 9 Celtic Eddie Annand Dundee Stéphane Adam Hearts Neil McCann 8 Hearts Mark Burchill Celtic Andy Smith Dunfermline Athletic
Source: SPL official website
Awards
Player awards
AwardWinnerClubPFA Players' Player of the Year CelticPFA Young Player of the Year RangersSFWA Footballer of the Year Celtic
Manager awards
AwardWinnerClubSFWA Manager of the Year Rangers
Attendances The average attendances for SPL clubs during the 1998–99 season are shown below: TeamAverageCeltic 59,233Rangers 49,094Hearts 14,232Aberdeen 12,713Kilmarnock 11,184Dundee United 9,187Motherwell 8,533Dunfermline Athletic 7,375Dundee 7,178St Johnstone 7,038
Source: SPL official website
References