Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Rangers, Celtic, Premier League, Scottish Premiership
Ryan Smart
Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers have never been a part of the English football pyramid - but we've simulated what might happen if they were added to it.
There has been a long debate over how Scotland's two biggest and most successful clubs would perform if they were inserted into an English men's league.
That debate has now extended to women's football, with The Times' Molly Hudson reporting that the two clubs have held 'initial talks' over joining the Women's Super League.
Such a move would cause even more significant controversy, as it is Glasgow City - not Celtic or Rangers - that are Scotland's most successful club, with 16 top division titles to their name since the Scottish Women's Premier League began in 2002.
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On Thursday evening, Rangers' men's team lost 2-1 to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
While United should have arguably finished the game off earlier than Bruno Fernandes' stoppage-time winner, Philippe Clement's side kept themselves in the match and equalised through Cyril Dessers after Jack Butland's own goal had given the hosts the lead.
Following the match, we added Celtic and Rangers to the English Premier League using Football Manager 2024 - and here's what the simulation came up with:
In an outcome that may surprise fans, Celtic were relegated from the top flight of English football in their first season.
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Brendan Rodgers' side did rack up 26 points, with six victories, but that wasn't enough to keep them up.
Five of Celtic's six wins came at home, including a shock 2-1 victory over Chelsea, while their sole away victory was a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest in May that maintained hope of survival.
They did reach the fifth round of the FA Cup, where they lost to Southampton, but suffered a third round exit in the Carabao Cup to Leicester. Champions League success wasn't forthcoming either as the Scottish giants were dumped out in the group stage.
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Rangers, though, were an altogether different story - and an outcome that would shock fans based on their real-life record this season.
Philippe Clement's side managed to stay up by a point, thanks to winning eight and drawing 11 matches across the season.
They finished comfortably ahead of their Old Firm rivals by nine points, though did lose at Celtic Park and could only draw 1-1 in the reverse league clash at Ibrox.
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Rangers picked up five away wins in the league, with the most impressive of those being a 2-1 win over Newcastle at St James' Park.
They only won one match at home, but no side put more than three goals past the Gers at Ibrox.
Like Celtic, though, Rangers had a mixed season in the cups, only reaching the fourth round of the FA Cup but matching that run in the Carabao Cup, where they lost to Manchester United.
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Which division do you think Celtic and Rangers would be competitive in if they entered the English football pyramid? Let us know in the comments below.