List of Scottish football championship–winning managers

The following is a list of football managers and head coaches who have won the Scottish league championship, currently known as the Scottish Premiership.

Some managers have also won the other two major competitions in Scottish football, which are the Scottish Cup and the Scottish League Cup. This results in a manager winning a "double" (two competitions in one season) or a "treble" (all three in one season). There are also three national lower league championships and a national cup competition for lower league clubs, called the Scottish Challenge Cup.

League

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Scottish League Championship

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By individual

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Rank Name Wins Club(s) Winning Seasons
1 Bill Struth 18 Rangers 1920–21, 1922–23, 1923–24, 1924–25, 1926–27, 1927–28, 1928–29, 1929–30, 1930–31, 1932–33,
1933–34, 1934–35, 1936–37, 1938–39, 1946–47, 1948–49, 1949–50, 1952–53
2 Willie Maley 16 Celtic 1897–98, 1904–05, 1905–06, 1906–07, 1907–08, 1908–09, 1909–10, 1913–14, 1914–15, 1915–16,
1916–17, 1918–19, 1921–22, 1925–26, 1935–36, 1937–38
3 Jock Stein 10 Celtic 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1976–77
Walter Smith 10 Rangers 1990–91,[note 3] 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11
5 William Wilton 8 Rangers 1899–1900, 1900–01, 1901–02, 1910–11, 1911–12, 1912–13, 1917–18, 1919–20
6 Scot Symon 6 Rangers 1955–56, 1956–57, 1958–59, 1960–61, 1962–63, 1963–64
7 Neil Lennon 5 Celtic 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2018–19,[note 4] 2019–20
8 Billy McNeill 4 Celtic 1978–79, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1987–88
Brendan Rodgers 4 Celtic 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19,[note 4] 2023–24
Graeme Souness 4 Rangers 1986–87, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91[note 3]
11 Alex Ferguson 3 Aberdeen 1979–80, 1983–84, 1984–85
Gordon Strachan 3 Celtic 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08
Hugh Shaw 3 Hibernian 1947–48, 1950–51, 1951–52
Jock Wallace, Jr. 3 Rangers 1974–75, 1975–76, 1977–78
Martin O'Neill 3 Celtic 2000–01, 2001–02, 2003–04
16 Alex McLeish 2 Rangers 2002–03, 2004–05
Ange Postecoglou 2 Celtic 2021–22, 2022–23
Dick Advocaat 2 Rangers 1998–99, 1999–2000
Ronny Deila 2 Celtic 2014–15, 2015–16
Tommy Walker 2 Heart of Midlothian 1957–58, 1959–60

By nationality

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Country Managers Total
  Scotland 22 100
  Northern Ireland 3 12
  Netherlands 2 3
  England 2 2
  Norway 1 2
  Australia 1 2
  Ireland 1 1

Lower Leagues (Tiers 2–4)

