Dubai Champions Cup Explained

Tourney Name:Dubai Champions Cup
Other Titles:Dubai Super Cup
City:Dubai
Country:United Arab Emirates
Num Teams:Two:
Football League champions
Scottish Football League champions

The Dubai Champions Cup (originally called the Dubai Super Cup) was an annual association football match contested between the champions of the English and Scottish leagues. The competition took place for three consecutive seasons from 1986–87 to 1988–89 in the United Arab Emirates port of Dubai,[1] during the time when English football clubs were banned from taking part in UEFA club competitions as a result of the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985.[2]

History

The first match took place on 9 December 1986 at the Al Wasl Stadium between English champions Liverpool and Scottish champions Celtic. The match finished 1–1, with Liverpool winning 4–2 on a penalty shoot-out.[3] [4]

English champions Everton and Scottish champions Rangers played the match the following year in December 1987. Rangers came from two goals behind to level the match after 90 minutes at 2–2. This was despite referee Keith Cooper disallowing six goals for the Ibrox club during the game. Rangers went on to win 8–7 on penalty kicks.[5] [6] [7]

The final match took place on 4 April 1989 at the Al-Nasar Stadium. The competition was now renamed the Dubai Champions Cup and featured the same sides that took part in 1986; Liverpool and Celtic. Once again the match finished level after 90 minutes, 1–1; this time Celtic won 4–2 on penalty kicks.[8] [9] [10]

1986–87

GK Pat Bonner
DF Danny McGrain
DF Roy Aitken
DF Pierce O'Leary
DF Derek Whyte
MF Peter Grant
MF Tony Shepherd
MF Paul McStay
FW Alan McInally
FW Mark McGhee
FW Owen Archdeacon
Substitutes:
DF Willie McStay
FW Mo Johnston
Manager:
Davie Hay
GK Bruce Grobbelaar
DF Gary Gillespie
DF Barry Venison
DF Alan Hansen
DF Jim Beglin
MF Steve Nicol
DF Mark Lawrenson
MF Steve McMahon
MF Ronnie Whelan
FW Paul Walsh
FW Ian Rush
Substitutes:
FW Kenny Dalglish
Player/Manager:
Kenny Dalglish

1987–88

GK Chris Woods
DF Scott Nisbet
DF Jimmy Phillips
DF Graham Roberts
MF Ray Wilkins
DF Richard Gough
MF Trevor Francis
FW Robert Fleck
FW Ally McCoist
MF Ian Durrant
MF Derek Ferguson
Substitutes:
GK Nicky Walker
DF Stuart Munro
DF Jimmy Nicholl
MF Dave MacFarlane
MF Graeme Souness
MF Davie Kirkwood
Player/Manager:
Graeme Souness
GK Neville Southall
DF Gary Stevens
DF Neil Pointon
DF Kevin Ratcliffe
DF Dave Watson
MF Peter Reid
MF Trevor Steven
FW Adrian Heath
FW Graeme Sharp
MF Ian Snodin
MF Kevin Sheedy
Substitutes:
MF Ian Wilson
MF Neil Adams
GK Bobby Mimms
Manager:
Colin Harvey

1988–89

GK Pat Bonner
DF Chris Morris
DF Anton Rogan
DF Steve McCahill
DF Mick McCarthy
MF Peter Grant
MF Joe Miller
MF Paul McStay
FW Tommy Coyne
FW Mark McGhee
MF Steve Fulton
Substitutes:
GK Ian Andrews
DF Lex Baillie
MF Billy Stark
FW Andy Walker
Manager:
Billy McNeill
GK Bruce Grobbelaar
DF Gary Ablett
DF David Burrows
DF Steve Nicol
MF Ronnie Whelan
DF Gary Gillespie
FW Peter Beardsley
MF Barry Venison
FW Ray Houghton
MF John Barnes
MF Steve McMahon
Substitutes:
MF Mike Marsh
FW John Aldridge
DF Steve Staunton
FW Kenny Dalglish
DF Alex Watson
Player/Manager:
Kenny Dalglish

Notes and References

  1. Book: Campbell. Tom. Woods. Pat. A Celtic A - Z. 1992. Greenfield Press. 095195010X. 46–47.
  2. Web site: Bloomfield. Craig. Celtic's Hillsborough tribute, rare footage of Rangers v Everton and more Old Firm matches with English clubs. talkSport. 6 September 2017. 18 October 2011.
  3. News: Cameron. Alex. Celts in a spot. 22 February 2022. Daily Record. 10 December 1986.
  4. News: Celtic rise to challenge but lose on penalties. 9 May 2017. The Glasgow Herald. 10 December 1986. 24.
  5. News: Hilton. Nick. Battle of Britain. 15 May 2014. Liverpool Echo. 7 December 2012.
  6. Web site: Reynolds. Jim. Rangers strike 16 times for gold. The Glasgow Herald. 25 January 2015. 24. 9 December 1987.
  7. News: Wilson . Fraser . The day Rangers defeated Everton in Dubai despite having SIX goals disallowed to become unofficial champions of Britain . 25 August 2018 . Daily Record . 20 March 2018.
  8. News: McNee. Gerry. Stark spot-on in the desert. 15 May 2014. Daily Express. 7 April 1989. 16 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140116182338/http://image.wikifoundry.com/image/1/vaReKTsPfxPLTEwyYU5X5Q1567960/GW903H1315. dead.
  9. News: Stark finds a sweet spot for Celtic's desert kings. 9 May 2017. The Glasgow Herald. 5 April 1989. 28.
  10. News: Young . Graeme . When Celtic faced Liverpool in the Middle East and became British champions . 19 December 2021 . Daily Record . 17 March 2018.