Scottish Premiership 2026/27 Preview: Many Scottish football fans would still be feeling the euphoria of last season’s dramatic title race that went down to the wire. Heart of Midlothian were minutes away from ending the 40-year-old Old Firm dominance but fell agonizingly short.
What would Hearts fans and even Scottish football fans give to have drama like this again? The new Premiership season brings with itself upheaval up and down the league.
As such, there are very intriguing stories ready to unfold in the new Premiership season, and Curva Global takes a look at the top five plots to watch out for.
Celtic to make it six in row?
It required a stunning second act from Martin O’Neill to take Celtic from despair to absolute delight. After taking charge of the Parkhead club early in the season, he left the job after French coach Wilfried Nancy was appointed as permanent manager.
But Nancy’s short reign proved to be disastrous, and with the season slipping away from their grasp, the board rushed to call O’Neill for a second interim spell. The manager delivered the Premiership title in glorious fashion before completing the Double with a Scottish Cup win.
Given the changes elsewhere, Celtic might be best placed to win the league for the sixth time in a row. But they face some challenges. While Rangers and Hearts have made key additions to their personnel, the champions have made exactly one signing. Colombian forward Camilo Duran arrives from Qarabag with a goal-scoring pedigree, but The Bhoys fans are starting to get nervous due to the lack of activity in the transfer market.
On top of that, they have lost key players in the summer. Injury ended Kasper Schmeichel’s career last season, but he still possessed the ability to command his defence and inspire confidence in goal. Prolific forward Daizen Maeda looks set to join Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town, while Reo Hatate and Arne Engels are also expected to leave.
But Celtic will believe they should be up there for a run at the title again. O’Neill brings plenty of experience and fosters a mentality that gets the players playing for the shirt. If there is any manager in the country that can make the current scenario work, it is him. But he will be looking at Tynecastle and Ibrox and perhaps lamenting why he cannot get the players he wants for his team.
The sixth consecutive league title might yet arrive at Celtic Park at the end of the season, but there are questions that remain over the long-term vision of the team. Many believed that the dramatic title win of last season papered over the cracks, and it remains to be seen whether those gaps will open once again this season.
Another new era at Rangers
Stability. This is the one word that has haunted Rangers fans ever since Steven Gerrard left for the bright lights of the Premier League after guiding the team to an “Invincible” league title. Since the Liverpool great’s departure, no incoming manager has lasted as long as he did, and they all have shared just two Cup successes between them.
German Dany Rohl, who came in last season after the failed Russell Martin experiment, looked to be building a team capable of consistently winning at the top. With Celtic struggling, Rohl’s Rangers were well placed in the three-pronged title race. But they lost their way at a key time, raising questions about the team’s mentality.
Still, under Rohl, the team had played with an identity, and it appeared that Rangers had finally found a true successor to Gerrard. And then it was an all too familiar story. Rohl was approached by Red Bull Salzburg, and he left Ibrox. Since then, the Rangers board has made the right noises.
Derek McInnes was tempted away from Hearts to take over from Rohl after they had already signed Lawrence Shankland from the capital club. Cammy Devlin also arrived from Tynecastle, and he was joined by goalkeeper Ivor Pandur, who helped Hull City get back to the Premier League last season.
They have also completed the signing of midfielder Vanja Dragojevic from Partizan Belgrade as Gers look to break the grip of their Old Firm rivals on the Scottish league. It would seem McInnes has been provided with a good start to build a team capable of challenging in the long term. A former Rangers player, it is likely that his head won’t be turned by approaches from elsewhere, and he comes with experience in the league.
The question is whether he can hit the ground running. He may need a couple more transfer windows to stamp his authority on the team and another season to mould the team into his vision. But when you are managing one of the two biggest clubs in the country, patience is in short supply. McInnes knows that he has to hit the ground running to garner some goodwill among the Rangers faithful that would come in handy when the boat is rocked at some point in the season.
Rangers fans would expect results; they are tired of playing second fiddle, and with Hearts emerging as a contender, they would be looking nervously over their shoulders. Another disappointing season could mean the rumblings of nine in a row would start again from Parkhead.
Hearts eager to prove last season wasn’t a fluke
Hearts fans welcomed their players with a rousing reception outside Tynecastle after their team had narrowly failed to win a first league title since 1960. Throughout the season, there seemed to be a cloud of inevitability hanging over their title charge, despite them leading the table since September.
When they finally fell to Celtic on the final day, their fans had every reason to be proud of a team that had defied the odds almost till the end. But now, the expectation has gone up in Edinburgh.
Last season’s title challenge cannot and should not be a one-off. Backed by Tony Bloom and his Jamestown Analytics, Hearts will feel they are capable of challenging consistently at the top. Bloom and Jamestown Analytics have a proven track record of helping teams find success despite limited resources.
