2021–22 Scottish Premiership

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Scottish Premiership
Season2021–22
Dates31 July 2021 – May 2022
Matches played136
Goals scored331 (2.43 per match)
Top goalscorerRegan Charles-Cook
10 goals
Biggest home winCeltic 6–0 Dundee
(8 August 2021)
Celtic 6–0 St Mirren
(21 August 2021)
Biggest away winDundee 0–5 Ross County
(27 October 2021)
Motherwell 1–6 Rangers
(31 October 2021)
Highest scoringMotherwell 1–6 Rangers
(31 October 2021)
Heart of Midlothian 5–2 Dundee United
(6 November 2021)
Longest winning runRangers
9 games
Longest unbeaten runRangers
21 games
Longest winless runSt Mirren
11 games
Longest losing runSt Johnstone
8 games
Highest attendance58,188
Celtic 1–0 Dundee United (29 January 2022)
Lowest attendance500
(6 games)
2022–23 →
All statistics correct as of 29 January 2022.

The 2021–22 Scottish Premiership (known as the cinch Premiership for sponsorship reasons) is the ninth and current season of the Scottish Premiership, the highest division of Scottish football, and the 125th edition overall of the top national league competition, not including one cancelled due to World War II. Rangers are the defending champions.

Twelve teams contest the league: Aberdeen, Celtic, Dundee, Dundee United, Heart of Midlothian, Hibernian, Livingston, Motherwell, Rangers, Ross County, St Johnstone and St Mirren.

The season began on 31 July 2021.[1] In December 2021 the SPFL Board made the decision to bring forward the pre-planned winter break from 4 January to 27 December, due to the Scottish Government imposing a capacity restriction of 500 supporters in light of the increase in COVID-19 cases.[2] The rule of 5 substitutions per match was also re-introduced (as used the previous season) after the winter break.[3]

Teams[]

The following teams changed division after the 2020–21 season.

Promoted from the Championship

  • Heart of Midlothian
  • Dundee

Relegated to the Championship

  • Hamilton Academical
  • Kilmarnock

Stadia and locations[]

Aberdeen Celtic Dundee Dundee United
Pittodrie Stadium Celtic Park Dens Park Tannadice Park
Capacity: 20,866[4] Capacity: 60,506[5] Capacity: 11,220[6] Capacity: 14,209[7]
Pittodrie from Block Y, May 2015.jpg CelticPark.JPG Dens stand.jpg East Stand Tannadice.jpg
Heart of Midlothian
2021–22 Scottish Premiership is located in Scotland
Aberdeen
Aberdeen
2021–22 Scottish Premiership
Dundee
Dundee
Dundee United
Dundee United
Hearts
Hearts
Hibernian
Hibernian
Livingston
Livingston
2021–22 Scottish Premiership
2021–22 Scottish Premiership
Ross County
Ross County
St. Johnstone
St. Johnstone
St Mirren
St Mirren
Celtic
Celtic
Motherwell
Motherwell
Rangers
Rangers
Location of teams in the 2021–22 Scottish Premiership
 Hibernian
Tynecastle Park Easter Road
Capacity: 20,099[8] Capacity: 20,400[9]
Tynecastle Park, January 2018.jpg Easter Road 2010.JPG
Livingston Motherwell
Almondvale Stadium Fir Park
Capacity: 10,122[10] Capacity: 13,742[11]
Almondvale Stadium, Livingston.jpg Fir Park, Motherwell. - geograph.org.uk - 219204.jpg
Rangers Ross County St Johnstone St Mirren
Ibrox Stadium Victoria Park McDiarmid Park St Mirren Park
Capacity: 51,082[12] Capacity: 6,540[13] Capacity: 10,673[14] Capacity: 8,023[15]
Ibrox Inside.jpg Victoria park 2.jpg McDiarmid Park.jpg StMirren(2).jpg

Personnel and kits[]

