Barry Ferguson is gearing up for his first Old Firm derby as Rangers manager on Sunday.
Rangers travel to Parkhead to face a rampant Celtic who sadly are well on their way to securing yet another Premiership title.
Ferguson started his interim reign with a 4-2 win over Kilmarnock, before losing on his return to Ibrox against Motherwell.
But he followed that up with a stunning 3-1 away victory against Fenerbahce in the Europa League and will hope to finish the job in the second leg.
Then he can turn his full attention towards beating Celtic, although that is clearly going to be an extremely tall order.
With Barry’s Old Firm managerial bow in sight, Rangers News had a look at how other Gers managers down the years have fared in their first fixture against Celtic.
Starting with Walter Smith in 1991 and ending with Philippe Clement, here they all are below.
Walter Smith’s first Old Firm debut
- Celtic 0-2 Rangers
- August 31, 1991
- Scottish Premier Division
Walter Smith was appointed Rangers’ permanent manager in April 1991 but had to wait another four months before his managerial bow against Celtic.
That was at Parkhead in the first Old Firm derby of the 1991/92 campaign. Mark Hateley netted a double to silence the Celtic fans as Rangers delivered a tremendous 2-0 victory.
Rangers went on to win their fourth league title of the memorable 9IAR run that season.
Dick Advocaat’s forgettable Old Firm bow
- Rangers 0-0 Celtic
- September 20, 1998
- Scottish Premier League
There’s a few firsts attached to this particular derby. Of course, it was Dick Advocaat’s Old Firm debut after taking over from Walter Smith in the summer.
It was also a young Barry Ferguson’s first ever clash against Celtic, while it was the first Old Firm encounter played in the inaugural season of the Scottish Premier League.
Moreover, it was the first Old Firm derby with Celtic as reigning league champions since 1988.
Despite the likes of Lorenzo Amoruso, Jorge Albertz and Rod Wallace playing in this encounter, Rangers couldn’t find a winner at Ibrox.
Alex McLeish’s Old Firm debut at Hampden
- Rangers 2-1 Celtic (AET)
- February 5, 2002
- Scottish League Cup semi-final
What an occasion to make your Old Firm managerial debut as Rangers boss – a major domestic semi-final at the national stadium.
Alex McLeish replaced Advocaat earlier that season, waiting just under three months for his first taste of one of the biggest derbies in world football.
The score was tied at 1-1 after 90 minutes with Peter Lovenkrands scoring for Rangers. But Bert Konterman’s unbelievable strike in extra-time sealed his side’s progression to the final.
Rangers were rewarded with a final against Ayr United and they ran out as easy 4-0 winners.
Paul Le Guen outfoxed by Gordon Strachan
- Celtic 2-0 Rangers
- September 23, 2006
- Scottish Premier League
Paul Le Guen is arguably the worst Rangers manager in the club’s history and that is underpinned by his record against Celtic.
He played twice against them and failed to win either. His first Old Firm came at the start of the 2006/07 campaign as Celtic cruised to a 2-0 win.
Walter Smith’s second Old Firm debut
- Celtic 0-1 Rangers
- March 11, 2007
- Scottish Premier League
On his return to Rangers as manager in 2007, Walter Smith was the dream replacement for Paul Le Guen as far as the fans were concerned.
In his second Old Firm debut, Smith faced Gordon Strachan’s Celtic, who had won the league title the previous year.
Rangers would go on to miss out on the league crown again in 2007, but they did come away with a 1-0 victory over Celtic at Parkhead thanks to Ugo Ehiogu’s stunning overhead kick.
Ehiogu has gone down as a Rangers cult hero. His goal against Celtic was his first and last for the Light Blues and he actually played only nine league games before leaving in 2008 for Sheffield United.
Ally McCoist’s thrilling Old Firm bow as manager
- Rangers 4-2 Celtic
- September 18, 2011
- Scottish Premier League
Just like Dick Advocaat, Ally McCoist had the unenviable challenge of succeeding Walter Smith, who had retired earlier in the year.
But the former Rangers striker passed the first huge test in trying to beat Celtic in the first Old Firm derby of the 2011/12 campaign.
