The Scottish Premiership is set to roar back to life this year, and fans can expect an action‑packed opening weekend that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports from start to finish. Kicking off with Rangers travelling to Dundee United on Friday night and wrapping up with Celtic’s clash against Dundee on Monday, every match in the first weekend will be available for viewers, marking a historic moment for Scottish football broadcasting.
After a dramatic conclusion to last season—where Celtic secured the title on the final day against Hearts—there are numerous fresh storylines to follow. New managers have taken the helm at several clubs, player rosters have shifted dramatically, and a handful of rule changes promise to influence how the game is played and officiated. To help supporters navigate the evolving landscape, we’ve compiled an A‑Z guide that highlights the most noteworthy developments for the 2024‑25 campaign. A – Astroturf: The league’s artificial playing surfaces have been whittled down to a single venue.
Kilmarnock have returned to a natural grass pitch at Rugby Park, and Livingston’s relegation means the Falkirk Stadium now hosts the only remaining synthetic surface in the top tier. B – Broken Hearts: The heartbreak of missing out on a first top‑flight title in 66 years last season has led to a significant squad overhaul at Hearts. Captain Lawrence Shankland left for Rangers despite being only a year into a three‑year contract, head coach Derek McInnes departed, and influential midfielder Cammy Devlin also moved to Ibrox after turning down a new deal at Tynecastle.
C – Captains: Several clubs will see new leaders wearing the armband. Aberdeen, Hearts, Kilmarnock, Rangers and St Mirren have all appointed fresh captains following the exits of Graeme Shinnie, Lawrence Shankland, Brad Lyons, James Tavernier and Mark O’Hara respectively. D – Deadline Day: The Scottish Premiership transfer window shuts on 3 September at 17:00, two days later than the English Premier League deadline.
This extended timeline gives clubs additional breathing room to finalize signings before the window closes. E – Europe: Five Scottish clubs entered European qualifiers over the summer, but this season the race will be for the top four spots, as Scotland’s declining UEFA coefficient is expected to cost the league one of its usual European berths. F – Flag Days: Champions Celtic will once again hoist the league flag when they face Dundee on Monday, while newly promoted St Johnstone will raise the Championship flag at home against Kilmarnock on Sunday.
G – Gordon: Goalkeeper Craig Gordon will not feature in the Scottish game for the first time since the SPFL’s inaugural season in 2013. The 43‑year‑old Hearts legend announced his retirement after Scotland’s World Cup exit, ending a distinguished two‑decade career. H – Hogh: Celtic have broken their transfer record by signing Danish striker Kasper Hogh from Bodø Glimt for a fee of £11 million plus add‑ons.
Hogh arrives to fill the void left by Daizen Maeda, who departed for Ipswich Town. I – International Breaks: Following the World Cup, the international calendar has been compressed, leaving an almost three‑week pause in September and October. This year’s schedule features only two FIFA windows rather than the usual three. J – Johansson: Motherwell’s new manager Alfred Johansson, aged 35, steps into the role after Jens Berthel Askou’s departure for Toulouse.
Johansson becomes the youngest head coach in the league and faces the challenge of restoring Motherwell’s fortunes. K – Kenobi: Aberdeen’s left‑back Nesta Guinness‑Walker carries a unique claim to fame—he is the great‑grandson of Sir Alec Guinness, the actor who portrayed Obi‑Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars trilogy. L – Law Changes: New VAR protocols now allow officials to intervene on second yellow‑card incidents, mirroring recent World Cup practice. Additionally, players have a five‑second window to execute throw‑ins and goal kicks, substitutes must leave the field within ten seconds, and medical treatment breaks are limited to one minute.
M – McInnes: Rangers begin their season under a new manager for the fifth consecutive year. Derek McInnes inherits the daunting task of achieving what previous permanent managers have not—winning the Scottish Premiership title. N – New Mascot: St Johnstone are searching for a successor to Brogan the Beagle, their long‑standing mascot who retired after an eleven‑year tenure.
O – O’Neill: Veteran manager Martin O’Neill, now 74, returns to Celtic for what is technically his fourth spell at the club. He guided Celtic to a league‑and‑cup double last season after taking over from Brendan Rodgers and later Wilfried Nancy.
P – Promoted: St Johnstone re‑enter the Premiership after a single season away, becoming the sole promoted side following St Mirren’s successful play‑off campaign against Partick Thistle. Q – Questionable Haircuts: Falkirk’s League Cup trialist David Ninković may face some light‑hearted teasing over his new haircut as the season gets underway. R – Robinson’s Rebuild: Aberdeen boss Stephen Robinson embarks on his first full season at Pittodrie, aiming to reshape the squad. In a parallel move, former Scotland captain and Sky Sports pundit Rachel Corsie has been appointed to Aberdeen’s board of directors, adding a fresh perspective to club governance.
S – Six: All twelve clubs will have their opening‑weekend fixtures aired live on Sky Sports, a first for the league. This means a total of six matches will be broadcast across the weekend, providing fans with unprecedented access. T – Transfers: Over 80 new signings have already been recorded across the 12 Premiership clubs, and with the window still open for more than a month, further activity is expected. U – Ultras: Every Premiership club now boasts an organized ultras group, bringing heightened passion, chants, and visual displays to stadiums throughout Scotland.
V – Vrancken: Hearts have appointed Wouter Vrancken as manager, succeeding Derek McInnes. Vrancken, who was named Belgian Manager of the Year and narrowly missed a league title with Genk in 2023, is tasked with reigniting Hearts’ title ambitions. W – World Cup: The new season launches just 12 days after the World Cup final.
While Spain’s victorious squad featured no Scottish‑based players, two Spaniards—Unax Álvarez (St Johnstone) and Samuel Ramos (St Mirren)—have joined the league, adding an international flair. X – Xperience: Motherwell captain Paul McGinn, at 35, becomes the oldest player in the division, matching the age of his manager Alfred Johansson—a quirky coincidence that highlights the blend of experience and youth in the league.
Y – Years: It has been 41 years since a club outside the Old Firm claimed the Scottish title. Hearts pushed the battle to the final day last season; the question now is whether they or another challenger can break the duopoly. Z – Zero: There will be zero Scottish Premiership matches not shown on Sky Sports during the opening weekend. The action kicks off at Tannadice on Friday night as Rangers travel to face Dundee United, ensuring fans can watch every game live.
Beyond the A‑Z, supporters can stream the Premiership via the NOW platform, and the league encourages the use of Chrome for the best video playback experience. With a mix of fresh faces, managerial changes, rule updates, and a full slate of live broadcasts, the 2024‑25 Scottish Premiership promises to be a season full of drama, excitement, and new chapters for clubs and fans alike.