2020–21 in Scottish football explained

Country:Scotland
Season:2020–21
Prevseason:2019–20
Nextseason:2021–22
Flagicon:yes
Bodyclass:football
Headerstyle:background:#BFD7FF
Above:2020–21 in Scottish football
Header1:Premiership champions
Data2:Rangers
Header3:Championship champions
Data4:Heart of Midlothian
Header5:League 1 champions
Data6:Partick Thistle
Header7:League 2 champions
Data8:Queen's Park
Header9:Scottish Cup winners
Data10:St Johnstone
Header11:League Cup winners
Data12:St Johnstone
Header13:Challenge Cup winners
Data14:Tournament cancelled[1]
Header15:Teams in Europe
Data16:Celtic, Rangers, Motherwell, Aberdeen
Header17:Scotland national team
Data18:2020–21 UEFA Nations League B
UEFA Euro 2020
2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

The 2020–21 season was the 124th season of competitive football in Scotland. The domestic season began on 1 August 2020 with the first round of matches in the 2020–21 Scottish Premiership. The start of all other domestic competitions were delayed until at least October 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and most games were played behind closed doors due to Scottish Government restrictions.

Transfer deals

See main article: List of Scottish football transfers summer 2020 and List of Scottish football transfers winter 2020–21.

Due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the football calendar, the summer window for transfers in Scotland ran from 14 July to 5 October.[2] Those dates used the full 12-week period permitted by FIFA, and the governing bodies also authorised clubs outside the Premiership to make loan signings during October 2020.[3]

League competitions

Scottish Premiership

See main article: 2020–21 Scottish Premiership.

Scottish Championship

See main article: 2020–21 Scottish Championship.

Scottish League One

See main article: 2020–21 Scottish League One.

Scottish League Two

See main article: 2020–21 Scottish League Two.

Non-league football

Level 5

See main article: article, 2020–21 Highland Football League and 2020–21 Lowland Football League.

Level 6

See main article: article, 2020–21 East of Scotland Football League, 2020–21 South of Scotland Football League and 2020–21 West of Scotland Football League.

Honours

Cup honours

The Old Firm teams (Celtic and Rangers) were eliminated from both national cup competitions before the semi-final stage, the first time this had occurred since the introduction of the Scottish League Cup 75 years earlier.[4] St Johnstone won both tournaments, becoming the first non-Old Firm side to win a "cup double" since Aberdeen in 1989 - 90.

width=180Competitionwidth=140Winner width=80Scorewidth=140Runner-up Match report
2020–21 Scottish CupSt Johnstone1 - 0HibernianBBC Sport
2020–21 League CupSt Johnstone1 - 0LivingstonThe Guardian
2020–21 Challenge CupTournament cancelled
Tournament cancelled at the third round stage[5]
2020–21 Youth CupTournament cancelled
2020–21 Junior CupTournament cancelled

Non-league honours

Senior

Levelwidth=180Competitionwidth=150Winner
5Highland LeagueBrora Rangers[6]
Lowland LeagueKelty Hearts[7]
6Null and void
South of Scotland LeagueNull and void
Null and void[8]
7Null and void
West of Scotland League Tier 7Null and void
North Caledonian League Division One
North Caledonian League Division TwoAlness United

Junior

East Region
width=230Divisionwidth=150Winner
East Region Premiership NorthNull and void[9]
East Region Premiership South
North Region
width=230Divisionwidth=150Winner
Aberdeen NorthNull and void
Aberdeen South
Banff and Buchan
West

Individual honours

PFA Scotland awards

width=210Awardwidth=150Winnerwidth=180Team
Players' Player of the YearJames Tavernier[10] Rangers
Young Player of the YearDavid TurnbullCeltic
Manager of the YearSteven GerrardRangers
Championship Player of YearLiam BoyceHeart of Midlothian

SFWA awards

width=210Awardwidth=150Winnerwidth=140Team
Footballer of the YearSteven Davis[11] Rangers
Young Player of the YearJosh Doig[12] Hibernian
Manager of the YearSteven Gerrard[13] Rangers
International Player of the YearJohn McGinn[14] [15] Aston Villa

Scottish clubs in Europe

See main article: 2020–21 UEFA Champions League and 2020–21 UEFA Europa League.

