Rangers had to twice navigate four UEFA Europa League rounds to reach the tournament under Steven Gerrard but thanks to the club’s success, the Scottish Cup winners will only need navigate one.
Remarkably whoever wins the official Scottish domestic cup tournament this year – with the final set to be played between Hibs and St Johnstone – will enter the Europa League at the playoff stage.
That effectively means that either side will sit 180 minutes from qualification for the tournament with qualification considered a monumental achievement for both clubs.
Not only that but should the Scottish Cup victor fail at the Playoff stage – with some tricky potential opponents in the hat – they will still be guaranteed European football until Christmas.
This is because teams that drop out of the Europa League at the playoff stage will drop down into UEFA’s latest competition the brand-new Conference League.
Another two Scottish sides (those who finish 3rd or 4th unless 3rd place Hibs win the cup) will also enter the second qualifying stage for this new tournament [BBC Scotland].
It shows the depth of Rangers’ achievements over the last three seasons and the impact they’ve had on Scottish football.
Steven Gerrard and his backroom staff have twice managed to achieve what Celtic haven’t in 16 years by going two rounds deep in knockout European competition.
Alongside Celtic – who have made the Europa League groups alongside Rangers – the success of the Old Firm has also secured two Champions League qualification spots for next season.
Beyond that, the club’s success has also helped all but secure an automatic Champions League spot for the season after next, provided the winner of next year’s competition qualifies through their domestic league.
Rangers don’t get enough credit for their impact on the European stage and if things go right next season, Scotland could have five teams competing in UEFA competition.
Steven Gerrard’s side has also just been handed a major blow in the hunt to reach the £30m land of honey that is the Champions League group stages.
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