The more things change the more they stay the same
THE REVIEW OF THE DECADE
EVEN by the standards of Scottish football the 2010s have been eventful.
How things have changed since January 2010 when Celtic and Rangers were fighting it out at the top of the table, while the national team were coming off the back of an abject qualification campaign.
OK, so not everything has changed. But this was a momentous decade and here are some of the biggest moments to have defined the decade.
Craig Levein’s 4-6-0 (2010)
In the 2000s the Czech Republic were a decent side with Petr Cech, Pavel Nedved, Jan Koller, Vladimir Smicer and Tomas Rosicky.
That wasn’t the team Scotland faced in Prague in October 2010, with manager Craig Levein setting his XI out to combat the idea of the Czech Rep, rather than the actual Czech Rep.
Scotland started with a 4-6-0 formation. This was not one of those false-nine formations Luciano Spalletti used at Roma or brought success for Spain and Barcelona.
No, this was a team actually playing without any strikers and with Darren Fletcher and Gary Caldwell both featuring as holding midfielders.
Roman Hubnik scored the only goal as Scotland lost 1-0 in what may have been the most depressing national team match of the decade.
Celtic beat Barcelona (2012)
The Old Firm have restored some Scottish pride in the Europa League this season after humblings on the continental stage in recent years.
Back in 2012 though Neil Lennon’s Hoops set themselves on their way to the knockout rounds of the Champions League with a stunning win over Barcelona.
The Catalans fielded a team containing Dani Alves, Javier Mascherano, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Alexis Sanchez and Lionel Messi. They even had the sheer cheek to bring David Villa, Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Pique off the bench.
Celtic could call on Miku, Kelvin Wilson and Georgios Samaras while sending for sub Tony Watt.
Victor Wanyama gave the home side the lead in 21 minutes and Lennon’s men dug in, managing just 16 per cent of possession.
With 83 minutes gone Fraser Forster launched one upfield and after Xavi had failed to control it, Watt rushed in behind and coolly slotted under Victor Valdes.
Messi’s consolation couldn’t dampen an electric night at Celtic Park.
Sharing trophies
The consensus appears to be Rangers’ absence from the top flight harmed Scottish football but one thing it did do was give other sides a chance at glory.
Gers went into administration in 2011-12 season and weeks later
Kilmarnock beat Celtic to win the League Cup for the first time. St Mirren won it the following year, Ross County were victorious in 2015-16. It was a similar story in the Scottish Cup with Hearts, Hibs, St Johnstone and
Inverness all lifting the trophy between 2012 and 2016.
Sir Alex Ferguson retires
Not strictly a Scottish football moment but our greatest managerial export deserves a mention.
Fergie stepped down as Manchester United boss at the end of the 2012-13 season. A stand was named after him at Old Trafford – to go with a statue.
Hearts avoid bankruptcy (2014)
Under the madcap ownership of Vladimir Romanov, Hearts first hit financial trouble in 2011 when they failed to pay players’ wages on time. When Romanov’s Ukio Bankas went bankrupt the Jambos entered administration in 2013 with debts of £25million. A deduction of 15 points ensured they’d be relegated.
In May 2014 the Foundation of Hearts, backed by an interest-free loan by Ann Budge, acquired control and the Jambos exited administration and bounced back to the top flight.
Hibs win the Scottish Cup (2016)
After relegation to the Championship, the 2014-15 season saw Hibs go all the way to the Scottish Cup Final and lose to Falkirk as Hearts swept to the title. They then lost to Rangers in the play-offs.
Alan Stubbs got a second crack at getting them promoted the following season but Hibs blew a 2-1 lead in the play-off semi-final second leg and were defeated by Falkirk.
They’d also reached the League Cup Final against Ross County where they lost. Obviously.
They made the Scottish Cup Final but were expected to again fall flat,
this time to Rangers. The capital club hadn’t won the trophy for 114 years but smashed that jinx when David Gray’s 92nd-minute header finally saw the trophy return to Easter Road.
The Banter Years (2012-2018)
It’s surely inarguable the decade’s biggest event was Rangers going into liquidation in 2012.
After being refused entry to the SPL the Gers went all the way down to the fourth tier.
What followed is referred to, even by Gers fans. as “The Banter Years”.
If we take the appointment of Steven Gerrard as an end point there was enough banter crammed into those six years to last a lifetime:
Francisco Sandaza being sacked after falling for a prank phone call.
Losing to Raith Rovers in the Ramsden’s Cup Final.
The agm being held in a gazebo on the Ibrox pitch. A 6-1 play-off defeat to Motherwell Losing to Hibs in the Cup Final. Joey Barton. Losing 2-0 to Progres Niederkorn. The “concomitant” statement. Missing out on second place on the final day of the 2017-18 season with a 5-5 draw at Hibs. Brendan Rodgers joins Celtic (2016)
Replacing Ronny Deila, his Hoops side racked up 106 points as they finished the Premiership season unbeaten, scoring 106 goals, and claimed the Treble.
The dominance continued until he left in February 2019. Griffiths' double v England (2017)
With 87 minutes on the clock Scotland were trailing 1-0 to England. Enter Leigh Griffiths.
A foul on Ryan Fraser gave the Celtic striker the chance to curl a free-kick past Joe Hart.
Moments later Chris Martin won another free-kick. You could almost hear fans saying “surely he can’t do it again?”but Griff did exactly that.
Of course, this being Scotland, we shot ourselves in the foot and allowed Harry Kane to equalise.
Steven Gerrard appointed at Rangers (2018)
Rangers fans won’t feel they’re truly back until they lift a major trophy – preferably a 55th league title.
There’s no question though the appointment of Gerrard in 2018 effectively brought an end to the aforementioned Banter Years.
Silverware hasn’t come yet but the Englishman has restored Rangers as a credible force in Scottish football.
Kazakhstan 3, Scotland 0 (2019)
It’s difficult to pinpoint the moment the Scottish national team hit rock bottom but this might be it against the Euro minnows.
Billy McNeill's death (2019)
A one-club man, McNeill made 789 appearances for Celtic – leading them to the European Cup in 1967 – and managed them to four league titles, three Scottish Cups and the League Cup.
He fought a tragic battle with dementia and when his death was announced the Scottish football world was united in grief.