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Season Second tier Third tier Fourth tier
Manager Club Manager Club Manager Club
1899–1900 Partick Thistle division was not founded division was not founded
1900–01 St Bernard's
1901–02 Port Glasgow Athletic
1902–03 Airdrieonians
1903–04 Hamilton Academical
1904–05 Clyde
1905–06 Leith Athletic
1906–07 St Bernard's
1907–08 Raith Rovers
1908–09 Abercorn
1909–10 Leith Athletic
1910–11 Dumbarton
1911–12 Ayr United
1912–13 Ayr United
1913–14   Sandy Paterson (1/3) Cowdenbeath
1914–15   Sandy Paterson (2/3) Cowdenbeath
1915–16 division did not exist
1916–17
1917–18
1918–19
1919–20
1920–21
1921–22 Alloa Athletic
1922–23 Queen's Park
1923–24 St Johnstone Arthurlie
1924–25   Jimmy Brownlie (1/2) Dundee United Nithsdale Wanderers
1925–26   Sandy Paterson (3/3) Dunfermline Athletic season not completed
1926–27 Bo'ness United division did not exist
1927–28 Ayr United
1928–29   Jimmy Brownlie (2/2) Dundee United
1929–30 Leith Athletic
1930–31   Russell Moreland Third Lanark
1931–32 East Stirlingshire
1932–33   Bobby Templeton Hibernian
1933–34 Albion Rovers
1934–35   Tom Jennings Third Lanark
1935–36   Tully Craig Falkirk
1936–37 Ayr United
1937–38 Raith Rovers
1938–39   Bill Hodge Cowdenbeath
1946–47   George Anderson Dundee   Tom Fergusson[3] Stirling Albion
1947–48   Scot Symon East Fife Alex McLuckie East Stirlingshire
1948–49 Bert Herdman Raith Rovers Forfar Athletic
1949–50   Jimmy Davies Greenock Morton NE: Hibernian 'A'
SW: Clyde 'A'
1950–51 Jimmy McKinnell Jr Queen of the South NE: Heart of Midlothian 'A'
SW: Clyde 'A'
1951–52   Paddy Travers Clyde NE: Dundee 'A'
SW: Rangers 'A'
1952–53   Tom Fergusson (1/2)[3] Stirling Albion NE: Aberdeen 'A'
SW: Rangers 'A'
1953–54   George Stevenson Motherwell NE: Brechin City
SW: Rangers 'A'
1954–55   Willie Steel Airdrieonians NE: Aberdeen 'A'
SW: Partick Thistle 'A'
1955–56   Willie Gibson Queen's Park division did not exist
1956–57   Johnny Haddow (1/2) Clyde
1957–58   Tom Fergusson (2/2)[3] Stirling Albion
1958–59   Jackie Cox Ayr United
1959–60   Bobby Brown St Johnstone
1960–61   Danny McLennan[4] Stirling Albion
1961–62   Johnny Haddow (2/2) Clyde
1962–63   Bobby Brown St Johnstone
1963–64   Hal Stewart (1/2) Greenock Morton
1964–65   Sammy Baird Stirling Albion
1965–66   Ally MacLeod Ayr United
1966–67   Hal Stewart (2/2) Greenock Morton
1967–68   Alex Wright St Mirren
1968–69   Bobby Howitt Motherwell
1969–70   Willie Cunningham Falkirk
1970–71   Davie McParland Partick Thistle
1971–72   Jackie Stewart Dumbarton
1972–73   Archie Robertson Clyde
1973–74   Ian McMillan Airdrieonians
1974–75   John Prentice Falkirk
1975–76   Bertie Auld (1/2) Partick Thistle   Bill Munro Clydebank
1976–77   Alex Ferguson St Mirren   Alex Smith Stirling Albion
1977–78   Benny Rooney Greenock Morton   Craig Brown (1/2) Clyde
1978–79   Tommy Gemmell Dundee   Dave Smith Berwick Rangers
1979–80   Bobby Moncur Heart of Midlothian   John Hagart Falkirk
1980–81   Bertie Auld (2/2) Hibernian   Eddie Hunter Queen's Park
1981–82   David Hay Motherwell   Craig Brown (2/2) Clyde
1982–83   Alex Rennie St Johnstone   Ian Fleming Brechin City
1983–84   Tommy McLean (1/2) Greenock Morton   Doug Houston Forfar Athletic
1984–85   Tommy McLean (2/2) Motherwell   Ian Stewart Montrose
1985–86   John Lambie (1/3) Hamilton Academical   Jim Leishman Dunfermline Athletic
1986–87   Allan McGraw Greenock Morton   Terry Christie Meadowbank Thistle