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Aberdeen Scotland Stephen Glass Scotland Scott Brown[16] Adidas Saltire Energy
Celtic Australia Ange Postecoglou Scotland Callum McGregor Adidas[17] Dafabet
Dundee Northern Ireland James McPake Scotland Charlie Adam Macron[18] Crown Engineering Services[19]
Dundee United Scotland Tam Courts England Ryan Edwards Macron Eden Mill St Andrews[20]
Heart of Midlothian Scotland Robbie Neilson Scotland Craig Gordon Umbro MND Scotland[21]
Hibernian Scotland Shaun Maloney Scotland Paul Hanlon Joma[22] Utilita[23]
Livingston Scotland David Martindale Scotland Nicky Devlin Joma Phoenix Drilling Ltd
Motherwell Scotland Graham Alexander Scotland Stephen O'Donnell Macron Paycare[24]
Rangers Netherlands Giovanni van Bronckhorst England James Tavernier Castore[25] 32Red
Ross County Scotland Malky Mackay Scotland Keith Watson Joma Ross-shire Engineering[26]
St Johnstone Scotland Callum Davidson Scotland Liam Gordon Macron Binn Group
St Mirren Republic of Ireland Jim Goodwin Republic of Ireland Joe Shaughnessy Joma Digby Brown[27]

Managerial changes[]

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Celtic Scotland John Kennedy End of interim spell 15 May 2021[28] Pre-season Australia Ange Postecoglou 10 June 2021[29]
Ross County Scotland John Hughes End of contract 24 May 2021[30] Scotland Malky Mackay 26 May 2021[31]
Dundee United Scotland Micky Mellon Mutual consent 25 May 2021[32] Scotland Tam Courts 7 June 2021[33]
Rangers England Steven Gerrard Signed by Aston Villa 11 November 2021[34] 1st Netherlands Giovanni van Bronckhorst 18 November 2021[35]
Hibernian Scotland Jack Ross Sacked 9 December 2021[36] 7th Scotland Shaun Maloney 20 December 2021[37]

Format[]

In the initial phase of the season, the 12 teams will play a round-robin tournament whereby each team plays each one of the other teams three times. After 33 games, the league splits into two sections of six teams, with each team playing each other in that section. The league attempts to balance the fixture list so that teams in the same section play each other twice at home and twice away, but sometimes this is impossible. A total of 228 matches will be played, with 38 matches played by each team.

League summary[]

League table[]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[a]
1 Rangers 23 17 5 1 48 18 +30 56 Qualification for the Champions League play-off round[b]
2 Celtic 23 17 3 3 47 13 +34 54 Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round
3 Heart of Midlothian 23 12 6 5 34 20 +14 42 Qualification for the Europa Conference League third qualifying round
4 Motherwell 23 9 5 9 26 32 −6 32 Qualification for the Europa Conference League second qualifying round
5 Hibernian 23 8 6 9 26 27 −1 30
6 Aberdeen 22 8 4 10 26 26 0 28
7 Dundee United 23 8 4 11 19 27 −8 28
8 Livingston 23 7 5 11 21 29 −8 26
9 St Mirren 22 5 10 7 21 32 −11 25
10 Ross County 23 5 7 11 34 41 −7 22
11 Dundee 22 4 5 13 18 39 −21 17 Qualification for the Premiership play-off final
12 St Johnstone 22 3 6 13 11 27 −16 15 Relegation to the Championship
Updated to match(es) played on 29 January 2022. Source: [38][39]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-Head points; 5) Head-to-Head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only if deciding champion, UEFA competitions qualification, second stage group allocation or relegation).[40]
Notes:
  1. ^ Teams play each other three times (33 matches), before the league is split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six).
  2. ^ If the winners of the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League also qualify for the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League group stage via their domestic league, the Scottish Premiership winners will instead qualify for the group stage.


Positions by round[]

The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. To preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for round 13, but then postponed and played between rounds 16 and 17, it is added to the standings for round 16.

Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
Rangers15531111111111111111111
Celtic104465666442222222222222
Heart of Midlothian43323332223333333333333333
Motherwell98754444666755555544444
Hibernian31112223555567667755555
Aberdeen22246779988678876676666
Dundee United116677555334444444467777
Livingston121212121291010109910101010119888888
St Mirren691111101087777886788999999
Ross County71010911111111121212121212121212111010101010
Dundee511910912121211111111111111910101111111111
St Johnstone878888988101099991011121212121212
Leader and Champions League play-off round
Champions League second qualifying round
Europa Conference League third qualifying round
Europa Conference League second qualifying round
Qualification for the Premiership play-off final
Relegated to the Championship
Source: [41]

Results[]

Matches 34–38[]

After 33 matches, the league splits into two sections of six teams i.e. the top six and the bottom six, with the teams playing every other team in their section once (either at home or away). The exact matches are determined by the position of the teams in the league table at the time of the split.

Season statistics[]

Scoring[]

As of matches played on 29 January 2022

Top scorers[]

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Grenada Regan Charles-Cook Ross County 10
2 Scotland Tony Watt Motherwell, Dundee United 9
3 United States Christian Ramirez Aberdeen 8
Japan Kyogo Furuhashi Celtic
Northern Ireland Liam Boyce Heart of Midlothian
Colombia Alfredo Morelos Rangers
7 Israel Liel Abada Celtic 7
Australia Martin Boyle Hibernian
Scotland Bruce Anderson Livingston
Netherlands Kevin van Veen Motherwell
11 Nigeria Joe Aribo Rangers 6
Jamaica Kemar Roofe Rangers
Scotland Eamonn Brophy St Mirren

Hat-tricks[]

Main article: List of Scottish Professional Football League hat-tricks § Scottish Premiership
Player For Against Score Date Ref.
Japan Kyogo Furuhashi Celtic Dundee 6–0 (H) 8 August 2021 [42]
Scotland David Turnbull Celtic St Mirren 6–0 (H) 21 August 2021 [43]
Zambia Fashion Sakala Rangers Motherwell 1–6 (A) 31 October 2021 [44]

Most assists[]

Rank Player Club Assists
1 England James Tavernier Rangers 10
2 Australia Tom Rogic Celtic 6
Scotland Paul McMullan Dundee
4 Portugal Jota Celtic 5
Scotland Anthony Ralston Celtic
Scotland Barrie McKay Heart of Midlothian

Source:[45]

Clean sheets[]

Rank Player Club Clean Sheets
1 England Joe Hart Celtic 11
2 Scotland Craig Gordon Heart of Midlothian 9
3 England Matt Macey Hibernian 7
Poland Max Stryjek Livingston
Scotland Liam Kelly Motherwell
Scotland Allan McGregor Rangers
7 Scotland Zander Clark St Johnstone 6
England Jak Alnwick St Mirren

Source:[46]

Awards[]

Month Manager of the Month Player of the Month
Manager Club Player Club
August Scotland Robbie Neilson Hearts Australia Martin Boyle Hibernian
September Scotland Graham Alexander Motherwell United States Ian Harkes Dundee United
October Australia Ange Postecoglou Celtic Portugal Jota Celtic
November Scotland Graham Alexander Motherwell Portugal Jota Celtic
December Netherlands Giovanni van Bronckhorst Rangers Colombia Alfredo Morelos Rangers

Premiership play-offs[]

The quarter-finals will be contested between the third and fourth placed teams in the Scottish Championship. The winners will advance to the semi-finals to face the second placed team in the Championship, and the winners of that tie will advance to the final to play-off against the 11th placed team in the Premiership, with the winners securing a place in the 2022–23 Scottish Premiership.

Broadcasting[]

Live matches (UK and Ireland)[]

Sky Sports has exclusive rights to the Scottish Premiership and will show up to 48 matches, and the Premiership play-off final.[47] BBC Scotland will broadcast the Premiership quarter-final and semi-final play-off ties.[48]

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, clubs will continue to stream matches (not broadcast on Sky) to fans on a pay-per-view or "virtual season ticket" basis, whilst capacities in stadia are limited due to social distancing restrictions.[49]

Select live matches are being streamed on Paramount Plus.

Highlights[]

Highlights are broadcast on BBC Scotland's flagship Sportscene programme on both Saturdays and Sundays. Sky Sports also show highlights.

Gaelic-language channel BBC Alba has rights to broadcast repeats in full of 38 Saturday 3pm matches "as live" at 5.30pm.

