The Scottish Premiership is set to launch its new campaign with plenty of excitement, and fans can expect every match of the opening weekend to be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The kickoff will begin on Friday when Rangers travel to face Dundee United, and the final fixture of the weekend will see Celtic take on Dundee on Monday night. After a dramatic conclusion to last season—Celtic clinching the championship on the final day against Hearts—the league returns with fresh faces, new tactical ideas, updated regulations, and a host of storylines to follow.
To help supporters navigate the myriad changes, we’ve compiled an A‑Z guide that highlights the most noteworthy developments for the 2024‑25 season. A – Artificial Surface: The Falkirk Stadium now hosts the only remaining synthetic pitch in the top flight.
Kilmarnock have reverted to a natural grass surface at Rugby Park, and Livingston’s relegation removed their artificial field from the Premiership roster, leaving Falkirk as the sole venue with a plastic surface. B – Broken Hearts: The heartbreak of missing out on a top‑flight title for the first time in 66 years has led to a significant squad turnover. Captain Lawrence Shankland left for Rangers despite being only a year into a three‑year contract, head coach Derek McInnes also departed, and influential midfielder Cammy Devlin followed suit, rejecting a renewed deal at Tynecastle and joining Ibrox.
C – Captains: Several clubs will see new leaders wearing the armband. Aberdeen, Hearts, Kilmarnock, Rangers and St Mirren have all appointed fresh captains after the exits of Graeme Shinnie, Lawrence Shankland, Brad Lyons, James Tavernier and Mark O'Hara respectively.
D – Deadline Day: The Scottish transfer window shuts on 3 September at 17:00, two days later than the English Premier League deadline. This gives clubs a little extra breathing room to finalize deals, meaning fans need not panic if their team appears quiet in the market during the first few weeks.
E – European Ambitions: Five Scottish sides entered the European qualifiers over the summer, but this season the focus shifts to securing the top four league positions. Scotland’s UEFA coefficient has slipped, making it likely that only four clubs will earn European places, intensifying the battle for those spots.
F – Flag‑raising Fixtures: Celtic, as defending champions, will hoist the league flag again when they meet Dundee on Monday. Newly promoted St Johnstone will also fly the Championship flag at home against Kilmarnock on Sunday, marking their return to the top tier. G – Gordon’s Farewell: Goalkeeper Craig Gordon will not feature in the Scottish game for the first time since the SPFL’s inception in 2013.
The 43‑year‑old Hearts legend announced his retirement after Scotland’s exit from the World Cup, ending a distinguished 25‑year professional career. H – High‑profile Signing: Celtic have broken their own transfer record by acquiring Danish striker Kasper Hogh from Bodø Glimt for a reported £11 million plus add‑ons. Hogh replaces Daizen Maeda, who departed for Ipswich Town, and is expected to bolster Celtic’s attacking options. I – International Breaks: Following the World Cup, the international calendar has been condensed.
Instead of three windows, there will be just two, creating an almost three‑week pause for clubs in September and October as national teams assemble. J – Johansson’s Appointment: Motherwell have appointed Alfred Johansson as their new manager.
At 35, he becomes the youngest head coach in the league, inheriting a squad after Jens Berthel Askou’s move to Toulouse. K – Kenobi Connection: Aberdeen’s new left‑back Nesta Guinness‑Walker boasts a surprising lineage – he is the great‑grandson of Sir Alec Guinness, the actor who famously portrayed Obi‑Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars saga. L – Law Adjustments: Recent rule changes mirror some World Cup innovations.
VAR can now intervene on second yellow‑card incidents, players have a five‑second limit to execute throw‑ins and goal‑kicks, substitutes must leave the field within ten seconds, and medical treatment pauses are capped at one minute. M – McInnes Era at Rangers: For the fifth consecutive season, Rangers begin under a new manager. Derek McInnes has been tasked with achieving what his five predecessors could not – lifting the league trophy for the Gers. N – New Mascot Hunt: St Johnstone are seeking a fresh face for their mascot role after Brogan the Beagle retired after an 11‑year tenure.
The club invites fans to suggest candidates for the beloved canine ambassador. O – O’Neill’s Return: At 74, Martin O’Neill embarks on what is technically his fourth spell at Celtic. He previously secured a league and cup double after stepping in for Brendan Rodgers and later Wilfried Nancy. P – Promoted Side: St Johnstone rejoin the Premiership after a single season away, becoming the sole newly promoted club following St Mirren’s successful play‑off victory over Partick Thistle in May.
Q – Questionable Cuts: Falkirk’s League Cup trialist David Ninkovic has attracted attention for his daring new haircut, sparking a light‑hearted debate among supporters. R – Robinson’s Rebuild: Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson enters his first full campaign at Pittodrie. The club also welcomes former Scotland captain Rachel Corsie to its board of directors, adding a respected voice to the club’s governance. S – Six‑Game Broadcast: All twelve Premiership clubs will be featured live on Sky Sports over the opening weekend – a historic first that offers fans unprecedented access to every match.
T – Transfer Activity: Over 80 new signings have already been recorded across the twelve clubs, and with more than a month remaining before the window closes, further movement is expected. U – Ultras Presence: Every Premiership side now boasts an organized ultras group, aiming to amplify the atmosphere and vocal support within the stands, whether fans love the fervor or find it intimidating.
V – Vrancken’s Challenge: Hearts have appointed Belgian manager Wouter Vrancken, the former Belgian Manager of the Year, to replace Derek McInnes. Vrancken narrowly missed a league title with Genk in 2023 and now seeks to reignite a title challenge in Scotland. W – World Cup Aftermath: The Premiership kicks off just twelve days after the World Cup final. While Spain’s victorious squad featured no Scottish players, two Spaniards have joined the league – Unax Alvarez at St Johnstone and Samuel Ramos at St Mirren.
X – Experience Milestone: Motherwell captain Paul McGinn, at 35, becomes the oldest player in the division, matching the age of his manager Alfred Johansson, a rare coincidence. Y – Years Since an Outsider Won: It has been 41 years since a club outside the Old Firm claimed the Scottish title.
Hearts pushed the league to a final‑day showdown last season; the question now is whether they, or another challenger, can break the duopoly. Z – Zero Untelevised Games: Every Premiership fixture on the opening weekend will be televised live on Sky Sports, meaning zero matches will be left off the broadcast schedule. The action begins at Tannadice on Friday night with Rangers versus Dundee United.
Fans can also enjoy the Scottish Premiership through the NOW streaming service, ensuring they never miss a moment of the drama, goals, and storylines that define Scotland’s premier football competition.