50 moments that made the season: Numbers 10-1

While the construction of Hearts’ new main stand doesn’t quite rival the timeframe of Gaudi’s masterpiece, it’s fair to say the Tynecastle showpiece has not exactly been thrown up in a hurry.

Work began in November 2016 and its first game against Partick Thistle a year on was not without its scares. A safety certificate was only granted hours before kick-off and punters and Press men alike had to keep their wits about them during their first visits to the stadium.

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A bit of online mocking about the architectural merits of the glass façade turned out to be the least of the Jambos’ worries. That moment came when the realisation dawned that they had forgotten to order the seats. Woops.

9. Gordon Strachan sacked as Scotland manager

Breaking up is so hard to do. Especially when you’ve just had your hopes and dreams crushed by the footballing super power that is Slovenia.

Under Gordon Strachan, Scotland’s hopes were raised, dashed, raised and then eventually obliterated as his five-year reign was petered out as another major finals eluded us.

Strachan still had his supporters in some quarters but the writing had been on the wall for some time. In the end, he had to go.

The defiant Strachan claimed after the fatal 2-2 draw in Ljubljana, the last game of World Cup qualifying, that genetics were to blame for Scotland’s two decade wait for a tournament being extended.

Nothing to do with the flawed tactics or team selection. Nope, not at all.

8. Steve Clarke

One of the great success stories of the season has been the renaissance at Kilmarnock, and it is all down to one man. Steve Clarke.

"I'm delighted to be back in football and I'm especially delighted to be named Kilmarnock manager," said the positively euphoric face we have come to recognise beaming away in the home Rugby Park dug out upon his unveiling in October.

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On a serious note, the stern-faced manager has turned the frowns upside down of many a Killie fan who feared their team was heading for the gutter.

On the day of signing even his presence inspired Kilmarnock to their first win of the season to take them off bottom spot. By the time the campaign had finished, Clarke’s men were only eight points off a European place.

He was named The Scottish Football Writers Association Manager of the Year and his efforts in Ayrshire will surely have attracted admiring glances from chairmen south of the border.

7. The Hampden Two, and Andy Halliday

The post-mortem after an Old Firm game is never a pleasant experience for the manager, players and supporters that find themselves on the wrong end of the result. When that defeat is a thrashing in a Scottish Cup semi-final, it is going to be even tougher to stomach.

For Graeme Murty, the fall-out had begun before half-time. Whatever his reasons for substituting Andy Halliday with just minutes left of the first half, it was the wrong call to make and many were sympathetic to the midfielder for his furious reaction and outburst.

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It got worse for Rangers and Murty, though. The full details of what happened in the dressing room post-match have yet to come out, but Lee Wallace and Kenny Miller paid the price for whatever part they had in proceedings.

6. Dons are dandy at Del’s decision

It is not often you get offered what, on the face of it, is your dream job. And at is even rarer that you then turn that position down.

Derek McInnes did just that, though. After finally emerging as the top candidate to be Rangers boss, the former midfielder seemed destined to return to Ibrox.

His U-turn came nearer to the 12th hour than the 11th but he opted to remain at Pittodrie rather than replace Graeme Murty, to whom he had just lost twice in a matter of days.

Dons fans were rightly delighted but Rangers were furious and, in what became arguably the statement of the season, said: “We endorse that position because moving to a massive club like Rangers is a big step with concomitant risk. We continue to consider candidates but will only appoint someone in whom we have full confidence and who feels he is ready for the job.”

5. The Scotland managerial saga

If you thought Rangers found it tough to appoint a manager, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Step forward the Scottish FA and the now former chief executive Stewart Regan.

It really shouldn’t have been that difficult, especially when there was a wave of positive public backing over the decisions to sack Gordon Strachan and then court Michael O’Neill, the Northern Ireland boss.

Regan’s first blunder came before the friendly defeat to Holland at Pittodrie when, on the eve of kick-off, he revealed that Performance Director Malky Mackay had no chance of landing the job on a permanent basis.

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Fast forward a few months and O’Neill delivered the blow which ultimately ended Regan’s reign at Hampden as he snubbed Scotland and signed a new deal in Belfast.

When Alex McLeish was finally appointed, accusations of an old pals act quickly gathered pace as the Tartan Army were left somewhat underwhelmed.

SFA President Alan McRae did little to change their minds by telling of how he and McLeish had been close for some time. So long, in fact, that ‘In season 1888-89, I was appointed chairman of Alex’s testimonial committee’. For his age, Big Eck is wearing well.

4. Pedro Caixinha in a bush

IT is said that a picture can say a thousand words. Rangers fans would have needed only a couple, and perhaps a few expletive ones as well, when Pedro Caixinha was snapped waist deep in shrubbery on that night in Luxembourg.

Having seen his side crash out of the Europa League to Progres Niederkorn, the Portuguese attempted to talk to fans outside the Stade Josy Barthel before getting on the team bus.

If there was ever a picture to sum up a hapless, helpless boss that was out of his depth, that was it. From that moment, it was only a matter of time before Caixinha got the sack.

3. Andy Robertson. When will we see his likes again?

Scotland fans will be denied the chance to see the national team at a major finals once again this summer as the World Cup goes on without us. Still, who wanted to go to Russia anyway?

But at least Andy Robertson has salvaged a bit of pride for us all as he continued his rise and rise with his impressive showing in the Champions League final last weekend.

The left-back may not be a flashy performer in that swashbuckling Liverpool side but he has had a terrific campaign and emerged as a key component of Jurgen Klopp’s Kop plans.

There was no fairytale twist in his remarkable story as the Reds were beaten by Real Madrid. But Robertson can continue to go from strength to strength in the coming years and become the Scottish star of his generation.

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2. Steven Gerrard appointed as Rangers boss

Speaking of Liverpool, one of their most famous sons will now call Ibrox home. In case you hadn’t heard, Steven Gerrard is the new Rangers manager.

In this instance, the hype is certainly justified. The Anfield hero may not have any managerial experience but his profile and stature alone are enough to whet the appetite and grab the headlines, not just in Glasgow but around the world.

Several thousand supporters welcomed Gerrard to Ibrox a couple of weeks ago and a fanbase that had become disconsolate and disillusioned have had a much-needed shot in the arm.

With a former European Cup winner and England star as Rangers boss and his former Reds gaffer Brendan Rodgers across the city, the countdown is on to the new campaign. What’s not to like?

1. The Double Treble

If watching the Celtic Invincibles beat Aberdeen to clinch the clean sweep last season was the JFK moment for supporters, events at Hampden a few weeks ago was like watching man land on the moon.

There were small steps up the Hampden stairs, but one giant leap into the history books. For the first time ever, back-to-back Trebles were won in Scottish football.

The Premiership title was secured with relative ease as Aberdeen and Rangers failed to put up any real fight, while Motherwell were swept aside in the finals of the League Cup and Scottish Cup. All the plaudits heading to Parkhead are deserved.

It is an achievement that is unlikely to be matched but one that Celtic will be determined to better as Rodgers targets more silverware success next season.