Europa League matchday four sees Olympiacos welcome Scottish giants Rangers to Greece on Thursday. Thrylos 7 International return with the latest edition of “Getting to Know You,” giving you the chance to familiarise yourself with the upcoming opponent.
Background
Rangers FC is a Scottish club based in Glasgow - Scotland’s largest city. Founded in 1872, Rangers have grown to become one of the most successful and storied clubs in Scottish and European football history.
Known by nicknames like "The Gers" and "The Teddy Bears", the team has worn their iconic blue home kit since the club’s early years, creating an enduring identity tied to their colours.
Rangers have intense rivalries, most notably with Celtic in a fixture famously known as the Old Firm derby. The two clubs dominate Scottish football and have a deeply-rooted rivalry that transcends sport, representing different cultural and historical backgrounds. Rangers also share rivalries with Aberdeen and Hearts, which contribute to Scotland’s fiercely competitive league atmosphere.
Rangers play at Ibrox Stadium, located in the southwest of the city. Opened in 1899, Ibrox has a seating capacity of just over 50,000, making it the third largest stadium in Scotland. Known for its classic design and passionate fanbase, Ibrox provides an electric atmosphere, especially on Old Firm days and during European competitions. The stadium has seen several upgrades over the years, yet at a time when many clubs are moving to modern, futuristic sporting arenas, Rangers’ fans would never want to leave Ibrox. It possesses historic charm with its unique and iconic red-brick façade.
Honours and European Experience
With 55 top-flight league titles to their name, Rangers are Scotland’s most successful club—a record they may not hold for much longer, with Celtic close behind on 54 titles. With an astonishing 109 league titles shared between them, it demonstrates the stranglehold the Old Firm has over Scottish football.
Rangers have also won the Scottish Cup 34 times (Celtic 42 times), with their most recent success coming in 2022. The Scottish League Cup currently resides in the Ibrox trophy cabinet, having beaten Aberdeen 1-0 in the final last December. That was the 28th occasion the club has claimed the League Cup—a national record (Celtic 21).
Interestingly, Rangers also hold a single league title for the Scottish fourth, third, and second tiers in 2013, 2014, and 2016 respectively. This is due to their relegation to the fourth tier in 2012 following administration and subsequent liquidation, forcing the club to rebuild from the bottom of the Scottish league system.
Rangers have a rich European pedigree, with a long history of continental football. They first competed in the 1956-57 European Cup, and this season marks their 60th year in European competitions.
Their greatest success came in the 1972 Cup Winners’ Cup, with a 3-2 win at Barcelona’s Camp Nou against Dynamo Moscow providing the club with its finest moment on the international stage. They have reached a European final a total of five times, finishing runners-up in the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1961 and 1967. The 21st century has seen them reach two Europa League finals: in 2008, where they lost 2-0 to Zenit Saint Petersburg, and in 2022, where they suffered an agonising penalty shootout loss to Eintracht Frankfurt after a 1-1 draw.
This will be the first UEFA meeting between Olympiacos and Rangers. However, Rangers have previously played against AEK, Panathinaikos and PAOK on at least one occasion. Their record against Greek opposition stands at P8 W1 D4 L3.
In the Hot Seat
Rangers are currently managed by Philippe Clement. A defender during his playing days, Clement spent most of his career with Club Brugge where his tactical acumen and leadership earned him respect in both the Belgian league and on the international stage with the Belgium national team.
Clement began his coaching career at Club Brugge, taking charge of the club’s Under-21 side after hanging up his playing boots. The Belgian moved on to manage Waasland-Beveren, followed by Genk, where he won the Belgian Pro League in 2019. This success quickly led to a return to Brugge as head coach, where he won two further league titles.
Following an unsuccessful stint at Monaco (Jan ‘22 - June ‘23), he was appointed by Rangers in October 2023. Clement has already made his mark, guiding the club to a Scottish League Cup victory in December. The 50-year-old's debut season has shown signs of the disciplined, attacking style that defines his career, and he aims to restore Rangers to the top of Scottish football. Time will tell if he can achieve his aim.
Route in Europe & Season-to-Date
Finishing as runners-up in the 2023-24 Scottish Premiership, Philippe Clement’s men entered the Champions League at the third qualifying round. They faced Dynamo Kyiv, but the Ukrainians proved too strong. A 1-1 draw away (played in Lublin, Poland) followed by a disappointing 0-2 defeat at Ibrox saw them exit the Champions League and move to the Europa League.
Rangers’ league phase campaign so far has an air of familiarity. Like Olympiacos, they enter matchday four with two wins and one loss. Their opponents in the opening rounds have been Malmö, Lyon, and FCSB, who will also face Olympiacos. Rangers started strong, scoring in the first minute against Malmö and securing a 0-2 win away. Matchday two saw Lyon head to Scotland and win 1-4 with ease. Most recently, Rangers scored four goals in a 4-0 home win over FCSB, putting themselves on six points at this stage of the competition.
Domestically, Rangers are having a disappointing season by their high standards. Their Belgian head coach is under increasing pressure. This past weekend, The Gers won 2-1 at Motherwell in the League Cup semi-final, setting up a showpiece final with Celtic. While this result may temporarily improve the mood, fortunes need to change rapidly in Scotland if Clement is to avoid dismissal.
After 10 games of the SPL season, Rangers sit in a disappointing third position, nine points off the pace. Falling behind Celtic is the cardinal sin for any Rangers boss, and the large gap this early in the season places Clement in a precarious position. The situation is compounded by Aberdeen’s strong season, as they remain undefeated and are tied with Celtic at the top of the table. Their recent success only highlights Rangers’ domestic struggles.
Some fans suggest that Rangers’ positive European campaign is the only reason Clement still holds his position. With two tough European away ties before facing a Premier League side at Ibrox, and a Celtic cup final on the horizon, Clement faces a challenging few weeks if he wants to ensure he’s still in charge at Christmas.
Players to Watch
As is typical for Scottish football, the Rangers squad features a core of domestic talent complemented by international players. The team has a well-rounded mix of seasoned professionals and promising young stars.
Key figures include captain James Tavernier, whose leadership and consistency have been pivotal, alongside central defender John Souttar and midfielder Nedim Bajrami, both of whom have featured heavily this season.
Rangers fans hope Bajrami’s recent form can turn their season around. The Albanian midfielder has scored in his last two appearances—scoring his side’s only goal in their 2-1 loss to Aberdeen and recently netting the winner to send Rangers to the Scottish League Cup final. The Swiss-born Albanian international arrived at Rangers in this summer’s transfer window and has played in every game since the September international break. Bajrami, who began his career with Grasshopper in Switzerland, went on to play for Empoli in Italy before joining Sassuolo in January 2023. The versatile 25-year-old is effective in multiple midfield positions but has predominantly played as a left midfielder this season under Clement.
Tavernier remains a vital part of the Rangers side. Now in his 10th season with The Gers, Tavernier is a set-piece specialist with an impressive 169 league-goal contributions from right-back. He scored 16 and 17 goals in the past two seasons respectively, and his experience is invaluable.
Scotland international Souttar is a key fixture in defence. Aside from last month’s match against St Mirren, where Souttar was rested on medical advice, he has played every minute of Rangers’ season to date. Now in his third season at Ibrox, Souttar has become Rangers’ mainstay at the back, leading the team for both accurate passes per game (92% in the league, 84% in Europe) and accurate long balls (5.4 in the league, 4.3 in Europe).
When comparing the two teams, Olympiacos appear to have greater quality within their squad. However, this should be treated with caution, as Scottish sides often perform better than the sum of their parts on big European nights, displaying the grit and determination for which they are well known.