Summary

Due to scheduling pressures caused by the coronavirus pandemic, qualifying rounds were played over just one tie instead of the usual two-leg format.[16]

ClubCompetitionsStarted roundFinal roundCoef.
CelticUEFA Champions LeagueFirst qualifying roundSecond qualifying round8.0
UEFA Europa LeagueThird qualifying roundGroup stage
RangersUEFA Europa LeagueSecond qualifying roundRound of 1619.5
MotherwellUEFA Europa LeagueFirst qualifying roundThird qualifying round3.0
AberdeenUEFA Europa LeagueFirst qualifying roundThird qualifying round3.5
Total34.0
Average8.5
* Season in progress

Celtic

UEFA Champions League

Celtic entered the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League in the first qualifying round.

UEFA Europa League

Having lost in the second qualifying round of the Champions League, Celtic entered the Europa League in its third round of qualifying.[17]

Qualifying
Group stage

Rangers

UEFA Europa League

Rangers entered the UEFA Europa League in the second round of qualifying.

Qualifying
Group stage
Knockout Stage

Motherwell

UEFA Europa League

Motherwell entered the UEFA Europa League at the first qualifying round.[18]

Aberdeen

UEFA Europa League

Aberdeen entered the UEFA Europa League in the first qualifying round as fourth-place finishers in the 2019–20 Scottish Premiership,[18] as the 2019–20 Scottish Cup was not completed by the UEFA deadline.

Scotland national team

See main article: Scotland national football team 2020–39 results. The Scotland national team qualified for their first major tournament in over two decades (since the 1998 World Cup) by winning through the Euro 2020 play-offs, defeating Israel and Serbia in penalty shootouts.[19]

Women's football

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 women's season was declared null and void in July 2020.[20]

A new season (2020–21) started in October 2020 and ended in July 2021;[20] Scottish Women's Football thus returned to the autumn–spring calendar for the first time since 2008–09.

League and Cup honours

width=245Divisionwidth=150Winner
2020 SWPL 1/2Null and void
2020 SWF Championship (North/South)Null and void
2020–21 SWPL 1Glasgow City[21]
2020–21 SWPL 2Aberdeen[22]
2020–21 SWF Championship (North)Null and void[23]
2020–21 SWF Championship (South)Null and void
width=245Competitionwidth=150Winnerwidth=80Scorewidth=150Runner-upMatch report
Scottish Women's CupNot contested in 2020 or 2020–21[24]
Scottish Women's Premier League Cup2020 edition cancelled at the quarter-final stage;
not contested in 2020–21
SWF Championship Cup2020 edition cancelled at the quarter-final stage;
not contested in 2020–21
2020 Scottish Women's Football League CupCancelled at the group stage[25]

Individual honours

SWPL awards

width=200Awardwidth=140Winnerwidth=140Team
Players' Player of the Year
Player of the Year
Manager of the Year
Young Player of the Year

Scottish Women's Premier League

See main article: 2020 Scottish Women's Premier League.

SWPL 1
  • SWPL 2

    • UEFA Women's Champions League

    Glasgow City

    Glasgow City entered the 2020–21 UEFA Women's Champions League in the first qualifying round.

    Scotland women's national team

    See main article: Scotland women's national football team results (2020–present).

