The 2023–24 Scottish Premiership (known as the cinch Premiership for sponsorship reasons) was the eleventh season of the Scottish Premiership, the highest division of Scottish football, and the 127th edition overall of the top national league competition, not including one cancelled due to World War II. The season began on 5 August 2023.

On 15 May, Celtic successfully defended their title, securing a tenth Premiership title and 54th Scottish league title overall, following a 5–0 victory away to Kilmarnock.

Twelve teams contested the league: Aberdeen, Celtic, Dundee, Heart of Midlothian, Hibernian, Kilmarnock, Livingston, Motherwell, Rangers, Ross County, St Johnstone and St Mirren.

Teams

The following teams changed division after the 2022–23 season.

Promoted from the Championship

Relegated to the Championship

Stadia and locations

AberdeenCelticDundeeHeart of Midlothian
Pittodrie StadiumCeltic ParkDens ParkTynecastle Park
Capacity: 20,866Capacity: 60,411Capacity: 11,775Capacity: 19,852
HibernianEdinburghGlasgowAberdeenDundeeKilmarnockMotherwellRoss CountySt. JohnstoneSt MirrenLivingstonEdinburgh teams: Hearts HibernianGlasgow teams: Celtic RangersLocation of teams in the 2023–24 Scottish PremiershipKilmarnock
Easter RoadRugby Park
Capacity: 20,421Capacity: 15,003
LivingstonMotherwell
Almondvale StadiumFir Park
Capacity: 9,713Capacity: 13,677
RangersRoss CountySt JohnstoneSt Mirren
Ibrox StadiumVictoria ParkMcDiarmid ParkSt Mirren Park
Capacity: 50,987Capacity: 6,541Capacity: 10,696Capacity: 7,937
Premiership football clubs in Edinburgh
Premiership football clubs in Edinburgh
Premiership football clubs in Glasgow
Premiership football clubs in Glasgow

Personnel and kits

TeamManagerCaptainKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
AberdeenScotland Peter Leven (Interim)Scotland Graeme ShinnieAdidasTEXO
CelticNorthern Ireland Brendan RodgersScotland Callum McGregorAdidasDafabet
DundeeScotland Tony DochertyRepublic of Ireland Joe ShaughnessyMacronCrown Engineering Services
Heart of MidlothianScotland Steven NaismithScotland Craig GordonUmbroMND Scotland (Home) Stellar Omada (Away)
HibernianScotland David Gray (Interim)Scotland Paul HanlonJomaBevvy.com
KilmarnockScotland Derek McInnesNorthern Ireland Kyle VassellHummelJames Frew Ltd
LivingstonScotland David MartindaleScotland Mikey DevlinJomaEmptez
MotherwellScotland Stuart KettlewellScotland Liam KellyMacronG4 Claims
RangersBelgium Philippe ClementEngland James TavernierCastoreUnibet
Ross CountyScotland Don Cowie (Interim)England Jack BaldwinJomaRoss-shire Engineering
St JohnstoneScotland Craig LeveinScotland Liam GordonMacronGS Brown Construction
St MirrenNorthern Ireland Stephen RobinsonScotland Mark O'HaraMacronDigby Brown

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
DundeeEngland Gary BowyerEnd of contract10 May 2023Pre-seasonScotland Tony Docherty29 May 2023
CelticAustralia Ange PostecoglouSigned by Tottenham Hotspur6 June 2023Northern Ireland Brendan Rodgers19 June 2023
HibernianEngland Lee JohnsonSacked27 August 202312thScotland Nick Montgomery11 September 2023
RangersEngland Michael Beale1 October 20233rdBelgium Philippe Clement15 October 2023
St JohnstoneScotland Steven MacLean29 October 202312thScotland Craig Levein5 November 2023
Ross CountyScotland Malky Mackay15 November 202311thScotland Derek Adams20 November 2023
AberdeenScotland Barry Robson31 January 20248thEngland Neil Warnock5 February 2024
Ross CountyScotland Derek AdamsResigned7 February 202411thScotland Don Cowie (Interim)8 February 2024
AberdeenEngland Neil Warnock9 March 202410thScotland Peter Leven (Interim)9 March 2024
HibernianScotland Nick MontgomerySacked14 May 20249thScotland David Gray (Interim)14 May 2024

Format

In the initial phase of the season, the 12 teams play a round-robin tournament whereby each team plays each of the other teams three times. After 33 games, the league splits into two sections of six teams, with each team playing each other once in that section. The league attempts to balance the fixture list so that teams in the same section play each other twice at home and twice away, but sometimes this is impossible. A total of 228 matches were played, with 38 matches played by each team.

