Mega Celtic cash windfall from UEFA deals Rangers reality check but Philippe Clement holds 2 paths to top jackpot

Celtic have seen off Rangers as they topped the UEFA cash distributions handed out for the last year to Scottish Premiership sides.

And Philippe Clement will know he needs to win the title this season if he is to claim a similar payday next term with Celtic set to top the UEFA windfall ranking again this campaign - even if they WIN the Europa League. UEFA have revealed that Celtic took in over £26million from their Champions League exploits in the 2022/23 competition despite finishing bottom of their group against Europe's elite as they faced off against Real Madrid, RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk under Ange Postecoglou.

This payment is made up of a participation fee, prize money, UEFA coefficient payment and TV rights. Rangers faced off against Liverpool, Ajax and Napoli as they also finished bottom of the pile in a nightmare campaign that saw the club rack up the worst ever group stage record. Despite the results, there was a welcome boost for the Ibrox coffers as £18.29million came in the door.

The windfall that Hearts received from their Europa Conference League exploits have also been revealed. They crashed out from a group that included Rigas, Istanbul Basaksehir and Fiorentina which brought in £4.11million for the Gorgie side.

And Celtic look will remain top dogs in the UEFA payday for this European campaign under Brendan Rodgers over. They failed to emerge from a group that included Atletico Madrid, Feyenoord and Lazio - but being in the group stage landed the club almost £31million.

But Rangers can continue adding to their UEFA prize pot as they await to find out their opponent for the last 16 of the Europa League. The Champions League play-off defeat to PSV landed the club a £4.2million parachute payment. So