Scottish Premiership 2025-26 Season Preview
The return of Scottish football brings with it a mix of excitement, nerves, tension, and fear as the new Scottish Premiership season kicks off on Saturday, spanning three days of matches. Fans are eager to see how their clubs are preparing for the 2025-26 campaign.
Aberdeen
Aberdeen celebrated a triumphant end to last season by winning the Scottish Cup, their first in 35 years. Despite a fluctuating league performance under Jimmy Thelin, the cup victory secured their entry into the Europa League play-off stage, with a fallback to the Conference League if needed. Pre-season results have been mixed, with a win over Cove Rangers followed by losses to Fulham and Ipswich Town. Aberdeen faces a challenging opener against Hearts, led by former manager Derek McInnes, who has had a strong start in his new role. The club has been active in the transfer market, bringing in six permanent signings, including forward Nicolas Milanovic, and two loan players, to compensate for the departure of key players. Thelin remains optimistic, stating, "Everybody's looking sharp. It's still early, and we have things to improve on. Hopefully, we can create something good this season."
Celtic
Despite Aberdeen's upset in the Scottish Cup final, Brendan Rodgers' Celtic remains favorites in domestic competitions, having dominated the Premiership last season. The club has added Benjamin Nygren and returning defender Kieran Tierney to their ranks, while Nicolas Kuhn is among the notable departures. As the summer transfer window approaches its deadline, Celtic continues to be linked with various players. Their season starts with a familiar opponent, St Mirren, who held them to a draw at the end of last term. Rodgers is focused on the upcoming Champions League play-off, with potential opponents including Basel and Sturm Graz. Pre-season has seen varied outcomes, with wins against teams like Queen's Park and Newcastle, and losses to Estrela da Amadora and Ajax. Rodgers commented on the squad's readiness, saying, "The squad that we have currently is in a really good place. The guys that are here have worked very, very hard, but we need to improve this squad in general, so I'm hopeful that we can do that over the coming weeks."
Dundee
Dundee's management shake-up saw Tony Docherty dismissed after securing Premiership status, with Steven Pressley stepping in as head coach. Despite early setbacks in the Premier Sports Cup, Pressley has stabilized the team with wins over Bonnyrigg Rose and Montrose. He emphasizes the need for further signings, having already secured experienced players like Drey Wright and forward Emile Acquah. Dundee's league campaign opens against Hibernian, with new captain Simon Murray already making his mark. Pressley noted improvements, saying, "Much better as a unit, as a team, more synchronized in our pressing and our decision making."
Dundee United
Dundee United began their season with a win against UNA Strassen in the Conference League, though the narrow victory leaves much to be desired. A potential tie with Decic or Rapid Vienna awaits if they advance. Jim Goodwin's side also prepares for their Premiership opener against newly promoted Falkirk. The focus has been on replacing the goals of departed Sam Dalby, with new forwards Amar Fatah, Zac Sapsford, and Max Watters joining the squad. Despite Watters' injury, Goodwin is confident in the team's strength, stating, "The squad, if everybody is fit, is really strong."
Falkirk
After 15 years, Falkirk returns to the top flight, relying on the squad that secured their Championship victory. Key additions include goalkeeper Scott Bain and forward Brian Graham, with Scott Arfield extending his stay. John McGlynn's side excelled in their League Cup group and will celebrate their promotion by raising the Championship flag before facing Dundee United. McGlynn is eager to embrace the Premiership challenge, saying, "For a generation of the Falkirk fans, it'll be the first time they've seen their team in the Premiership, in the top league. Everyone here deserves it."
Hearts
Derek McInnes has made a stellar start as Hearts manager, leading the team to four consecutive wins in the Premier Sports Cup, each with four goals scored. This strong form sets the Tynecastle side up well for the Premiership campaign.