This partnership has helped Brighton to punch above their weight regularly in the Premier League and guided Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise to their first league title in 90 years. Finding that consistency is easier said than done in the Scottish Premiership. Both the Premier League and the Belgian Pro League are on a far better financial footing than Scotland’s top tier.
With the Old Firm giants casting a large shadow, it won’t be easy for The Jambos to continuously challenge for league glory. The manager who took them on the brink of history will now lead the charge at Rangers, and he will have the services of Lawrence Shankland, who was also whisked away by the Glasgow side.
Belgian Wouter Vrancken has been put in place of McInnes, and he suffered a chastening 4-0 defeat to Sturm Graz in the second round of Champions League qualifying, his first game in charge. The task to repeat last season’s heroics remains big.
Hearts haven’t been sitting on their hands in the transfer market. Midfielders Calvin Miller and Tom Renaud have been added to the squad, and the arrivals of forwards Amadou Ba-Sy and Sabri Guendouz could provide much-needed firepower after the departure of Shankland. Despite the big defeat in Austria, Vrancken’s side looked promising going forward. The defense, however, remains a concern.
For Hearts, this season will show how far they have progressed as a club. Maybe another title challenge could be a step too far. But consistent results and being in the top four would be the very least of expectations from their fans. Deliver that and the belief would be that it is another step in the right direction after years of ups and downs.
Dark horses Motherwell
Motherwell did exceptionally well to finish fourth last season under Jens Berthel Askou. They looked brave and attractive in their approach, a refreshing thing from a non-Old Firm Premiership side. At one point, they were outsiders in the three-horse race to the title but still ended the season well to earn a Europa Conference League spot.
But just like Hearts, this summer has not been kind to The Steelman. Askou left to take charge of the French side Toulouse, and a host of key players departed the club. Goalkeeper Calum Ward moved to English second division side Queens Park Rangers, while midfielders Callum Slattery and Elliott Watt landed moves to Sheffield Wednesday and Turkish Super Lig club Samsunspor.
Elijah Just, who impressed in the FIFA World Cup with New Zealand, left for Swansea City recently. The team is also dealing with injuries to its best players, with the opening game against Hibernian not too far away. The Fir Park club were quick to replace Askou with Swede Alfred Johansson in the dugout, and he has hit the ground running.
A 2-0 win with a weakened side against HB Torshavn of the Faroe Islands was a decent outing in the second qualifying round of the Conference League. While the scoreline may not stand out, Motherwell controlled the game, and the blueprint seemed similar to what Askou implemented last season.
There is a growing belief that the club is taking a more modern approach to the game and looking to go beyond just being run-ins in the league. This has a lot to do with a style of play that the people in charge want to see at the club, and they are able to bring in players that fit that mould. It means the manager who comes in knows what is needed and has the tools at his disposal to adhere to that philosophy. Motherwell have a vision and identity, and that is a rare commodity.
And this is what makes them a dangerous proposition this season. Yes, for Johansson, repeating last season’s success won’t be easy, and there will be a lot more attention on them, but Well fans would expect their team to challenge right at the top of the table, rather than battle for a place in the top six or fight relegation.
They will have to improve by good margins to impose themselves again and perhaps bloody the Old Firm noses, but they are going in the right direction and have every reason to look forward to another exciting campaign.
Can John McGlynn and Falkirk do it again?
Falkirk’s sixth-place finish in the Premiership last season completed a remarkable few years under John McGlynn. The veteran coach took over the side when they were in League One. The former Hearts manager led them to back-to-back promotions, taking them to the top-flight after a 15-year absence.
Many expected them to languish in the bottom half and fight for their survival. But The Bairns made a mockery of those predictions to finish in the sixth spot and played some entertaining football. Now, with a successful Premiership campaign under their belts, the question is, can they repeat that form and consistency, or will the second-season syndrome catch up to them?
So far, the signs haven’t been good. Falkirk started their campaign early in the Scottish League Cup and have already exited the competition. They started well with a 5-0 away win to Edinburgh City in Group G, but then lost at home to Ayr United. A penalty shootout defeat to Alloa Athletic meant they won’t be able to progress further. McGlynn has work to do.
The Falkirk boss understands the task. Following the defeat to League One Alloa, the veteran manager conceded that he faces his biggest challenge yet at the club. The team has seen several important players like Calvin Miller, Barney Stewart, and Dylan Tait leave, and the effect is visible.
They have brought in players that will give their fans hope of a solid campaign. The additions of midfielder Craig Sibbald and defenders Scott Tanser and Ryan Strain will bring in much-needed experience at this level. Falkirk fans will also be excited to see what teenage winger Paul McGovern and 21-year-old forward Ethan Laidlaw can offer in attack, having shown good early signs in the League Cup.
McGlynn has been around the block enough to navigate the challenges his side faces. But with fixtures coming in thick and fast, given the nature of Scotland’s top tier, he would have to find a fix sooner rather than later. He remains Falkirk’s biggest asset and will be vital to their hopes of emulating last season’s success.
