1997–98 Rangers F.C. season

November 2021 Rangers 1997–98 Walter Smith David Murray Ground Ibrox Stadium Scottish Premier Division 2nd Scottish Cup Runners-up League Cup Quarter-finals Champions League Second qualifying round UEFA Cup First round Marco Negri (32) Marco Negri (37) _whiteborder _rangers9799h _whiteborder _redsides _redhorizontal 0000FF 0000FF 0000FF FFFFFF 000000 _blackborder _blackborder _redsides _bluehorizontal FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF _blackborder _blackborder _whitesides FF0000 FF0000 FF0000 000000 FF0000 1996–97 1998–99 The 1997–98 season was the 118th season of competitive football by Rangers. Overview Rangers played a total of 52 competitive matches during the 1997–98 season. They went into the season in pursuit of a record tenth consecutive league title. The early season form of new signing Marco Negri gave the team fresh impetus but when manager Walter Smith announced that he would leave the club at the end of the season, the side's form dipped. Rangers finished the league on 72 points, two behind champions Celtic. The club ended the season trophyless for the first time in twelve seasons as they lost the Scottish Cup final to Hearts 2–1 and were knocked out League Cup in the quarter-finals by Dundee United. In Europe, the club failed to reach the Champions League group stages and fell at the first hurdle in the UEFA Cup, losing both legs 2–1 to Strasbourg. Transfers In DatePlayerFromFee29 May 1997 ITA Lorenzo Amoruso ITA Fiorentina £4,000,000https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12321242.amoruso-and-stensaas-sign-in-56m-deal-and-theres-more-to-come-rangers-answer-the-cry-of-no-defenders/ Amoruso and Stensaas sign in £5.6m deal and there's more to come: Rangers answer the cry of no defenders The Herald 30 May 1997NOR Ståle Stensaas NOR Rosenborg £1,650,000https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12321242.amoruso-and-stensaas-sign-in-56m-deal-and-theres-more-to-come-rangers-answer-the-cry-of-no-defenders/ Amoruso and Stensaas sign in £5.6m deal and there's more to come: Rangers answer the cry of no defenders The Herald 30 May 1997 10 June 1997 ITA Sergio Porrini ITA Juventus £3,000,000https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12319803.murray-smith-in-talks-with-laudrup-as-another-new-man-arrives-3m-porrini-joins-the-italian-family-at-ibrox/ Murray, Smith in talks with Laudrup as another new man arrives: £3m Porrini joins the Italian family at Ibrox The Herald 11 June 199718 June 1997 ITA Marco Negri ITA Perugia £3,500,000https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12318397.italian-no4-joins-the-ibrox-colony-striker-negri-a-35m-signing-as-prospect-of-moens-deal-fades/ Italian No.4 joins the Ibrox colony: Striker Negri a £3.5m signing as prospect of Moens deal fades The Herald 19 June 199720 June 1997 FIN Antti Niemi DEN Copenhagen £700,000https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12318094.ajax-told-laudrup-is-staying-as-niemi-signs/ Ajax told Laudrup is staying as Niemi signs The Herald 21 June 1997 1 July 1997ITA Gennaro Gattuso ITA Perugia Freehttps://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12329967.rangers-sign-italian-but-melli-is-rejected/ Rangers sign Italian but Melli is rejected The Herald 11 April 1997ITA Luigi Riccio FreeSWE Jonas Thern ITA Roma Freehttps://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12321675.no-end-to-the-buying-spree/ No end to the buying spree The Herald 2 July 1997 AUS Tony Vidmar NED NAC Breda Freehttps://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12075254.smith-denies-1m-australian-full-back-is-replacement-for-robertson-rangers-use-bosman-rules-to-sign-vidmar/ Smith denies £1m Australian full back is replacement for Robertson: Rangers use Bosman rules to sign Vidmar The Herald 20 February 1997 13 August 1997FIN Jonatan Johansson EST Flora Tallinn £500,000https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12312196.unfamiliar-scorer-but-rangers-win-gives-league-same-old-shape-cleland-goal-secures-early-lead-for-the-champions/ Unfamiliar scorer but Rangers' win gives league same old shape: Cleland goal secures early lead for the champions The Herald 5 August 1997 14 October 1997SCO Richard Gough USA Kansas City Wizards Freehttps://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12286600.rangers-silent-on-gazza-rumours/ Rangers silent on Gazza rumours The Herald 15 October 1997 Out DatePlayerToFee8 May 1997SCO Richard Gough USA Kansas City Wizards Freehttps://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12323412.gough-is-up-up-and-away-for-a-bright-new-future-in-america/ GOUGH IS UP, UP AND AWAY FOR A BRIGHT NEW FUTURE IN AMERICA The Herald 9 May 1997 12 May 1997SCO David Robertson ENG Leeds United £500,000https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12325065.sos-for-players-as-robertson-joins-leeds-for-500000-watson-and-waddle-join-ibrox-line-up/ SOS for players as Robertson joins Leeds for £500,000: Watson and Waddle join Ibrox "line-up" The Herald 13 May 1997 15 May 1997SCO Barry Robson SCO Inverness Caledonian Thistle Free https://twitter.com/rangersfacts/status/498926292570734593?lang=en Life goes on for Oleg Rangers News RangersHistory on Twitter, 12 August 2014 21 May 1997 14 September 201831 May 1997ENG Mark Hateley ENG Hull City FreeWAL Andy Dibble ENG Sheffield United FreeENG Trevor Steven Retiredhttps://www.thefreelibrary.com/Steven+forced+to+quit.-a061088373 Steven forced to quit Sunday Mail 1 June 1997 SCO John Brown Retired30 June 1997SCO Greg Shields SCO Dunfermline Athletic £100,000The Mirror, 1 July 199730 October 1997DEN Erik Bo Andersen DEN Odense £800,000https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12352991.changing-times-for-rangers-but-the-dreams-of-glory-are-still-the-same-new-man-will-have-a-multi-million-new-broom/ Changing times for Rangers, but the dreams of glory are still the same: New man will have a multi-million new broom The Herald 31 October 1997 28 November 1997SCO Brian McGinty ENG Hull City Free20 February 1998 SCO Gary Bollan SCO St Johnstone £100,000https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12306953.bollan-signing-will-strengthen-saints/ Bollan signing will strengthen Saints The Herald 21 February 199826 March 1998ENG Paul Gascoigne ENG Middlesbrough £3,450,000https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12301279.robson-prepared-for-grief-from-gazza/ Robson prepared for grief from Gazza The Herald 26 March 1998 Expenditure: £13,300,000 Income: £4,950,000 Total loss/gain: £8,350,000 Results All results are written with Rangers' score first. Scottish Premier Division 1997–98 Scottish Premier Division DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 4 August 1997 Heart of MidlothianH3–148,257Negri (2), Cleland 23 August 1997 Dundee UnitedH5–148,599Negri (5) 13 September 1997 AberdeenH3–350,030Negri (pen.), Albertz, Laudrup 20 September 1997 St JohnstoneA2–010,093Negri (2) 24 September 1997 KilmarnockA3–015,367Negri (2), Stensaas 27 September 1997 MotherwellH2–248,672Negri, Porrini 4 October 1997 HibernianA4–315,169Negri (2, 1 (pen.)), Gascoigne, Albertz 18 October 1997 Dunfermline AthleticH7–050,023Laudrup, Negri (4), Gascoigne (2) 25 October 1997 Dundee UnitedA1–212,600Negri 1 November 1997 KilmarnockH4–149,413Negri (3, 1 (pen.)), Porrini 8 November 1997 CelticH1–050,082Gough 15 