However, when it comes to the Scottish coefficient, the Gers continue to lead.
Rangers and Celtic have wrapped up another European campaign.
And, while the Ibrox club has received plaudits for their return to the Europa League’s knockout stages, Celtic are betting big on their success in the new lucrative Champions League format.
Celtic had their strongest European campaign in years, finishing 21st out of 24 eligible teams in the new league phase before losing narrowly to Bayern Munich in the playoff round.
Ignoring considerations such as prize money for glamour clashes, according to Football statistics. According to Coefficient.eu, Brendan Rodgers’ team won £28 million in Uefa prize money.
That’s in stark contrast to Rangers, who leave the Europa League with £11.7 million in prize money to show for their efforts.
Despite a challenging schedule, the Gers finished eighth in the Europa League, defeating Fenerbahce to advance to the quarterfinals.
But Athletic Bilbao were too hot to handle, even if the contentious decision not to award a penalty for a tug on Cyriel Dessers generated outrage.
Rangers are expected to drop four spots to 30th in the live coefficient standings, but they remain far ahead of Celtic, who have CLIMBED five spots but are still 54th on the continent.
Assuming Celtic win the title and Rangers finish second, both half of the Old Firm will need to pre-qualify if they want to compete in the Champions League next season.
The Celtics advance directly to the Champions Path playoff round, while the Rangers advance to the League Path’s second qualifying round.
Hearts made £4 million with their Conference League campaign, while Kilmarnock made £1 million and St Mirren made £770,000.
Barry Ferguson, meantime, has stated that he intends to return to an ambassadorial role if the Ibrox board does not want him to take over as permanent manager.
He said: “I’ll go back and do what I was doing before and get right behind them, making sure that we get the club back to winning trophies on a regular basis.
“I’ll go back to my ambassador, hopefully, If that offer’s still there.
“I got an opportunity that not many people get. I would have been crazy to knock it back.
“I had a lot of doubters, but I’ve got no issue with that. Everybody’s entitled to that opinion.
“But I know I can do the job.
“I know I’ve got the right people behind me, and all I was focussed on was making sure the three months were as enjoyable as possible.
“Now we’ve had a few bumps down the road, which is tough, but that happens at a club like Rangers.
“But my main objective and everybody who’s connected with Rangers is, to make sure we get the club back to a strong position and challenging every single season, because this season has been well off the standards that’s required.”
