Uefa
Co-efficients
Celtic and Rangers were two of the
finest teams in Europe during this decade. This text, of course, is about Old
Firm matches but it is important to contextualise any period under scrutiny.
Had UEFA coefficients existed at this time, the tally for both teams would have
been:
Year 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 Total
Celtic 15 18 1 7 14 11 13 79
Rangers 0 18 7 15 3 1 16 60
Year 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 Total
Celtic 10 23 15 8 1 13 12
80 Seville
Rangers 11.5 4 6 7 13 14 22 77.5 Manchester
At first glance these records appear
comparable but like so many statistics there is more to it. The achievements
between 1966 and 1972 were secured by playing many fewer games. When Celtic won
the European Cup, they played 9 matches, but were required to play 15 to reach
the UEFA Cup Final in Seville in 2003 (this includes 2 Champions League
qualifiers against Basel). On reaching the Champions League last 16 in 2006
Rangers played 10 including a qualifier against Anarthosis Famagusta. Rangers
won 14 points for their efforts in reaching the last 16, yet only 16 points for
winning the Cup Winners Cup in 1972 playing nine matches. Note also that both
teams reached two finals each in the first period and just one each in the
second.
In seasons 1966/67 and 1971/72 Scotland
was the highest ranked country in UEFA. It should be mentioned that Kilmarnock
in 1967 and Dundee and St Johnstone in 1972 made significant contributions.
Nonetheless, the game in Scotland was buoyant with attendances at their highest
for some time.
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