The Celtic and Rangers XI post-2000 combined XI that will cause drama this Christmas

Celtic and Rangers have dominated the Scottish football landscape for decades and there aren’t too many indications that will come to an end any time soon.

Of course, it would be foolish to ignore Aberdeen’s impressive opening to the current season and the Dons do look to be in contention for a place in the qualifying stages of next season’s Champions League as the campaign meets its midway point. The likes of Hibs and Hearts have also enjoyed brief spells of progress over the last 25 years.

However, by and large, it has been Celtic and Rangers that have found themselves on top since the turn of the millennium as the Hoops have claimed 18 titles during the 2000s and their cross-city rivals have landed the other seven.

There have been some outstanding players that have represented both clubs during that time and reaching the quarter-mark of the century allows us to take a look back and select the best combined XI from the two clubs.

So with our tin hats on, here is the Celtic-Rangers side we have selected...

GK - Alan McGregor

McGregor’s list of honours from his time at Rangers is seriously impressive. The former Scotland goalkeeper is a four-time Scottish Premiership champion, four-time Scottish Cup winner, five-time Scottish League Cup winner and two-time UEFA Cup/Europa League runner-up. Quite simply, he is a true Rangers legend after making over 500 appearances for the club and becoming a firm favourite with the Ibrox faithful.

RB - Fernando Ricksen

Ricksen became a popular character during a six-year stay at Rangers after moving to Ibrox from Eredivisie club AZ Alkmaar. After an awkward start to his time with the blue half of Glasgow, the Netherlands international went on to claim seven major honours before joining Zenit Saint Petersburg in 2006. Ricksen sadly passed away in Lanarkshire in 2019 at the age of just 43 after a six-year battle with Motor Neurone Disease.

LB - Emilio Izaguirre

A somewhat surprise signing at the time, the Honduras international joined Celtic from in 2010 and quickly became a firm favourite with Hoops supporters. Solid in defence, adventurous in attack, Izaguirre was a seven-time Premiership champion and won three Scottish Cups and two League Cups by the time his second spell with the club came to an end in 2019.

CB - David Weir

Weir was in the twilight of his career when he returned to the SPL to join Rangers in 2007 - but he enjoyed a highly successful stint at Ibrox. After teaming up with the legendary Walter Smith once again, Weir went on to claim eight major honours before bringing down the curtain on his career at the end of the 2011/12 season.

CB - Virgil van Dijk

Of course, we all know what Van Dijk has gone on to do during his time with Liverpool after helping the Reds to success in the Champions League, Premier League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup and that looks set to continue under current head coach Arne Slot too. His time at Celtic was relatively short by comparison but he made quite an impression, winning two league titles and a League Cup during a two-year stint at Celtic Park.

CM - Barry Ferguson

A lifelong Rangers fan, Ferguson went on to enjoy two successful spells with the club, claiming 15 major honours including five Premiership titles either side of the millennium. A classy and hardworking midfielder, Ferguson earned his place playing alongside a whole host of Rangers legends and became one himself.

CM - Shinsuke Nakamura

The Japan international became a cult hero with Celtic after joining from Serie A Reggina in 2005. Over a four-year spell at Celtic Park, Nakamura became a three-time Premiership champion, a two-time League Cup winner and was part of the Hoops side that lifted the Scottish Cup with a 1-0 win against Dunfermline Athletic in 2007. Who can forget some of his set-piece exploits too!

CM - Scott Brown

Surely no other player has become as synonymous with Celtic in recent years? A true leader in the heart of the Hoops midfield over a 14-year spell, Brown amassed an impressive trophy haul consisting of ten league titles, six Scottish Cups and six Scottish League clubs. Some of his battles with his Rangers counterparts have gone down in Celtic folklore.

FW - Chris Sutton

Sutton arrived at Celtic Park on the back of a poor spell at Chelsea as he found the net on just three occasions during his time with the Blues. However, the man that forged one of the most deadly partnerships in the Premier League alongside Alan Shearer had no such issues with Celtic as he averaged not far short of a goal in every two games during a near-six year stay with the club.

FW - Kris Boyd

The Premiership's record goalscorer, Boyd made his name as a prolific striker with Kilmarnock before going on to have a similar impact during two spells with Rangers. The former Scotland international and now Sky Sports pundit smashed his way to over 120 goals during his time at Ibrox and helped Rangers to success in the Premiership, Scottish Cup and League Cup.

FW - Henrik Larsson

A true legend and a Celtic icon. It’s difficult to find the words to do justice to Larsson and the impact he made on the club. Larsson joined Celtic in 1997 and scored over 220 goals for the club before departing for Barcelona and also became an impressive signing for Manchester United at one point in his career. Eight major honours were secured along with a place in the hearts of Celtic supporters for decades to come.