The current champion of Scotland is Celtic FC. Since its beginning in 1888, the club has won the Scottish league 41 times and the Scottish Cup a record 34 times. They are also the only Scottish club to win the biggest European competition - winning the European Cup in 1967. Other than the European Cup, Celtic have won 42 Scottish League Championships, 34 Scottish Cup, and 13 Scottish League Cups.
Unlike the Rangers, Celtics fans have traditionally been from Irish decent and have been Catholic. However, that has since changed. The clubs official nicknames are "The Bhoys." The fans are some of the best known fans in the world. It's estimated that the club has an army of 9 million supporters world wide with 1 million of them in North America.
In the past, most, if not all, of the players at Celtic had come from within 30 miles of the club's stadium. Players like Tom Boyd, Roy Aitken, and Jimmy Johnstone all came from Scotland and have wowed the crowds. Since then, foreigners have been part of the club. Players like Henrik Larsson, Mark Viduka, and Shunsuke Nakamura have all called Celtic "home." Now, there's a mix of Scot and foreigner in the club. Stephen McManus, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, and Georgios Samaras are all stars happy to call Celtic their club.
Every time Celtic and Rangers meet, you know you're about to get a show. In the past and to some extent now, Ranger fans and Celtic fans have been completely opposites. Ranger fans have been Protestant and are Unionists. Celtic fans have been Catholic and Irish. Nowadays though, these characteristics are not as prevalent. Among Ranger fans, you'll see the Scottish or British flags, but among the Celtic fans you'll see the Irish flag.
Because of the fierceness of the rivalry, it's been very rare for players to represent both clubs. Both clubs have been guilty of a problem called sectarianism and the fans have been guilty of partisan. In the past, neither club would sign players against the ideals of the fan. For example, Rangers would not sign Catholics and Celtic would not sign Protestants. That has since changed dramatically and both clubs are working against sectarianism with fans. In 1996, Celtic began Bhoys Against Bigotry; and in 2003, Rangers began Pride Over Prejudice which has since been renamed Follow With Pride.
The rivalry between Celtic and Rangers is, as many rivalries are, a rivalry beyond football. It is a religious and political rivalry. Ranger fans don't associate with Celtic fans and vice versa. Perhaps though, that is what makes this rivalry so exciting. All I know is that whenever these two giants meet, sparks will fly both on and off the pitch.
For those of you who have missed previouse parts, here it is for your convenience.
Great Rivalries In World Football 2: Olympiakos v Panathinaikos
Great Rivalries In World Football: Boca Juniors vs. River Plate
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