1987–88   John Lambie (2/3) Hamilton Academical   Ally MacLeod Ayr United
1988–89   Jim Leishman (1/2) Dunfermline Athletic   David Provan Albion Rovers
1989–90   Alex Totten St Johnstone   John Ritchie Brechin City
1990–91   Jim Jeffries (1/2) Falkirk   John Brogan Stirling Albion
1991–92   Iain Munro Dundee   Billy Lamont Dumbarton
1992–93   Jimmy Nicholl (1/2) Raith Rovers   Alex Smith Clyde
1993–94   Jim Jeffries (2/2) Falkirk   Alex McAnespie Stranraer
1994–95   Jimmy Nicholl (2/2) Raith Rovers   Allan McGraw Greenock Morton   Tommy Campbell[5] Forfar Athletic
1995–96   Bert Paton Dunfermline Athletic   Kevin Drinkell Stirling Albion   Jim Leishman Livingston
1996–97   Paul Sturrock St Johnstone   Gordon Dalziel Ayr United   Steve Paterson Inverness CT
1997–98   Jocky Scott Dundee   Campbell Money Stranraer   Tom Hendrie Alloa Athletic
1998–99   Alex McLeish Hibernian   Ray Stewart Livingston   Neale Cooper Ross County
1999–2000   Tom Hendrie St Mirren   Allan Maitland Clyde   John McCormack (1/2) Queen's Park
2000–01   Jim Leishman (2/2) Livingston   John Lambie Partick Thistle   Ally Dawson Hamilton Academical
2001–02   John Lambie (3/3) Partick Thistle   John Connolly Queen of the South   Dick Campbell (1/2) Brechin City
2002–03   Owen Coyle and
  John Hughes (1/2)
Falkirk   Antonio Calderon Raith Rovers   John McCormack (2/2) Greenock Morton
2003–04   John Robertson Inverness CT   Sandy Stewart Airdrie United   Neil Watt Stranarer
2004–05   John Hughes (2/2) Falkirk   Ian Campbell Brechin City   Rowan Alexander Gretna
2005–06   Gus McPherson St Mirren   Rowan Alexander Gretna   Mixu Paatelainen Cowdenbeath
2006–07   Davie Irons Gretna   Jim McInally Greenock Morton   John Coughlin Berwick Rangers
2007–08   Billy Reid Hamilton Academical   Derek Adams Ross County   David Baikie East Fife
2008–09   Derek McInnes (1/2) St Johnstone   John McGlynn (1/3) Raith Rovers   Jim Chapman Dumbarton
2009–10   Terry Butcher Inverness CT   Allan Moore Stirling Albion   Gary Bollan Livingston
2010–11   Jim McIntyre Dunfermline Athletic   Gary Bollan Livingston   Paul Sheerin Arbroath
2011–12   Derek Adams Ross County   Colin Cameron Cowdenbeath   Paul Hartley (1/2) Alloa Athletic
2012–13   Alan Archibald Partick Thistle   Allan Johnston (1/2) Queen of the South   Ally McCoist Rangers
2013–14   Paul Hartley Dundee   Ally McCoist Rangers   Jim McInally (1/2) Peterhead
2014–15   Robbie Neilson (1/3) Heart of Midlothian   Jim Duffy Greenock Morton   Darren Young (1/2) Albion Rovers
2015–16   Mark Warburton Rangers   Allan Johnston (2/2) Dunfermline Athletic   Gary Naysmith (1/2) East Fife
2016–17   Neil Lennon Hibernian   David Hopkin Livingston   Dick Campbell (2/2) Arbroath
2017–18   Jack Ross St Mirren   Ian McCall (1/2) Ayr United   Stewart Petrie Montrose
2018–19   Stuart Kettlewell /
  Steven Ferguson
Ross County   Dick Campbell Arbroath   Jim McInally (2/2) Peterhead
2019–20   Robbie Neilson (2/3) Dundee United   John McGlynn (2/3) Raith Rovers   Paul Hartley (2/2) Cove Rangers
2020–21   Robbie Neilson (3/3) Heart of Midlothian   Ian McCall (2/2) Partick Thistle   Ray McKinnon Queen's Park
2021–22   Derek McInnes (2/2) Kilmarnock   Paul Hartley Cove Rangers   Kevin Thomson Kelty Hearts
2022–23   Gary Bowyer Dundee   James McPake Dunfermline Athletic   Darren Young (2/2) Stirling Albion
2023–24   Jim Goodwin Dundee United   John McGlynn (3/3) Falkirk   Gary Naysmith (2/2) Stenhousemuir

