What a difference a year makes, with the SPFL split set to commence for Rangers

Rewind to April 2025 and Rangers season was finished in a competitive sense before the final five games of the SPFL split had got underway. 

The December before had seen Phillipe Clement’s team suffer a narrow defeat on penalties against Celtic in the League Cup. 

The awful, painful loss to Queen’s Park in the Scottish Cup sealed the Belgian’s fate, even if he limped on for a few weeks more. 

Barry Ferguson took up the reins and claimed the scalp of Fenerbahce in the Europa League round of 16, after a notable win at Parkhead in the league, but Athletic Bilbao in the quarter-final proved to be a step too far. 

2-0 on aggregate saw the Basques reach the last four, but this was a respectable showing.

Rangers had been so, so much worse, domestically. Abysmal.

'Some of the decisions baffle me' 😠
'I just want my club to get back to where it belongs' 🔵

Rangers' boss Barry Ferguson believes his side should have had two penalties against Athletic Bilbao 🥅

And speaks about his Rangers future 🔮#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/NQZRRvODwG

— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) April 17, 2025

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SPFL Split this time last year

After the 2nd leg in Spain on 17 April, Rangers fans were dreading the final few weeks. 

The following games were played out in what was such an underwhelming way to finish a campaign: 

St Mirren 2-2 Rangers

Rangers 1-1 Celtic

Rangers 4-0 Aberdeen

Rangers 3-1 Dundee United

Hibs 2-2 Rangers

What a difference a year makes, with the SPFL split about to commence to conclude the 2025/26 season and a great chance to deliver title number 56 at Ibrox.