After an enjoyable time wandering around Herbert Park, I’ve returned to our Dublin hotel room to watch a very eventful second half of a Scottish Premiership game between Celtic and Hearts. Andrew Driver just scored on a gorgeous free kick to put Hearts up 2-0.
I learned about the SPL when I lived in Dublin, and it’s always struck me as the most lopsided sports league in the world. The league was formed nine years ago, and features the twelve best football (that is, soccer) teams in Scotland. In each of the nine seasons (including this one), one of two Glasgow squads–Celtic or Rangers–has won. In all but one season, the runner-up has been the other Glasgow team.
Isn’t this a bit predictable? And, I’d imagine, tremendously frustrating if you’re not a supporter of Rangers or Celtic? There’s such a thing as dynasties, but this is enough to make one a figure skating fan.
There’s a similar, if less rigid, phenomenon in the English Premier League, where only four different teams have won over the past fourteen years. And, practically speaking, there’s only about a half-dozen teams that can realistically challenge to be league champions.
We address (and usually solve) this problem in North America with the salary cap system. I’m not about the prescribe such a solution for UK football–I don’t know enough to suggest whether it’s remotely viable. In fact, I don’t even know if English and Scottish fans consider the current league structure a problem.
DarrenBarefoot.com 
Isn’t this the case is all of Europe’s professional soccer leagues? I know in Spain, only 9 clubs have ever won the championship since it originated in 1928-29, with Real Madrid, Barca (!) usually either winning of finishing second — http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Liga
I think a competitive league would be the exception.
Incidentally, I love the nickname for Celtic v. Rangers: The Franchise.
The four teams that rotate the English Premiership title have another thing in common. Foreign ownership: Chelsea have Roman Abramovich (russian), Man U have Malcolm Glazer (US),Liverpool have recently switched to US owners and Arsenal are currently in the middle of boardroom battles as another merican tries his luck in the world of Real Football ( i prefer that qualification to calling it soccer).
The domination of celtic and glasgow goes much farther back than the founding of the SPL (SPL founding was just the renaming of Scottish Division one for marketing purposes). The problem of these new dynastic elites at the top of most European Divisions lies away from each nation’s home – it’s called the Champion’s LEague – where money is splashed on the league leaders of every nation to take part in the Europe wide championship. Year in year out the same teams take part and share the dosh… creating a great divide between the haves and have nots…
we will see whether Michel Platini’s role as UEFA’s new president will change all this….
James: Yeah, looks like you’re right about all the football leagues of Europe.
Jacques: I’m familiar with the Champions League, but I didn’t know it was such a moneymaker. That’s interesting that it’s what keeps the good teams rich (and therefore good).