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1Celtic (C)3829639530+6593Qualification for the Champions League league stage
2Rangers3827478732+5585Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round
3Heart of Midlothian38208105442+1268Qualification for the Europa League play-off round
4Kilmarnock381414104644+256Qualification for the Europa League second qualifying round
5St Mirren38138174652−647Qualification for the Conference League second qualifying round
6Dundee381012164968−1942
7Aberdeen381212144852−448
8Hibernian381113145259−746
9Motherwell381013155659−343
10St Johnstone38811192954−2535
11Ross County (O)38811193867−2935Qualification for the Premiership play-off final
12Livingston (R)38510232970−4125Relegation to Championship

Results

Home \ AwayABECELDNDHOMHIBKILLIVMOTRANROSSTJSTM
Matches 1–22 Teams played each other twice, once at home and once away. Home \ Away ABE CEL DND HOM HIB KIL LIV MOT RAN ROS STJ STM Aberdeen — 1–3 1–1 2–1 0–2 0–1 2–1 3–3 1–1 4–0 0–0 0–3 Celtic 6–0 — 3–0 0–2 4–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–1 4–2 0–0 2–1 Dundee 1–0 0–3 — 1–0 1–2 2–2 1–0 1–1 0–5 0–0 2–1 4–0 Heart of Midlothian 2–0 1–4 3–2 — 2–2 0–0 1–0 0–1 0–1 2–2 1–0 2–0 Hibernian 2–0 0–0 0–0 0–1 — 1–0 2–3 2–2 0–3 2–2 2–0 2–3 Kilmarnock 2–0 2–1 2–2 0–1 2–2 — 3–1 1–0 1–0 0–1 2–1 1–1 Livingston 0–0 0–3 0–2 1–2 0–1 0–0 — 2–0 0–2 2–2 0–0 1–1 Motherwell 2–4 1–2 3–3 1–2 2–1 2–1 3–1 — 0–2 3–3 1–1 0–1 Rangers 1–3 0–1 3–1 2–1 4–0 3–1 4–0 1–0 — 3–1 2–0 2–0 Ross County 0–3 0–3 0–1 0–1 2–2 0–0 1–1 3–0 0–2 — 2–0 1–0 St Johnstone 1–1 1–3 2–2 0–2 1–0 2–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–0 — 1–0 St Mirren 2–2 0–3 2–1 1–0 2–2 0–1 1–0 0–0 0–3 2–0 4–0 — Source: Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.Matches 23–33 Teams played each other once, either home or away. Home \ Away ABE CEL DND HOM HIB KIL LIV MOT RAN ROS STJ STM Aberdeen — 1–1 0–0 — 2–2 — — — — 2–1 0–2 — Celtic — — 7–1 — — 1–1 — — — 1–0 3–1 3–0 Dundee — — — 2–3 — 2–2 — 2–3 0–0 2–0 — — Heart of Midlothian 2–0 2–0 — — 1–1 1–1 4–2 2–0 — — — — Hibernian — 1–2 2–1 — — — 3–0 — — 2–0 1–2 0–3 Kilmarnock 2–0 — — — 2–2 — 1–0 — 1–2 1–0 — 5–2 Livingston 0–0 0–3 1–4 — — — — 1–3 — — — 1–0 Motherwell 0–1 1–3 — — 1–1 1–1 — — — 5–0 — 1–1 Rangers 2–1 3–3 — 5–0 3–1 — 3–0 1–2 — — — — Ross County — — — 2–1 — — 3–2 — 3–2 — 0–1 1–1 St Johnstone — — 1–2 0–1 — 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–3 — — — St Mirren 2–1 — 2–0 1–2 — — — — 0–1 — 2–0 — Source: Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Aberdeen—1–31–12–10–20–12–13–31–14–00–00–3
Celtic6–0—3–00–24–13–12–01–12–14–20–02–1
Dundee1–00–3—1–01–22–21–01–10–50–02–14–0
Heart of Midlothian2–01–43–2—2–20–01–00–10–12–21–02–0
Hibernian2–00–00–00–1—1–02–32–20–32–22–02–3
Kilmarnock2–02–12–20–12–2—3–11–01–00–12–11–1
Livingston0–00–30–21–20–10–0—2–00–22–20–01–1
Motherwell2–41–23–31–22–12–13–1—0–23–31–10–1
Rangers1–30–13–12–14–03–14–01–0—3–12–02–0
Ross County0–30–30–10–12–20–01–13–00–2—2–01–0
St Johnstone1–11–32–20–21–02–11–12–20–21–0—1–0
St Mirren2–20–32–11–02–20–11–00–00–32–04–0—
Home \ AwayABECELDNDHOMHIBKILLIVMOTRANROSSTJSTM
Aberdeen—1–10–0—2–2————2–10–2—
Celtic——7–1——1–1———1–03–13–0
Dundee———2–3—2–2—2–30–02–0——
Heart of Midlothian2–02–0——1–11–14–22–0————
Hibernian—1–22–1———3–0——2–01–20–3
Kilmarnock2–0———2–2—1–0—1–21–0—5–2
Livingston0–00–31–4————1–3———1–0
Motherwell0–11–3——1–11–1———5–0—1–1
Rangers2–13–3—5–03–1—3–01–2————
Ross County———2–1——3–2—3–2—0–11–1
St Johnstone——1–20–1—0–21–11–10–3———
St Mirren2–1—2–01–2————0–1—2–0—