The SPFL also uploads the goals from every Premiership match onto its YouTube channel.

References[]

  1. ^ "Start dates for 2021/22 | SPFL". spfl.co.uk.
  2. ^ "Premiership winter break brought forward". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Premiership clubs allowed five subs". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Aberdeen Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  5. ^ "Celtic Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  6. ^ "Dundee Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  7. ^ "Dundee United Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  8. ^ "Heart of Midlothian Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Hibernian Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  10. ^ "Livingston Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  11. ^ "Motherwell Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 6 May 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  12. ^ "Rangers Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  13. ^ "Ross County Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 2 July 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  14. ^ "St Johnstone Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  15. ^ "St Mirren Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  16. ^ "Scott Brown to lead the Dons as team captain". Aberdeen FC. 17 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Celtic announce magnificent new five-year partnership with adidas". Celtic FC. 13 March 2020. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  18. ^ "Dee sign with Macron". dundeefc.co.uk. 14 January 2019.
  19. ^ "Crown Engineering Services become main club sponsor". dundeefc.co.uk. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  20. ^ "DUNDEE UNITED SIGN PRINCIPAL PARTNERSHIP WITH EDEN MILL ST ANDREWS". Dundee United FC. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  21. ^ "MND SCOTLAND NEW FRONT OF SHIRT PARTNER". Heart of Midlothian FC. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  22. ^ "Hibernian announce new partnership with Joma Sport". Hibernian FC. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  23. ^ "A new era, a new principal partner, welcome Utilita Energy". Hibernian FC. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  24. ^ "Paycare are our new main sponsors". Motherwell FC. 14 August 2020. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  25. ^ "Rangers Announce Historic New Partnership With Castore". Rangers FC. 17 May 2020. Archived from the original on 24 May 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  26. ^ "New Kit Launches". Ross County FC. 22 June 2020. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  27. ^ "St Mirren delighted to welcome Digby Brown as new principal sponsor". St Mirren FC. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  28. ^ "Hibernian 0–0 Celtic". BBC Sport. 15 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  29. ^ "Celtic: Ange Postecoglou confirmed as new manager of Scottish Premiership club". BBC Sport. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  30. ^ "John Hughes: Ross County manager departs after securing Premiership safety". BBC Sport. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  31. ^ "Ross County: Malky Mackay is appointed manager". BBC Sport. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  32. ^ "Micky Mellon: Dundee United confirm manager exit after one season". BBC Sport. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  33. ^ "Dundee United appoint Thomas Courts as head coach". BBC Sport. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  34. ^ "Steven Gerrard: Aston Villa name Rangers boss as new manager". BBC Sport. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  35. ^ "Giovanni van Bronckhorst: Rangers appoint former Arsenal, Barcelona & Netherlands player". BBC Sport. 18 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  36. ^ "Hibernian: Jack Ross exits as head coach". BBC Sport. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  37. ^ "Shaun Maloney appointed Hibernian manager with Gary Caldwell assistant". BBC Sport. 20 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  38. ^ "Scottish Premiership Table". BBC. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  39. ^ "cinch Premiership League Table". Scottish Prefessional Football League. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  40. ^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  41. ^ a b c "Summary - Premiership". Soccerway. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  42. ^ Duncan, Thomas (8 August 2021). "Celtic 6–0 Dundee: Kyogo Furuhashi scores hat-trick as Ange Postecoglou gets first league win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  43. ^ McPheat, Nick (21 August 2021). "Celtic 6–0 St Mirren: Turnbull scores hat-trick as hosts storm to league summit". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  44. ^ Duncan, Thomas (31 October 2021). "Rangers thrash Motherwell to extend lead". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 October 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  45. ^ "BBC Top Assists". BBC. 28 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  46. ^ "Premiership clean sheets". SPFL. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  47. ^ McLaughlin, Chris (19 November 2018). "Scottish Premiership: Matches to be shown live on Sky only as new £160m TV deal struck". BBC Sport. BBC. Archived from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  48. ^ "SPFL play-offs on BBC Scotland". SPFL. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  49. ^ "Press Release". SPFL. 19 April 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.

External links[]

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