2005–06 in Scottish football

The 2005–06 season was the 109th season of competitive football in Scotland.

Notable events

2005

*June 1: Gordon Strachan officially takes charge of Celtic after the resignation of Martin O'Neillcite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/4572091.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Strachan in for O'Neill at Celtic|date=2005-05-25]

*June 1: Former Celtic player Paul Lambert officially takes charge of Livingston following the resignation of Richard Gough.

*June 16: The SPL fine Livingston £15,000 for breaching transfer regulations after it emerged that amateur signing from last season, Hassan Kachloul, was paid money during his time at the club.

*June 30: George Burley is confirmed as the new manager of Hearts after days of discussions with Chief Executive Phil Anderton and major shareholder Vladimir Romanov.

*July 27: Celtic manager Gordon Strachan is under pressure after his first match in charge as Celtic are beaten 5-0 away to Artmedia Bratislava in the first leg of their Champions League second qualifying round match, all but ending their European hopes for the season.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/4718461.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Artmedia 5-0 Celtic|date=2005-07-27]

*August 2: Celtic crash out of Europe, despite beating Artmedia Bratislava 4-0 in the second leg of their Champions League qualifier.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4735857.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Celtic 4-0 Artmedia Bratislava|date=2005-08-02]

*August 7: Hearts demonstrate their SPL title-challenge credentials as they claim a 4–0 home victory over local rivals Hibernian.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/4748451.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Hearts 4-0 Hibernian|date=2005-08-07]

*October 22: Despite their unbeaten start to the SPL season, Hearts Manager George Burley departs from his position just hours before their league match with Dunfermline. A club statement after the game declared that the departure of Burley had been mutually agreed and that there were "irreconcilable differences" between him and the Hearts board. Throughout his short spell in charge rumours persisted about an uneasy relationship between Burley and major shareholder Vladimir Romanov with Romanov having bought players without the consent of the Manager.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4367202.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Burley in shock exit from Hearts|date=2005-10-22]

*November 6: St. Mirren win the first trophy of the season beating Hamilton Academical 2–1 in the Challenge Cup final.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/4403942.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=St Mirren 2-1 Hamilton Accies|date=2005-11-06]

*November 8: Graham Rix is appointed as Hearts new Head Coach.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4416826.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Hearts unveil Rix as head coach|date=2005-11-08]

*November 14: Rangers Chairman David Murray gives his short-term backing to under-fire Manager Alex McLeish despite recent poor results.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/4436758.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=McLeish given short-term backing|date=2005-11-14]

*December 6: Rangers become first Scottish club to reach the Champions League knock-out stages after drawing 1-1 with Inter Milan at Ibrox.

2006

*January 10: Gordon Chisholm is sacked as Manager of Dundee United.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee_utd/4592588.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Dundee United sack boss Chisholm|date=2006-01-10]

*January 13: Dundee United appoint Inverness Manager Craig Brewster at the helm after the sacking of Gordon Chisholm.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/i/inverness_ct/4599822.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Brewster takes over at Tannadice|date=2006-01-13]

*January 19: Wolves and Scotland striker Kenny Miller signs a pre-contract agreement to play for Celtic from next season. The former Rangers player will become only the third man to play for both Old Firm clubs since the Second World War.

*January 27: Inverness coach and former player Charlie Christie is appointed as the club's new manager.

*February 8: Hearts principal shareholder Vladimir Romanov agrees to a meeting requested by the Hearts players, following speculation that Romanov had selected the team in the previous two matches, Manager Graham Rix meanwhile, refused to confirm or deny the speculation.

*February 9: Rangers Chairman David Murray confirms that manager Alex McLeish will leave the club at the end of the current season. He also stated that an announcement regarding a new manager and significant levels of investment into the club will be made in March.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/4697444.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=McLeish to leave Rangers in May|date=2006-02-09]

*February 11: Livingston Manager Paul Lambert resigns after defeat at home to Dunfermline left them six points adrift at the bottom of the table having taken just 12 points from 26 games.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/livingston/4699226.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Lambert stands down as Livi boss|date=2006-02-11]

*February 15: Livingston appoint former player John Robertson as their new Manager.

*March 8: Rangers Chairman David Murray's announces a 10 year licence agreement with sports retailer JJB Sports. Rangers will net an initial £18m and a minimum of £3m each year on royalty fees for the duration of the licence.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/4788114.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Rangers reveal £48m retail deal|date=2006-03-08,]

*March 11: Rangers confirm that former Olympique Lyonnais manager Paul Le Guen will succeed Alex McLeish at the start of the 2006-07 season, signing a three year contract.

