Scottish Premier League

The Scottish Premier League (Scottish Gaelic: Prìomh Lìog na h-Alba), also known as the SPL (and the Clydesdale Bank Premier League for sponsorship reasons), is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland. It is the top level of the Scottish football league system, above the Scottish Football League. More people in Scotland per head of population watch their domestic top-level league than any other European nation. As of October 2011 the Scottish Premier League is ranked 17th in the UEFA rankings of European leagues, which are based on the performances of member clubs in European competitions. A total of 18 clubs have competed in the SPL since its inauguration in 1998–99, but only two have won the title, the Old Firm of Rangers (7) and Celtic (6). Previously, the Scottish Football League had a two divisional structure (Divisions One and Two) between which clubs were promoted and relegated at the end of each season. However, by the mid 1970s, this...