Steven Naismith was on fire as he notched a brace, while Nikica Jelavic and Kyle Lafferty also registered their names on the scoresheet at Ibrox.
Mark Warburton’s nerve-wracking Old Firm debut
- Rangers 2-2 Celtic AET (5-4 on pens)
- April 17, 2016
- Scottish Cup semi-final
Rangers were still in the Championship when they were drawn against 10IAR-chasing Celtic in the 2015/16 Scottish Cup semi-finals at Hampden.
In fact, this was the first time the two sides had played each other in 14 months. Kenny Miller’s early goal and Barrie McKay’s stunning strike in extra-time sent the clash to penalties.
Celtic’s Tom Rogic missed the spot-kick that sent Rangers into the final against Hibs. Of course, they would go on to lose that showpiece encounter in heartbreaking circumstances.
Mark Warburton managed to get Rangers into the 2016/17 Premiership but left later that season and replaced by none other than Pedro Caixinha.
Pedro Caixinha’s disappointing Old Firm bow
- Rangers 0-2 Celtic
- April 23, 2017
- Scottish Cup semi-final
Just like his predecessor, Pedro Caixinha’s first game against Celtic came at Hampden in a massive Scottish Cup semi-final.
Rangers were looking to make it to two Scottish Cup finals in a row at the expense of their great rivals – but this time, Brendan Rodgers outfoxed his Portuguese counterpart.
Callum McGregor and Scott Sinclair scored for Celtic with the likes of Andy Halliday, David Bates and Emerson Hyndman featuring for a poor Rangers side.
This was actually Caixinha’s first loss as Gers manager in his sixth game in charge. The following weekend, he would lose 5-1 to Celtic at Ibrox.
Steven Gerrard’s narrow defeat in Old Firm debut
- Celtic 1-0 Rangers
- September 2, 2018
- Scottish Premiership
Steven Gerrard opened his account against Celtic and his former Liverpool manager Rodgers with a slender 1-0 loss at Parkhead.
Olivier Ntcham scored in the 62nd minute to separate the two great rivals and steal a march on Rangers at the top of the Premiership.
Featuring for Rangers that day included Nikola Katic, Ovie Ejaria and Scott Arfield. Gerrard would avenge the defeat in December with a 1-0 win at Ibrox.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s horror Old Firm debut as boss
- Celtic 3-0 Rangers
- February 2, 2022
- Scottish Premiership
Rangers were the defending Premiership champions across the 2021/22 season but Steven Gerrard’s departure left former player Giovanni van Bronckhorst with a difficult task.
After Gerrard left for Aston Villa, Celtic began to motor on under new manager Ange Postecoglou. And they lay a marker down in the February with a 3-0 win over Rangers.
Van Bronckhorst’s men were unfortunately outclassed as Reo Hatate grabbed two goals and an assist on his own Old Firm debut.
Michael Beale almost won his first Old Firm match
- Rangers 2-2 Celtic
- January 2, 2023
- Scottish Premiership
Michael Beale actually got off to a terrific start as Rangers manager and remained unbeaten in his opening 14 matches.
The only draw amongst that run – you guessed it – came against Postecolgou’s Celtic at Ibrox in the 2023 New Year derby meeting.
James Tavernier scored a penalty and Ryan Kent also grabbed a goal. It looked like Rangers were going to win the game until Kyogo Furuhashi popped up with a late equaliser.
Rangers failed to close the gap on Celtic that day before Postecoglou and his men raced away into the distance as Gers’ title challenge collapsed.
Rangers wasteful in Philippe Clement’s Old Firm bow
- Celtic 2-1 Rangers
- December 30, 2023
- Scottish Premiership
Much like his predecessor, Philippe Clement enjoyed a brilliant start to life as the new Rangers manager and did not lose until his 17th game in charge.
Of course, that came against Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic at Parkhead as Rangers lost 2-1 in the final Old Firm derby of 2023.
James Tavernier halved the deficit with a spectacular 88th-minute free-kick to give Rangers hope – but Celtic managed to hold off a fightback.
Rangers beat Celtic 3-0 at Ibrox at the end of that season but it was too little, too late as Rodgers already had one hand on the Premiership trophy by that point.
