2021–22 Scottish Premiership

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.

Scottish Premiership
Season2021–22
Dates31 July 2021 – May 2022
Matches played107
Goals scored265 (2.48 per match)
Top goalscorerTony Watt
9 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
7 games
Longest unbeaten runRangers
16 games
Longest winless runRoss County
10 games
Longest losing runAberdeen
Hibernian
5 games
Highest attendance56,052
Celtic 6–0 St Mirren (21 August 2021)
Lowest attendance1,039
St Mirren 1–2 Heart of Midlothian (7 August 2021)
2022–23 →
All statistics correct as of 14 December 2021.

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]

Teams

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

Promoted from the Championship

Relegated to the Championship

Stadia and locations
Aberdeen Celtic Dundee Dundee United
Pittodrie Stadium Celtic Park Dens Park Tannadice Park
Capacity: 20,866[2] Capacity: 60,506[3] Capacity: 11,220[4] Capacity: 14,209[5]
Heart of Midlothian
Location of teams in the 2021–22 Scottish Premiership
 Hibernian
Tynecastle Park Easter Road
Capacity: 20,099[6] Capacity: 20,400[7]
Livingston Motherwell
Almondvale Stadium Fir Park
Capacity: 10,122[8] Capacity: 13,742[9]
Rangers Ross County St Johnstone St Mirren
Ibrox Stadium Victoria Park McDiarmid Park St Mirren Park
Capacity: 51,082[10] Capacity: 6,540[11] Capacity: 10,673[12] Capacity: 8,023[13]

Personnel and kits
Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Aberdeen Stephen Glass Scott Brown[14] Adidas Saltire Energy
Celtic Ange Postecoglou Callum McGregor Adidas[15] Dafabet
Dundee James McPake Charlie Adam Macron[16] Crown Engineering Services[17]
Dundee United Tam Courts Mark Reynolds Macron Eden Mill St Andrews[18]
Heart of Midlothian Robbie Neilson Craig Gordon Umbro MND Scotland[19]
Hibernian David Gray (caretaker) Paul Hanlon Joma[20] Utilita[21]
Livingston David Martindale Nicky Devlin Joma Phoenix Drilling Ltd
Motherwell Graham Alexander Stephen O'Donnell Macron Paycare[22]
Rangers Giovanni van Bronckhorst James Tavernier Castore[23] 32Red
Ross County Malky Mackay Keith Watson Joma Ross-shire Engineering[24]
St Johnstone Callum Davidson Liam Gordon Macron Binn Group
St Mirren Jim Goodwin Joe Shaughnessy Joma Digby Brown[25]

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Celtic John Kennedy End of interim spell 15 May 2021[26] Pre-season Ange Postecoglou 10 June 2021[27]
Ross County John Hughes End of contract 24 May 2021[28] Malky Mackay 26 May 2021[29]
Dundee United Micky Mellon Mutual consent 25 May 2021[30] Tam Courts 7 June 2021[31]
Rangers Steven Gerrard Signed by Aston Villa 11 November 2021[32] 1st Giovanni van Bronckhorst 18 November 2021[33]
Hibernian Jack Ross Sacked 9 December 2021[34] 7th David Gray (caretaker) 9 December 2021[35]

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[lower-alpha 1]
1 Rangers 18 14 3 1 40 14 +26 45 Qualification for the Champions League play-off round[lower-alpha 2]
2 Celtic 18 13 2 3 39 11 +28 41 Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round
3 Heart of Midlothian 18 8 6 4 26 17 +9 30 Qualification for the Europa Conference League third qualifying round
4 Dundee United 18 7 4 7 15 19 −4 25 Qualification for the Europa Conference League second qualifying round
5 Motherwell 18 7 4 7 21 26 −5 25
6 Aberdeen 18 7 3 8 23 22 +1 24
7 Hibernian 18 6 5 7 20 21 −1 23
8 Livingston 18 5 4 9 14 23 −9 19
9 St Mirren 18 3 9 6 18 29 −11 18
10 Dundee 18 4 4 10 17 34 −17 16
11 Ross County 17 3 5 9 23 31 −8 14 Qualification for the Premiership play-off final
12 St Johnstone 17 3 5 9 9 18 −9 14 Relegation to the Championship
Updated to match(es) played on 15 December 2021. Source: [36][37]
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).[38]
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. Should 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
Rangers155311111111111111
Celtic1044656664422222222
Heart of Midlothian433233322233333333
Dundee United1166775553344444444
Motherwell987544446667555555
Aberdeen222467799886788766
Hibernian311122235555676677
Livingston1212121212910101099101010101198
St Mirren6911111010877778867889
Dundee51191091212121111111111111191010
Ross County7101091111111112121212121212121211
St Johnstone87888898810109999101112
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: [39]

