It may not be as well known, or receive the same global attention, as England’s FA Cup, or even Spain’s Copa del Rey, but the Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup, affectionately known as the Scottish Cup, dates back to 1873-74, making it the oldest national and football competition in the world.
Ever since Queens Park took home the first Cup ever awarded in 1874, the competition has seen some of the most dramatic matches in world football. Inverness Caledonian Thistle, a small club from the Scottish Highlands (their home ground seats just 6,500 spectators), are the current holders, but that will change after this year’s Final, on May 21, at Glasgow’s Hampden Park. Glasgow Rangers, who have won the Cup 33 times and have appeared in 51 finals, will look to cap their renaissance as a club with a victory over Hibernian, the Edinburgh side established in 1875 that last won the competition in 1902 and has appeared in just 13 finals.
For the record, Celtic have won the Scottish Cup a record 36 times, after appearing in 54 finals.
Here are some of the most memorable Scottish Cup finals in recent memory:
1. Rangers 3, Celtic 2 – 2002
Peter Lovenkrands scores the winner for the Ibrox side in a hotly contested Old Firm Final.
2. Rangers 1, Celtic 0 – 1999
A goal by Rod Wallace was enough to give the blue side of Glasgow the victory in this hard-tackling, defense-first Final.
3. Hearts of Midlothian 2, Rangers 1 – 1998
Hibernian’s Edinburgh rivals Hearts have won the Cup eight times. This victory over Rangers in a Final held at Celtic Park in Glasgow gave them their sixth title.
4. Celtic 1, Rangers 0 – 1989
In another bitter Old Firm battle, Celtic stopped their rivals from winning the domestic treble in this gripping Final, won on a goal by Joe Miller.
5. Rangers 3, Hibernian 2 – 1979
Hibs supporters will tell you their club is cursed when it comes to the Cup. It took three legs to decide a winner in this epic Final, recalled by former Hibee Jim McArthur.
6. Celtic 1, Rangers 0 – 1980
This Final ended in a riot, and with a Celtic victory on a late winner by George McCluskey.
7. Celtic 1, Rangers 0 – 1977
Andy Lynch netted the winner, giving legendary Hoops manager Jock Stein his 25th and last major trophy as bench boss at Parkhead.
8. Rangers 3, Celtic 2 – 1973
Rangers took the 1973 Cup in a slugfest before 122,000-plus at Hampden.
9. Rangers 1, Celtic 0 – 1966 (tie)
It took two legs for Rangers to take home the Cup against their rivals from across the Clyde. Alas, they don’t do replays in the Final anymore.
10. Aberdeen 0 (9), Celtic 0 (8) – 1990 (tie)
Alex Ferguson was long gone, but Aberdeen were still a top team in Scotland. It took 17 penalty kicks to give the Dons the Cup in this one.
11. Celtic 3, Dunfermline 2 – 1965
Jock Stein leads his Hoops side to victory over his former club, Dunfermline.