November 1997 AberdeenA1–118,117Albertz 19 November 1997 CelticA1–149,427Negri 22 November 1997 MotherwellA1–112,018McCoist 29 November 1997 St JohnstoneH3–250,142Gattuso, Negri (2) 7 December 1997 HibernianH1–048,070Negri 13 December 1997 Dunfermline AthleticA0–012,443 20 December 1997 Heart of MidlothianA5–217,092Durie (3), Negri (pen.), Albertz 27 December 1997 Dundee UnitedH4–150,017Laudrup, Cleland, Negri (2, 1 (pen.)) 2 January 1998 CelticA0–249,396 10 January 1998 AberdeenH2–049,502Laudrup, Porrini 17 January 1998 MotherwellH1–049,443Cleland 31 January 1998 St JohnstoneA0–210,441 7 February 1998 Dunfermline AthleticH1–149,019Porrini 21 February 1998 HibernianA2–113,968Negri, Albertz 24 February 1998 KilmarnockA1–115,931Thern 28 February 1998 Heart of MidlothianH2–250,046Albertz (2) 14 March 1998 MotherwellA1–211,779McCoist 21 March 1998 St JohnstoneH2–149,788Negri, Thern 28 March 1998 Dunfermline AthleticA3–211,531 McCoist (2), Thern 1 April 1998 HibernianH3–050,121McCoist, Thern, Durie 12 April 1998 CelticH2–050,042Thern, Albertz 19 April 1998 AberdeenA0–117,981 25 April 1998 Heart of MidlothianA3–017,415Gattuso (2), Albertz 2 May 1998 KilmarnockH0–150,116 9 May 1998 Dundee UnitedA2–114,200Laudrup, Albertz (pen.) Scottish League Cup 1997–98 Scottish League Cup DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 7 August 1997 R2Hamilton AcademicalA1–08,866McCoist 19 August 1997 R3FalkirkH4–143,606McCoist (3, 1 (pen.)), Stensaas 9 September 1997 QFDundee UnitedH0–144,440 Scottish Cup 1997–98 Scottish Cup DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 24 January 1998 R3Hamilton AcademicalA2–111,915Durie, Gough 14 February 1998 R4MotherwellA2–212,602Negri, Durie 17 February 1998 R4 RMotherwellH3–042,043Albertz (2), Durie 9 March 1998 QFDundeeH0–040,309 18 March 1998 QF RDundeeA2–112,418McCoist (2) 5 April 1998 SFCelticA2–148,993McCoist, Albertz 16 May 1998 FHeart of MidlothianN1–248,946McCoist UEFA Champions League 1997–98 UEFA Champions League DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 23 July 1997 QR1FAR GÍA5–02,200Negri, Durie (2), McCoist (2) 30 July 1997 QR1FAR GÍH6–044,433Durie, Negri (2), McCoist, Albertz, I.Ferguson 13 August 1997 QR2SWE IFK GöteborgA0–320,000 27 August 1997 QR2SWE IFK GöteborgH1–145,585Miller UEFA Cup 1997–98 UEFA Cup DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 16 September 1997 R1FRA StrasbourgA1–212,450Albertz (pen.) 30 September 1997 R1FRA StrasbourgH1–240,145Gattuso Appearances PlayerPositionAppearancesGoalsSCO Andy GoramGK360FIN Antti NiemiGK70NED Theo SneldersGK90SWE Joachim BjörklundDF430SCO Gary BollanDF20SCO Alex ClelandDF414SCO Richard GoughDF302AUS Craig MooreDF153FR Yugoslavia Gordan PetrićDF110ITA Sergio PorriniDF374ITA Lorenzo AmorusoDF92NOR Ståle StensaasDF282SWE Jonas ThernMF294AUS Tony VidmarDF154SCO Stephen WrightDF10GER Jörg AlbertzMF4215SCO Ian DurrantMF120SCO Barry FergusonMF110SCO Ian FergusonMF173ENG Paul GascoigneMF273ITA Rino GattusoMF375DEN Brian LaudrupMF365SCO Stuart McCallMF382SCO Derek McInnesMF10SCO Charlie MillerMF114DEN Erik Bo AndersenFW10SCO Gordon DurieFW399FIN Jonatan JohanssonFW80SCO Ally McCoistFW2616ITA Marco NegriFW4037Chile Sebastián RozentalFW40NED Peter van VossenFW30 Competitions Overall 4 UEFA Champions League 23 July 27 August First qualifying round Second qualifying round 2 1 1 12 4 Scottish Premier Division 4 August 9 May Second place 21 9 6 76 38 Scottish League Cup 14 August 24 November Second round Quarter-finals 2 0 1 5 2 UEFA Cup 16 September 30 September First round First round 0 0 2 2 4 Scottish Cup 24 January 16 May Third round Runners-up 4 2 1 12 7 Scottish Premier Division RAN References Category:Rangers F.C. seasons Rangers