Season review 2005/06

A remarkable season. Celtic started slowly and ended up as worthy champions, Hearts split the Old Firm for the first time since 1994/95 and attendances soared to 3.7m - the highest figure for top-flight football in Scotland since the 1960s.

The season kicked off with a thrilling 4-4 draw between Motherwell and Celtic at lunchtime on Saturday, July 30 and an incredible campaign was under way.

Rangers began the defence of their crown with a 3-0 win over Livingston at Ibrox but it was Hearts who made many of the early headlines under George Burley's astute management.

The Tynecastle club won their first eight games in the league before drawing 2-2 at SPL newcomers Falkirk. Their first defeat came at Easter Road at the end of October by which time Burley had unexpectedly departed.

Graham Rix followed as boss but he was later replaced by Valdas Ivanauskas in a dramatic campaign for the Vladimir Romanov-backed club.

Gordon Strachan's Celtic bounced back from some early setbacks and claimed a crucial comeback victory over Hearts at Tynecastle on New Year's Day.

They never looked back and clinched the Bank of Scotland Premierleague title with a 1-0 win over their nearest challengers just before the split.

Celtic enter the Champions League group phase as a result and they are joined in the competition by Hearts - who go in at the second qualifying round, a tangible reward for their runners-up spot.

Hearts also won the Scottish Cup for the first time since 1998 and Celtic lifted the CIS Cup.

It was a trophyless season for Rangers, who paid the price for some poor results in the autumn, but Alex McLeish's men made history by progressing to the knock-out phase of the Champions League where they were unlucky to lose to Villarreal on the away goals rule.

Hibernian finished fourth and looked on course for even better before injuries and the loss of striker Garry O'Connor to Lokomotiv Moscow hampered their bid.

Kilmarnock did supremely well to secure fifth spot under Jim Jefferies, despite the departure of key striker Kris Boyd to Rangers in January, and Aberdeen made up ground to reach the top six with a fine run of results.

Inverness were almost unbeatable on the road but couldn't quite replicate that form at home and topped the bottom half of the table after a superb run-in, while Motherwell played some good stuff but had to settle for eighth.

Dundee United endured a disappointing campaign and will hope for better in 2006/07 while Falkirk and Dunfermline retained their status.

Livingston were relegated, with St Mirren taking their place, after posting a record low points total of 18.

Another milestone was set, with Celtic's 8-1 win at Dunfermline in February a record winning margin in the SPL.

There was a managerial change at Dundee United, where Craig Brewster replaced Gordon Chisholm, and Charlie Christie stepped up to fill the gap left by Brewster at Inverness. John Robertson succeeded Paul Lambert at Livingston.

Rangers will start 2006/07 with a new manager in Paul Le Guen after Alex McLeish stepped down and Maurice Malpas has replaced Terry Butcher at Motherwell.

Awards:
Bank of Scotland Premierleague Champions: Celtic
Tennent's Scottish Cup Winners: Hearts
CIS Insurance Cup Winners: Celtic
SPFA Player of the Year: Shaun Maloney (Celtic)
SPFA Young Player of the Year: Shaun Maloney (Celtic)
SFWA Player of the Year: Craig Gordon (Hearts)
SFWA Young Player of Year: Steven Naismith (Kilmarnock)

Qualification for Europe:
Celtic
Hearts
Rangers