    Deaths

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Scottish Challenge Cup cancelled for season 2020-21 . BBC Sport . BBC . 2 October 2020 . 3 October 2020.
    2. Web site: Coronavirus – Joint Response Group Update 14 July . www.scottishfa.co.uk . Scottish Football Association . 14 July 2020 . 14 July 2020.
    3. Web site: Scottish transfer window open from 14 July to 5 October . BBC Sport . BBC . 14 July 2020 . 14 July 2020.
    4. News: St Johnstone upset over Rangers means new first for Scottish football . . 26 April 2021.
    5. Web site: South Region Challenge Cup update! . Twitter . 26 April 2021.
    6. News: Brora declared Highland League champions after season is curtailed . Paul . Third . Press & Journal . 30 March 2021 . 30 March 2021.
    7. Web site: Finalising season 2020/21 . www.slfl.co.uk . Lowland Football League . 30 March 2021 . 30 March 2021.
    8. News: West of Scotland Football League season has been cancelled . 30 March 2021 . 17 March 2021 . Euan . Robertson. Daily Record. en.
    9. 1371928138524069890. eastregion_sjfa. Following today's update from the Scottish Government stating that adult contact training/football will not be allowed until 17th May 2021, the management committee of the Scottish Junior FA have decided to end season 2020/2021 and declare all competitions null & void.. East Region SJFA.
    10. Web site: Rangers: Steven Gerrard and James Tavernier win PFA Scotland awards . BBC Sport . 16 May 2021 . 16 May 2021.
    11. Web site: Davis crowned Player of the Year . SFWA . 16 May 2021 . 16 May 2021.
    12. News: Josh Doig emulates Kieran Tierney as Hibs star follows his idol's footsteps to scoop SFWA Young Player of the Year . Scott . McDermott . Sunday Mail . 9 May 2021 . 9 May 2021.
    13. Web site: Steven Gerrard: Rangers boss wins Scottish writers' manager award . BBC Sport . BBC . 12 May 2021 . 12 May 2021.
    14. News: Aston Villa star John McGinn on the 'criminally underrated' Scotland player set to miss Euro 2020. Moira . Gordon . The Scotsman. 18 May 2021 . 18 May 2021.
    15. News: John McGinn: New generation can shine at Euros . Paul . Forsyth . The Times . 18 May 2021 . 18 May 2021.
    16. News: Aberdeen to play one-legged ties in Europa League qualifying next season . Sean . Wallace . Press & Journal . 17 June 2020 . 19 August 2020.
    17. Web site: Europa League: Scottish sides learn third-round opponents . BBC Sport . BBC . 1 September 2020 . 1 September 2020.
    18. Web site: Europa League: Aberdeen & Motherwell discover opponents . BBC Sport . BBC . 20 August 2020 . 21 August 2020.
    19. Web site: Euro 2020: Scotland have qualified... but what happens now for national team? . BBC Sport . BBC . 12 November 2020 . 13 November 2020.
    20. Web site: SWPL season declared null and void after one round of games . Jane . Lewis . BBC Sport . BBC . 29 July 2020 . 29 July 2020.
    21. Web site: Glasgow City secure 14th successive SWPL title as Celtic finish second . BBC Sport . 6 June 2021 . 6 June 2021.
    22. Web site: #SBSSWPL 2: Aberdeen 4-2 Boroughmuir Thistle . SWPL . https://web.archive.org/web/20210705083622/https://www.womenspremierleague.co.uk/news/sbsswpl-2-aberdeen-v-boroughmuir-210704/ . 5 July 2021 . 5 July 2021.
    23. Web site: 5 May 2021. SWF Statement – Senior Performance Arm update (29/04/21). SWPL. 5 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210429133101/https://www.womenspremierleague.co.uk/news/swf-statement-senior-performance-arm-update-29-04-21/. 29 April 2021.
    24. Web site: LEAGUE START DATE ANNOUNCED WITH ENHANCED BROADCAST DEAL . Scottish Women's Football . 29 July 2020 . 29 July 2020.
    25. Web site: #SWFLCup - Group Stage Draw . SWF . 27 Jan 2020.
    26. News: Former Motherwell star Pat Quinn has passed away . Andy . McGilvray . 13 July 2020 . 13 July 2020 . Daily Record .
    27. Web site: Eddie Beaton . 2020-07-15 . 2020-07-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200715170309/https://gmfc.net/2020/07/13/eddie-beaton/ . dead .
    28. https://www.stmirren.com/all-news/3725-st-mirren-saddened-to-hear-of-passing-of-hugh-mclaughlin ST MIRREN SADDENED TO HEAR OF PASSING OF HUGH MCLAUGHLIN
    29. Web site: David Hagen: Ex-Rangers player dies aged 47 after MND battle . BBC Sport . BBC . 25 July 2020 . 25 July 2020.
    30. News: Former Portsmouth assistant manager Willie Hunter dies aged 80 . Portsmouth News . 4 August 2020 . 4 August 2020.
