Scottish Premier League 1999-2000

Infobox Football league season
competition = Bank of Scotland Premier League
season = 1999–2000
winners = Rangers
promoted =
relegated = No relegation
continentalcup1 = Champions League
continentalcup1 qualifiers = Rangers
continentalcup2 = UEFA Cup
continentalcup2 qualifiers = Celtic, Hearts
continentalcup3 = Intertoto Cup
continentalcup3 qualifiers = "None"
league topscorer = Mark Viduka (25)
total goals = 528
average goals = 2.93
biggest home win = Celtic 7–0 Aberdeen (16 Oct)
biggest away win = Dundee 1–7 Rangers (27 Feb)
Aberdeen 0–6 Celtic (11 Dec)
highest attendance = 60,253, Celtic 3–0 St. Johnstone (07 Aug)
lowest attendance = 4,039, Dundee 0–0 Kilmarnock (26 Jan)
average attendance = 17,944
prevseason = 1998–99
nextseason = 2000–01The 1999–2000 Scottish Premier League was the second season of the Scottish Premier League. It began in on 31 July 1999.

Overview

The 1999–2000 Scottish Premier League was won by Rangers for the second successive year, finishing 21 points ahead of nearest rivals Celtic. As the SPL was being expanded to 12 teams, the bottom finishing side were to face the second and third finishing sides from the first division, in a three team play-off. However, due to Falkirk's stadium not meeting SPL requirements, Aberdeen remained in the SPL and Dunfermline were promoted automatically from second position. As champions, Rangers qualified for the Champions League while Celtic and third-placed Hearts qualified for the UEFA Cup.

Celtic entered the season under new management with former Liverpool player John Barnes taking charge in June 1999.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/scottish_premier/365579.stm|publisher=BBC News|title=Dalglish back at Parkhead |date=1999-06-10|accessdate=2008-04-20] It proved to be a brief and unsuccessful reign, however, after being sacked in February 2000 in the wake of a Scottish Cup defeat to First Division Inverness Caledonian Thistle.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/637415.stm|publisher=BBC News|title=Barnes forced out|date=2000-02-10|accessdate=2008-04-20]

Promotion and relegation from 1998–99

Promoted from First Division to Premier League
*Hibernian

Relegated from Premier League to First Division
*Dunfermline Athletic

Events

*April 22: Rangers win the SPL title after Celtic are held to a 1–1 draw at home to Hibernian.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/scottish_premier/722799.stm|publisher=BBC News|title=Rangers handed Scottish crown|date=2000-04-24|accessdate=2008-04-21] It is Rangers' 11th Scottish title in 12 years.

Table

Source: [http://www.scotprem.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Attendance/0,,10002~19993,00.html SPL official website]

Managerial changes

References

* [http://www.scotprem.premiumtv.co.uk/page/SeasonReview/0,,10002~674662,00.html Season Review - ScotPrem.co.uk]

ee also

*1999-00 in Scottish football
*Rangers F.C. season 1999-00
*Dundee United FC Season 1999-00