There has been rumours and speculation this week about the size of the Scottish Premier League. Here’s the history as Scottish football asks itself, does size really matter?
The current size is 12; rumours suggest it could be lowered to 10. When it comes to league sizes, what is the historical position? And what might change mean for Celtic?
128 League seasons
The Scottish League first took place in 1890-91. Since then, there has been a national League every year, except during World War Two and the year after this. This means there’s been 128 League seasons, including this year.
Eight different numbers
When the League started (1890-91) there were 11 teams; surprisingly, an odd number. This has actually happened twice. In total, there’s been eight different numbers of teams at various times in Scotland’s top league: 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22.
Of these eight different League sizes, Celtic have won the title in seven of them. The only one they haven’t done is 11 teams (1890-91 and 1900-01).
The Bhoys’ first title in 1892-93 featured a ten-team league. Overall, 12-team leagues have given Celtic most wins (19).
The size of the League has largely not influenced Celtic’s success. Of the Bhoys’ 54 titles, 29 have been won in Leagues of 12 or fewer; 25 have been 14 teams or more.
Celtic’s 54 league titles
In total, the Celtic record for their 54 League wins reads as follows (not counting this season):
10 teams – 10 wins
12 teams – 19 wins
14 teams – 1 win
16 teams – 1 win
18 teams – 9 wins
20 teams – 13 wins
22 teams – 1 win
The most common number of teams in Scotland’s top league has been 12. This has happened in 32 seasons. This is followed by 18 teams and 10 teams (both on 29 seasons) and 20 teams (21 seasons).
Alterations on 20 separate occasions
The history of the Scottish League has been constantly changing numbers of teams in the top flight. In the 128 seasons it has taken place, the number of teams has been altered on 20 separate occasions. The average number of teams per season has been 15.
The longest single run when the League has been one size is 25 years. That is the current 12 teams set-up, which has been the case since 2000-01, albeit this has seen various changes such as the introduction of a split.
Decades like the 1950s with up to 20 teams
It’s difficult to know what the effects are of changing the number of teams. Some believe a bigger League increases competition; they point to decades like the 1950s with up to 20 teams which enjoyed variety of trophies and league wins.
However, the 1980s was also very competitive with only 10 sides. In addition, one factor that led to a smaller league being introduced in the 1970s was Celtic’s nine-in-a-row run.
Altering League numbers is unlikely to have a huge impact
Given the role of money in success across Europe; altering League numbers is unlikely to have a huge impact. If Celtic back reform, it’s likely because they expect more Champions League games in future; this would mean they’d want fewer domestic games.
In reality, there’s no settled size of Scotland’s top league. Of the 128 seasons, 63 have had 12 or fewer teams; 65 have been 14+.
Everyone has an opinion on League size but the honest answer is that every system has positives and negatives. Problems that people perceive now could be addressed with a bigger league, but they would surely create new issues themselves.
What are your thoughts? Here’s what the St Johnstone thinks…
🗣️ “That would be a 𝗵𝘂𝗴𝗲 mistake.”
St Johnstone owner Adam Webb 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 tells Sky Sports why he is against plans to cut the Premiership to 10 teams, and explains why growing the top-flight is the correct move ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/tmuAz60IS0
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) April 2, 2025
Matthew Marr
If you want to learn more about Celtic history, follow Hail Hail History on Twitter/X. You can also take part in a FREE Celtic history walking tour. Visit celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com for more information.
Matthew’s debut Celtic book titled ‘The Bould Bhoys – Glory to their name’ was published by Celtic Star Books last year and is available to order HERE. This brilliant book is also available on Amazon Kindle for just £3.49 and includes all photo sections that appear in the hardback edition.
Been saying this forever.
It is the whole league that is bloated.
42 teams for such a small population is silly and puts strain on these small teams.
Mergers should be made.
Less teams would in theory produce a better product and make the teams more financially secure.
In Premier league start with Celtic, Huns, Hearts Hibs Aberdeen, St Johnstone, Dundee and Utd, merge teams to create one Fife team, a Highland team, a central and Southern Scotland team.
It would take time and piss people off but in the end if people love football they will find a new team.
Tha A league cut itself to 10 teams for a time and it meant only better players rise to the top and the quality improved 10 fold. That is why you see so many players in Scotland come from there now. 20 years ago they were rare, three at the Huns and Viduka at Paradise.