    31. Web site: JACKIE WREN: HIS MEMORY MARCHES ON . www.hibernianfc.co.uk . Hibernian FC . 14 August 2020 . 14 August 2020 . 13 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200913054724/http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/10705 . dead .
    32. Web site: Tom Forsyth: Former Motherwell, Rangers & Scotland defender dies at age 71 . BBC Sport . BBC . 14 August 2020 . 15 August 2020.
    33. Web site: Pat McCluskey: Ex-Celtic, Dumbarton, Airdrie & QoS player dies at 68 . BBC Sport . BBC . 25 August 2020 . 25 August 2020.
    34. https://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/2020/september/archie-irvine-1949-2020/ Archie Irvine (1946-2020)
    35. Web site: James (Jim) townsend.
    36. Web site: En af de største har takket af . brondby.com . . 23 October 2020 . da . 23 October 2020.
    37. News: Kevin McCarra: a pioneer who changed football journalism . Jonathan . Wilson . The Guardian . 25 October 2020 . 25 October 2020.
    38. Web site: Marius Zaliukas: Former Hearts & Rangers defender dead at age of 36. BBC . BBC Sport. 31 October 2020. 31 October 2020.
    39. News: R.I.P. Matt Tees - A Tribute To The Town Legend. Grimsby Town F.C.. 4 November 2020. 4 November 2020.
    40. Web site: Tribute to Campbell Forsyth . 16 November 2020 . Kilmarnock FC . 16 November 2020.
    41. Web site: In Memoriam | Bobby Wishart. 3 December 2020. Aberdeen FC.
    42. https://www.hullcitytigers.com/news/2020/december/john-mcseveney/ Hull City Tigers: John McSeveney death notice
    43. Web site: It's Been Confirmed To The Siya Crew That Joe Frickleton Has Passed Away. 15 December 2020. Soccer Laduma.
    44. Web site: Kilmarnock legend David Sneddon dies aged 84 . BBC Sport . 24 December 2020 . 24 December 2020.
    45. Web site: Aberdeen: Former defender Chic McLelland dies at the age of 63 . BBC Sport . 26 December 2020 . 26 December 2020.
    46. Web site: Jim McLean: Dundee Utd announce death of legendary manager aged 83 . BBC Sport . 26 December 2020 . 26 December 2020.
    47. Web site: Tommy Docherty: Former Manchester United and Scotland manager dies aged 92 . Sky Sports . 31 December 2020 . 31 December 2020.
    48. News: Celtic fans' favourite Johannes Edvaldsson dies at 70 . Ewing . Grahame . The Times . 25 January 2021 . 25 January 2021.
    49. Web site: Barrie Mitchell (15.03.47 - 24.01.21) . Dunfermline Athletic FC . 27 January 2021.
    50. Web site: Dr Jozef Venglos: Former Villa & Celtic boss dies at 84 . BBC Sport . 26 January 2021 . 27 January 2021.
    51. News: Eddie Connachan, Dunfermline 1961 Scottish Cup winner, dies . Dunfermline Press . 29 January 2021 . 30 January 2021 . Ross . Hart.
    52. Web site: His memory marches on: John Grant . Hibernian FC . 31 January 2021 . 2 February 2021 . Tom . Wright.
    53. AirdrieoniansFC . 1358694575825649664 . Everyone at the club was saddened to hear of the loss of former Airdrie player Columb McKinley, who passed away on Saturday. Columb, an accomplished half-back, made 64 appearances in the Diamond between 1969 and 1975. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time. . 8 February 2021.
    54. https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/39758/former-defender-bolton-dies Former Defender Bolton Dies
    55. Web site: Ian St John: Former Liverpool & Scotland forward dies at age 82 . BBC Sport . 2 March 2021 . 2 March 2021.
    56. Web site: Obituary: Middlesbrough Boys of '67 goalkeeper Willie Whigham dies aged 81. Craig. Johns. TeessideLive. 5 March 2021. 5 March 2021.
    57. Web site: His memory marches on: Jimmy Stevenson . Hibernian FC . 6 March 2021 . 18 March 2021.
    58. https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/obituary-alastair-alexander-broadcaster-known-as-bbc-scotlands-voice-of-football-3175598 Obituary: Alastair Alexander, broadcaster known as BBC Scotland's 'Voice of Football'
    59. Web site: Peter Lorimer: Leeds United's record goalscorer dies aged 74 . BBC Sport . 20 March 2021 . 20 March 2021.
    60. Web site: In memoriam Alex Kiddie . Aberdeen FC . 29 March 2021 . 3 April 2021.
    61. News: Tributes to former Hearts coach Walter Borthwick, 1948-2021. . 25 April 2021 . 25 April 2021.
    62. News: Trimble . James . Tributes paid to Falkirk's Celtic great Frank Brogan . 10 May 2021 . 17 May 2021 . Falkirk Herald.
    63. News: Reilly . Jonathan . Former Celtic and Stenhousemuir player John Sludden dies aged 56 . 17 May 2021 . Falkirk Herald . 7 May 2021.
    64. Web site: Alan Miller: Former West Brom, Arsenal, Middlesbrough and Blackburn keeper dies . BBC Sport . 4 June 2021 . 4 June 2021.

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