Matches 34–38

After 33 matches, the league was split into two sections of six teams, i.e. the top six and the bottom six, with the teams playing every other team in their section once (either at home or away). The exact matches were determined by the position of the teams in the league table at the time of the split.

Home \ AwayCELDNDHOMKILRANSTM
Top six Home \ Away CEL DND HOM KIL RAN STM Celtic — — 3–0 — 2–1 3–2 Dundee 1–2 — — 1–1 — 1–3 Heart of Midlothian — 3–0 — — 3–3 — Kilmarnock 0–5 — 0–0 — — — Rangers — 5–2 — 4–1 — — St Mirren — — 2–2 0–1 1–2 — Source: Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.Bottom six Home \ Away ABE HIB LIV MOT ROS STJ Aberdeen — — 5–1 1–0 — 1–0 Hibernian 0–4 — — 3–0 — — Livingston — 1–1 — — 2–0 2–1 Motherwell — — 4–1 — — 1–2 Ross County 2–2 2–1 — 1–5 — — St Johnstone — 1–3 — — 1–1 — Source: Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Celtic——3–0—2–13–2
Dundee1–2——1–1—1–3
Heart of Midlothian—3–0——3–3—
Kilmarnock0–5—0–0———
Rangers—5–2—4–1——
St Mirren——2–20–11–2—
Home \ AwayABEHIBLIVMOTROSSTJ
Aberdeen——5–11–0—1–0
Hibernian0–4——3–0——
Livingston—1–1——2–02–1
Motherwell——4–1——1–2
Ross County2–22–1—1–5——
St Johnstone—1–3——1–1—

Season statistics

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1Scotland Lawrence ShanklandHeart of Midlothian24
2Denmark Matt O'RileyCeltic18
3England James TavernierRangers17
4North Macedonia Bojan MiovskiAberdeen16
Nigeria Cyriel DessersRangers
6Canada Theo BairMotherwell15
7Japan Kyogo FuruhashiCeltic14
Scotland Simon MurrayRoss County
9Senegal Abdallah SimaRangers11
10Scotland Luke McCowanDundee10
Comoros Myziane MaolidaHibernian

Source:

Clean sheets

RankPlayerClubClean sheets
1England Jack ButlandRangers18
2England Joe HartCeltic15
Scotland Zander ClarkHeart of Midlothian
4England Will DennisKilmarnock14
5Netherlands Kelle RoosAberdeen10
England Zach HemmingSt Mirren
7Scotland David MarshallHibernian9
8Northern Ireland Trevor CarsonDundee8
Bulgaria Dimitar MitovSt Johnstone
10England Shamal GeorgeLivingston7