Treble and Double winning managers

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League, Scottish Cup and League Cup "domestic" treble

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Rank Name Wins Club(s) Winning Seasons
1 Brendan Rodgers 2 Celtic 2016–17, 2017–18
Jock Stein 2 Celtic 1966–67, 1968–69
Jock Wallace, Jr 2 Rangers 1975–76, 1977–78
4 Bill Struth 1 Rangers 1948–49
Scot Symon 1 Rangers 1963–64
Walter Smith 1 Rangers 1992–93
Dick Advocaat 1 Rangers 1998–99
Martin O'Neill 1 Celtic 2000–01
Alex McLeish 1 Rangers 2002–03
Neil Lennon 1 Celtic 2019–20
Ange Postecoglou 1 Celtic 2022–23

League and Scottish Cup double

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Rank Name Wins Club(s) Winning Seasons
1 Bill Struth 6 Rangers 1927–28, 1929–30, 1933–34, 1934–35, 1949–50, 1952–53
2 Jock Stein 4 Celtic 1970–71, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1976–77
3 Willie Maley 3 Celtic 1906–07, 1907–08, 1913–14
Walter Smith 3 Rangers 1991–92, 1995–96, 2008–09
5 Neil Lennon 2 Celtic 2012–13, 2018–19[note 4]
6 Alex Ferguson 1 Aberdeen 1983–84
Billy McNeil 1 Celtic 1987–88
Dick Advocaat 1 Rangers 1999–2000
Gordon Strachan 1 Celtic 2006–07
Jimmy McGrory 1 Celtic 1953–54
Martin O'Neill 1 Celtic 2003–04
Scot Symon 1 Rangers 1962–63
Brendan Rodgers 1 Celtic 2023-24

League and League Cup double

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Rank Name Wins Club(s) Winning Seasons
1 Walter Smith 4 Rangers 1993–94, 1996–97, 2009–10, 2010–11
2 Jock Stein 3 Celtic 1965–66, 1967–68, 1969–70
Graeme Souness 3 Rangers 1986–87, 1988–89, 1990–91[note 3]
4 Bill Struth 1 Rangers 1946–47
Tommy Walker 1 Heart of Midlothian 1959–60
Scot Symon 1 Rangers 1960–61
Wim Jansen 1 Celtic 1997–98
Alex McLeish 1 Rangers 2004–05
Gordon Strachan 1 Celtic 2005–06
Ronny Deila 1 Celtic 2014–15
Brendan Rodgers 1 Celtic 2018–19[note 4]
Ange Postecoglou 1 Celtic 2021–22

Scottish Cup and League Cup double

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Rank Name Wins Club(s) Winning Seasons
1 Scot Symon 1 Rangers 1961–62
Jock Stein 1 Celtic 1974–75
John Greig 1 Rangers 1978–79
Alex Ferguson 1 Aberdeen 1985–86
Alex Smith and Jocky Scott 1 Aberdeen 1989–90
Alex McLeish 1 Rangers 2001–02
Walter Smith 1 Rangers 2007–08
Callum Davidson 1 St Johnstone 2020–21

Notes

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  1. ^ In the early years of organised football, many clubs did not appoint a manager. A management committee or board of directors (if the club had been incorporated) would pick the team instead.
  2. ^ Willie McCartney died in January of the 1947–48 season, while he was the manager of Hibernian. Hugh Shaw who was the trainer at the time at the club was appointed as McCartney's replacement within a week.
  3. ^ a b c d Graeme Souness left Rangers to become manager of Liverpool in April of the 1990–91 season. Walter Smith who was the assistant manager to Souness at the time at the club was appointed interim manager, before being given the job permanently in May 1991.
  4. ^ a b c d e Brendan Rodgers left Celtic to become manager of Leicester City in February of the 2018–19 season. Neil Lennon was appointed interim manager, before being given the job permanently in May 2019.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Trophy-winning Managers". ScottishLeague.net. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  2. ^ "Third Lanark Managers". ScottishLeague.net. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "Tom Fergusson". Stirling Albion Mad. 11 September 2004. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  4. ^ "Danny McLennan". The Independent. 16 May 2004. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  5. ^ "'Class' of 2016 equal club record". FAFC. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017.