Glasgow Rangers FC have won the 2010/2011 Scottish Premier League (SPL) by one point from their fierce across-city rivals, Celtic, after they recorded a 5-1 away victory over Kilmarnock on a dramatic and decisive final day.
Having started the day just one point ahead of Celtic, who were due to play a home fixture to Motherwell, Rangers boss Walter Smith knew that a win would see them crowned champions – a result they needed to achieve, as it turned out, as Celtic picked up a 4-0 win in their match with Motherwell.
Having been in the driving seat for much of the season, Celtic were humbled by Inverness CT in recent weeks, falling to a 3-2 defeat which allowed Rangers to grab a the one point advantage, which they held onto.
Walter Smith is to step down as manager of Rangers, meaning the Scottish manager will bow out having picked up his tenth title in his second spell at the helm of the club.
The season has, however, been marred by reports of death threats and allegations of attempted assaults on Celtic manager Neil Lennon, as Glasgow “Old Firm” rivalries spilled over into more than just taunting across the terraces.
For Rangers fans, and fans of football, though, it has been the on-field drama which has kept eyes glued to this most dramatic of seasons.
At the other end of the table, Hamilton are relegated into the Division One. In 2011/12 season, they will be replaced by Dunfermline, who won the First Division by ten points.
Rangers have the local bragging rights for the summer of 2011, but on the evidence of this most narrow of victories, next term will be just as tough.
Scottish Premier League 2010/2011 Table
The table as it stood after the final matches of SPL 2010/11 on Sunday 15th May 2011:
| Home | Away | |||||||||||||
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | |
| 1 | Rangers | 38 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 43 | 14 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 45 | 15 | 59 | 93 |
| 2 | Celtic | 38 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 51 | 11 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 34 | 11 | 63 | 92 |
| 3 | Hearts | 38 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 27 | 21 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 26 | 24 | 8 | 63 |
| 4 | Dundee Utd | 38 | 13 | 1 | 5 | 34 | 22 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 21 | 28 | 5 | 61 |
| 5 | Kilmarnock | 38 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 26 | 31 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 27 | 24 | -2 | 49 |
| 6 | Motherwell | 38 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 24 | 24 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 16 | 36 | -20 | 46 |
| 7 | Inverness CT | 38 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 25 | 24 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 27 | 20 | 8 | 53 |
| 8 | St Johnstone | 38 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 19 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 24 | -20 | 44 |
| 9 | Aberdeen | 38 | 6 | 2 | 11 | 22 | 21 | 5 | 3 | 11 | 17 | 38 | -20 | 38 |
| 10 | Hibernian | 38 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 21 | 29 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 18 | 32 | -22 | 37 |
| 11 | St Mirren | 38 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 20 | 27 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 13 | 30 | -24 | 33 |
| 12 | Hamilton | 38 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 26 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 12 | 33 | -35 | 26 |