*March 13: Former Celtic legend Jimmy Johnstone dies at the age of 61 after a long battle with motor neurone disease.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/4800766.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Celtic great Johnstone dies at 61|date=2006-03-13]

*March 19: Celtic win the League Cup, beating Dunfermline 3–0 at Hampden Park.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/4807338.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Dunfermline 0-3 Celtic|date=2006-03-19]

*March 23: Hearts sack head coach Graham Rix after just 4 months in charge. Valdas Ivanauskas was appointed as head coach for the interimcite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4832716.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Rix sacked as Hearts head coach|date=2006-03-22]

*March 25: Gretna win the Second Division and are promoted to the First Division with their second successive promotion.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/4837072.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Gretna 2–1 Alloa Athletic|date=2006-03-25]

*April 5: Celtic win the SPL after beating 2nd placed Hearts 1–0 at Celtic Park.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/4873944.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Celtic 1-0 Hearts|date=2006-04-05]

*April 16: St. Mirren win promotion to the SPL after a 2–1 win over Dundee.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/4910630.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=St. Mirren 2-1 Dundee|date=2006-04-15]

*April 29: Livingston are relegated from the SPL after a 1–0 defeat to Inverness Caledonian Thistle.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/4948766.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Livingston 0-1 Inverness CT|date=2006-04-29] Meanwhile, Cowdenbeath clinch the Third Division title after beating Elgin City 2-1.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/4948842.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Cowdenbeath 2-1 Elgin City|date=2006-04-29]

*May 3: Hearts clinch second place and a spot in the Champions League qualifiers with a 1–0 home win over Aberdeen. This marks the first time since the 1994-95 season that the Old Firm clubs have failed to finish in the top two places in the SPL. Hearts' win also ensures that Gretna will play European football next season in the UEFA Cup.

*May 13: Hearts win the Scottish Cup 4–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw with Second Division champions Gretna.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/4764967.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Hearts 1-1 Gretna (4-2 on pens|date=2006-05-13]

Major transfer deals

2005

*June 3 2005 - Lee Miller from Bristol City to Dundee United, £225,000

*June 9 2005 - Ian Murray from Hibernian to Rangers, Free

*June 13 2005 - Jamie Smith from ADO Den Haag to Aberdeen, Free

*June 14 2005 - Brahim Hemdani from Marseille to Rangers, Free

*June 14 2005 - Jackie McNamara from Celtic to Wolves, Free

*June 16 2005 - Paul Tierney from Manchester United to Livingston, Free

*June 21 2005 - Mohammed Camara from Burnley to Celtic, Free

*June 30 2005 - Michael Stewart from Manchester United to Hibernian, Free

*July 1 2005 - Jérémie Aliadière from Arsenal to Celtic, Loan

*July 5 2005 - Jose-Karl Pierre-Fanfan from Paris Saint Germain to Rangers, Free

*July 6 2005 - Mark Burchill from Hearts to Dunfermline, Free

*July 7 2005 - Maciej Żurawski from Wisła Kraków to Celtic, £2m

*July 7 2005 - Derek Stillie from Dunfermline to Dundee United, Undisclosed fee

*July 7 2005 - Barry Nicholson from Dunfermline to Aberdeen, Undisclosed fee (reportedly £250,000)

*July 8 2005 - Federico Nieto from Club Almagro to Rangers, Loan

*July 13 2005 - Artur Boruc from Legia Warszawa to Celtic, Loan

*July 14 2005 - Steve Lovell from Dundee to Aberdeen, Undisclosed fee (reportedly £250,000)

*July 19 2005 - Rudolf Skácel from Marseille to Hearts, Loan

*July 20 2005 - Adam Virgo from Brighton to Celtic, £1.5m

*July 21 2005 - Paul Telfer from Southampton to Celtic, Undisclosed fee

*July 25 2005 - Edgaras Jankauskas from FBK Kaunas to Hearts, Loan

*July 29 2005 - Shunsuke Nakamura from Reggina to Celtic, £2.5m

*August 4 2005 - Julien Rodriguez from Monaco to Rangers, £1m

*August 12 2005 - David Fernández from Celtic to Dundee United, Free

*August 30 2005 - Sotirios Kyrgiakos from Panathinaikos to Rangers, Free

*August 31 2005 - Maurice Ross from Rangers to Sheffield Wednesday, season Loan

*August 31 2005 - Zurab Khizanishvili from Rangers to Blackburn Rovers, season Loan

