1998–99 Scottish Premier League
| Season | 1998–99 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Rangers |
| Promoted | Dundee |
| Relegated | Dunfermline Athletic |
| Champions League | Rangers |
| UEFA Cup |
Celtic St Johnstone Kilmarnock |
| Intertoto Cup | None |
| Goals scored | 471 ( 26) |
| Average goals/game | 2.62 |
| Top goalscorer |
 Henrik Larsson (29) |
| Biggest home win |
Celtic 6–1 Dundee (7 November) Rangers 6–1 Dundee (20 February) |
| Biggest away win | St Johnstone 0–7 Rangers (8 November) |
| Highest attendance | 60,092, Celtic v St Johnstone (31 January) |
| Lowest attendance | 3,532, Dunfermline Athletic v Motherwell (23 May) |
| Average attendance | 18,577 ( 541) |
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← 1997–98
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The 1998–99 Scottish Premier League season was the inaugural season of Scottish Premier League football. It began on 1 August 1998.
Rangers finished the season as Scottish Premier League champions, gaining them their 48th Scottish top division title. Dunfermline Athletic were relegated in bottom place, being replaced by Scottish Division One champions Hibernian.
The 1998–99 Scottish Premier League season ended in success for Rangers who, managed by Dutchman Dick Advocaat, won the title by six points from nearest rivals Celtic. Dunfermline Athletic were relegated after three seasons in the top division. As champions, Rangers qualified for the Champions League while Celtic were joined by St Johnstone in qualifying for the UEFA Cup. Fourth placed Kilmarnock also gained a UEFA Cup place via the UEFA Fair Play ranking.
The season began on 1 August 1998 with the first SPL goal scored by Aberdeen's Eoin Jess as they defeated newly promoted Dundee 2–0 at Dens Park. Also on the first day of the season, Craig Burley scored the SPL's first hat-trick as defending champions Celtic defeated Dunfermline Athletic 5–0 at Celtic Park.
1998–99 saw the introduction of a three-week break during January, which was well received by both players and managers. In its inaugural year, the SPL was broadcast to over 120 countries worldwide, while attendances increased and more money was invested in youth development than ever before. A new Scottish transfer record was also set as Rangers paid Fiorentina £5.5m for former Manchester United and Everton winger Andrei Kanchelskis.
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