Alex McLeish savours Rangers title win two decades on from 'hurly burly' Celtic shootout that went down to the wire

Alex McLeish can’t believe 20 years have passed since the craziest goal-laden day of his career.

This Thursday will mark two decades since his Rangers side and Martin O’Neill’s Celtic produced a final day shoot-out for the ages. Twenty three miles separates Ibrox from Rugby Park and on that mad May Sunday in 2003, shots ringing out from both stadiums could be heard at either end of the A77. When their guns stopped smoking, 10 goals had been scored by the Old Firm against Dunfermline and Killie – and with Rangers getting six of them, the trophy was delivered to Govan on goal difference.

That 6-1 win over Pars, sealed by Mikel Arteta’s last-gasp penalty, was enough to eclipse Celtic’s 4-0 win in Ayrshire. Looking back on it, McLeish – who was to experience another Helicopter Sunday experience two years later – admits he has never known anything like that sun-splashed afternoon on Edmiston Drive. His team went on to clinch the Treble with a Scottish Cup Final victory over Dundee six days later – but it was the circumstances of the league victory over a Celtic side that had reached the UEFA Cup Final the previous week that will live with McLeish for the rest of his life.

“Listen, I grew up as a Rangers fan as a kid,” the 64-year-old, who had taken over from Dick Advocaat 18 months earlier, said.

“I would never have believed I would be the manager and win three trophies in one season. Fast forward all these years and it doesn’t seem real. But I was privileged to work with some tremendous players. That game against Dunfermline was such a hurly burly 90 minutes before Mikel’s goal at the end sealed it.

“I kept hearing all the people behind me saying ‘Celtic have scored, Celtic have missed a penalty, Celtic have done this,