Celtic emerged victorious over Rangers in the final of the revived Tennent’s Sixes tournament, held at Braehead Arena on Sunday night, securing a 5-4 win after having suffered a 7-1 defeat to the same opponents in the group stage the previous day. The event featured retired players from all 12 Scottish Premiership teams and marked the return of a competition that originally ran from 1984 to 1993.

The closely contested final reflected the longstanding intensity of the football rivalry between the two Glasgow clubs. Celtic’s Charlie Mulgrew acknowledged that emotions ran high during the match, leading to some heated moments on and off the pitch. Mulgrew notably ignored handshake attempts from Rangers captain Andy Halliday after the final whistle, instead choosing to celebrate with the crowd. He also exchanged words with Rangers manager Barry Ferguson during the game. In the post-match period, tensions continued within the Rangers dressing room, with a video circulated on social media showing Kirk Broadfoot apparently criticizing goalkeeper Lee Robinson.

Speaking to Premier Sports, the 40-year-old Mulgrew said the competitive spirit was fired up by the earlier heavy defeat, explaining that adrenaline and rivalry played a significant role. He described the atmosphere as intense, with some rough tackles exchanged and emotional reactions spilling over amid the excitement of the win. Mulgrew emphasized the importance of the local rivalry, noting the difficulty of losing to Rangers and the satisfaction of turning the result around. He described the victory as feeling like winning an actual trophy and acknowledged that passion occasionally led to heated exchanges on the floor.

Celtic’s manager, Tom Boyd, expressed his frustration with the team’s first performance but celebrated the final outcome, comparing the experience to winning a league title. His assistant, Simon Donnelly, echoed the significance of an Old Firm fixture, saying that the rivalry elevated the stakes even in a six-a-side tournament involving retired players. Donnelly remarked that the players were “embarrassed” by their initial heavy defeat but acknowledged that a match against Rangers always carries weight akin to a major Scottish Cup final, regardless of the context.

The Tennent’s Sixes revival offered an opportunity for former Premiership players to showcase their skills and rekindle one of Scottish football’s most storied rivalries, underscoring the enduring passion between Celtic and Rangers.