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 15 December 2021

Top scorers
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Tony Watt Motherwell 9
2 Christian Ramirez Aberdeen 8
Kyogo Furuhashi Celtic
4 Liam Boyce Hearts 7
Martin Boyle Hibernian
Alfredo Morelos Rangers
7 Joe Aribo Rangers 6
Kemar Roofe Rangers
9 Jota Celtic 5
David Turnbull Celtic
Fashion Sakala Rangers
Regan Charles-Cook Ross County
Eamonn Brophy St Mirren

Hat-tricks
Main article: List of Scottish Professional Football League hat-tricks § Scottish Premiership
Player For Against Score Date Ref.
Kyogo Furuhashi Celtic Dundee 6–0 (H) 8 August 2021 [40]
David Turnbull Celtic St Mirren 6–0 (H) 21 August 2021 [41]
Fashion Sakala Rangers Motherwell 1–6 (A) 31 October 2021 [42]

Most assists
Rank Player Club Assists
1 James Tavernier Rangers 10
2 Paul McMullan Dundee 6
3 Anthony Ralston Celtic 5

Source:[43]

Awards
Month Manager of the Month Player of the Month
Manager Club Player Club
August Robbie Neilson Hearts Martin Boyle Hibernian
September Graham Alexander Motherwell Ian Harkes Dundee United
October Ange Postecoglou Celtic Jota Celtic
November Graham Alexander Motherwell

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.[44] BBC Scotland will broadcast the Premiership quarter-final and semi-final play-off ties.[45]

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.[46]

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. "Aberdeen Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  3. "Celtic Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  4. "Dundee Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  5. "Dundee United Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  6. "Heart of Midlothian Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  7. "Hibernian Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  8. "Livingston Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  9. "Motherwell Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 6 May 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  10. "Rangers Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  11. "Ross County Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 2 July 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  12. "St Johnstone Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  13. "St Mirren Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  14. "Scott Brown to lead the Dons as team captain". Aberdeen FC. 17 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  15. "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.
  16. "Dee sign with Macron". dundeefc.co.uk. 14 January 2019.
  17. "Crown Engineering Services become main club sponsor". dundeefc.co.uk. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  18. "DUNDEE UNITED SIGN PRINCIPAL PARTNERSHIP WITH EDEN MILL ST ANDREWS". Dundee United FC. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  19. "MND SCOTLAND NEW FRONT OF SHIRT PARTNER". Heart of Midlothian FC. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  20. "Hibernian announce new partnership with Joma Sport". Hibernian FC. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  21. "A new era, a new principal partner, welcome Utilita Energy". Hibernian FC. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  22. "Paycare are our new main sponsors". Motherwell FC. 14 August 2020. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  23. "Rangers Announce Historic New Partnership With Castore". Rangers FC. 17 May 2020. Archived from the original on 24 May 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  24. "New Kit Launches". Ross County FC. 22 June 2020. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  25. "St Mirren delighted to welcome Digby Brown as new principal sponsor". St Mirren FC. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  26. "Hibernian 0–0 Celtic". BBC Sport. 15 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  27. "Celtic: Ange Postecoglou confirmed as new manager of Scottish Premiership club". BBC Sport. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  28. "John Hughes: Ross County manager departs after securing Premiership safety". BBC Sport. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  29. "Ross County: Malky Mackay is appointed manager". BBC Sport. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  30. "Micky Mellon: Dundee United confirm manager exit after one season". BBC Sport. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  31. "Dundee United appoint Thomas Courts as head coach". BBC Sport. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  32. "Steven Gerrard: Aston Villa name Rangers boss as new manager". BBC Sport. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  33. "Giovanni van Bronckhorst: Rangers appoint former Arsenal, Barcelona & Netherlands player". BBC Sport. 18 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  34. "Hibernian: Jack Ross exits as head coach". BBC Sport. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  35. "Club Statement: Jack Ross". Hibernian FC. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  36. "Scottish Premiership Table". BBC. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  37. "cinch Premiership League Table". Scottish Prefessional Football League. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  38. "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  39. "Summary - Premiership". Soccerway. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  40. 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.
  41. 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.
  42. Duncan, Thomas (31 October 2021). "Rangers thrash Motherwell to extend lead". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  43. "BBC Top Assists". BBC. 28 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  44. 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.
  45. "SPFL play-offs on BBC Scotland". SPFL. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  46. "Press Release". SPFL. 19 April 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
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