*August 31 2005 - Francis Jeffers from Charlton Athletic to Rangers, six month Loan

*August 31 2005 - Samuel Almeida Camazzola from Juventude to Hearts, season Loan

*August 31 2005 - Du Wei from Shanghai Shenhua to Celtic, Loan

*August 31 2005 - Michael Ball from Rangers to PSV Eindhoven, Free

*August 31 2005 - Filippo Maniero from Torino to Rangers, Free

*September 1 2005 - Olivier Bernard from Southampton to Rangers, Free

2006

*January 1 2006 - Kris Boyd from Kilmarnock to Rangers, Undisclosed fee (reportedly £400,000)

*January 1 2006 - Roy Keane from Manchester United to Celtic, Free

*January 3 2006 - Wes Hoolahan from Shelbourne to Livingston, £100,000

*January 5 2006 - Chris Sutton from Celtic to Birmingham City, Free

*January 10 2006 - Steven Thompson from Rangers to Cardiff City, Undisclosed fee (reportedly £250,000)

*January 10 2006 - Darryl Duffy from Falkirk to Hull City, Undisclosed fee

*January 11 2006 - Steven Hislop from Gillingham to Livingston, Undisclosed fee (reportedly Nominal)

*January 11 2006 - Lee Johnson from Yeovil Town to Hearts, Nominal fee

*January 13 2006 - Nerijus Barasa from FBK Kaunas to Hearts, six month Loan

*January 16 2006 - Mark Wilson from Dundee United to Celtic, Undisclosed fee (reportedly £500,000)

*January 17 2006 - Neil McCann from Southampton to Hearts, Free

*January 24 2006 - Chris Hackett from Oxford United to Hearts, £20,000

*January 26 2006 - Chris Killen from Oldham Athletic to Hibernian, Free

*January 26 2006 - Neil MacFarlane from Hearts to Aberdeen, Free

*January 27 2006 - Scott Muirhead from Aberdeen to Dunfermline, Free

*January 27 2006 - Andy Campbell from Cardiff City to Dunfermline, Free

*January 27 2006 - Stephen Simmons from Hearts to Dunfermline, Free

*January 30 2006 - Dion Dublin from Leicester City to Celtic, Free

*January 31 2006 - José Gonçalves from FBK Kaunas to Hearts, Loan

*January 31 2006 - Juho Mäkelä from HJK Helsinki to Hearts, Free

*January 31 2006 - Bruno Aguiar from FBK Kaunas to Hearts, Loan

*January 31 2006 - Mirsad Bešlija from Racing Genk to Hearts, £850,000

*January 31 2006 - Lindsay Wilson from PSV Eindhoven to Kilmarnock, Loan

*January 31 2006 - Paul Dalglish from Livingston to Hibernian, Nominal fee

*January 31 2006 - Luděk Stracený from FBK Kaunas to Hearts, Loan

*January 31 2006 - Martin Petráš from FBK Kaunas to Hearts, Loan

*January 31 2006 - Ferne Snoyl from Feyenoord to Aberdeen, Loan

*March 8 2006 - Garry O'Connor from Hibernian to Lokomotiv Moscow, £1.6m

League Competitions

cottish Premier League

The Scottish Premier League 2005–06 season finished in May 2006 with Celtic as champions. Livingston were relegated to the First Division and First Division winners St. Mirren were promoted. For the first time in 11 years, when Celtic finished fourth behind Rangers, Motherwell and Hibernian, the Old Firm were separated with Rangers finishing third behind Hearts. Kris Boyd was the top scorer with 32 goals (15 for Kilmarnock and 17 for Rangers). Attendances went up to 3.7 million, the highest figure in top-flite Scottish football since the 1960s.

cottish Third Division

Junior honours

cottish clubs in Europe

ummary

Hibernian

;Key
* (A) = Away match
* (H) = Home match
* F = Friendly
* WCQ5 = World Cup Qualifying - Group 5

Deaths

*Jimmy Johnstone, 61, former Celtic player and part of the Lisbon Lions.

Notes and references

ee also

SPL team seasons
*Celtic F.C. season 2005-06
*Rangers F.C. season 2005-06
*Dundee United F.C. season 2005-06

First Division team seasons
*Clyde F.C. season 2005-06

External links

* [http://www.scotprem.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Home/0,,10002,00.html Scottish Premier League official website]
* [http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/ Scottish Football League official website]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/default.stm BBC Scottish Premier League portal]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/default.stm BBC Scottish Football League portal]