Source:

Awards

MonthManager of the MonthPlayer of the Month
ManagerClubPlayerClub
AugustNorthern Ireland Stephen RobinsonSt MirrenAustralia Ryan StrainSt Mirren
SeptemberNorthern Ireland Brendan RodgersCelticDenmark Matt O'RileyCeltic
OctoberScotland Derek McInnesKilmarnockSenegal Abdallah SimaRangers
NovemberScotland Steven NaismithHeart of MidlothianScotland Lawrence ShanklandHeart of Midlothian
DecemberScotland Derek McInnesKilmarnock
JanuaryBelgium Philippe ClementRangersScotland Alan Forrest
FebruaryScotland Blair SpittalMotherwell
MarchScotland Tony DochertyDundeeComoros Myziane MaolidaHibernian
AprilNorthern Ireland Brendan RodgersCelticScotland Luke McCowanDundee

The SPFL Premiership manager of the year was Derek McInnes of Kilmarnock.

The SPFL Premiership player of the year was Lawrence Shankland of Heart of Midlothian.

Premiership play-offs

The quarter-final was contested by the teams placed third and fourth in the 2023–24 Scottish Championship, Partick Thistle and Airdrieonians. Partick Thistle advanced to the semi-final to face the team placed second in the Championship, Raith Rovers. The final was contested by Raith Rovers and the team placed eleventh in the Premiership, Ross County, who won the tie to secure a place in the 2024–25 Scottish Premiership.

Qualified teams

TeamRank
Ross County1
Raith Rovers2
Partick Thistle3
Airdrieonians4
Quarter-finalSemi-finalFinal
1Ross County246
2Raith Rovers213 (4)2Raith Rovers101
3Partick Thistle2243Partick Thistle123 (3)
4Airdrieonians213

Quarter-final

First leg

7 May 2024Airdrieonians2–2Partick ThistleAirdrie
19:45Todorov 5' McGill 50'McBeth 29' Robinson 45'Stadium: Excelsior Stadium Attendance: 3,163 Referee: Grant Irvine

Second leg

10 May 2024Partick Thistle2–1 (4–3 agg.)AirdrieoniansGlasgow
19:45Graham 18', 47'Lyall 55'Stadium: Firhill Stadium Attendance: 6,531 Referee: Colin Steven

Semi-final

First leg

14 May 2024Partick Thistle1–2Raith RoversGlasgow
19:45Alston 73'Brown 22' Vaughan 40'Stadium: Firhill Stadium Attendance: 5,497 Referee: Chris Graham

Second leg

17 May 2024Raith Rovers1–2(a.e.t.) (3–3 agg.) (4–3 p)Partick ThistleKirkcaldy
19:45Matthews 30'Alston 16', 45+1'Stadium: Stark's Park Attendance: 6,070 Referee: Steven McLean
Penalties
Brown Turner Hamilton Easton VaughanStanway McBeth Graham McMillan Diack

Final

First leg

23 May 2024Raith Rovers1–2Ross CountyKirkcaldy
20:00Stanton 82'Dhanda 53' (pen.) Baldwin 71'Stadium: Stark's Park Attendance: 6,216 Referee: John Beaton

Second leg

26 May 2024Ross County4–0 (6–1 agg.)Raith RoversDingwall
12:00Murray 19', 75' White 47' Khela 86'Stadium: Victoria Park Attendance: 5,797 Referee: Don Robertson

Attendances

Celtic FC drew the highest average home attendance in the 2023-24 edition of the Scottish Premiership.

#Football clubHome gamesAverage attendance
1Celtic FC1958,827
2Rangers FC1949,141
3Heart of Midlothian1918,406
4Hibernian FC1916,808
5Aberdeen FC1916,055
6Dundee FC196,965
7St. Mirren FC196,646
8Kilmarnock FC196,523
9Motherwell FC195,699
10St. Johnstone FC194,547
11Ross County FC194,302
12Livingston FC193,582

External links