Combined XI: Celtic v Rangers (21st century)

Ahead of the Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Rangers at Hampden, we have put together a combined XI comprised of players from both sides of the Glasgow divide since the turn of the century.

As far as footballing rivalries go, there aren't much bigger than Celtic v Rangers.

There is no love lost between the two powerhouses of Scottish football, who shared a combined 108 national league titles between them - 55 for Rangers and 53 for Celtic.

After Celtic sealed a third consecutive Scottish Premiership title, Brendan Rodgers' side will take on Philippe Clement's Gers in the first Old Firm Scottish Cup final since 2002, with the Hoops at Hampden aiming to complete the domestic Double at Hampden.

Ahead of this hotly anticipated Old Firm derby at the national stadium, we've assembled a combined XI made up of players from both Celtic and Rangers since 2000, lining up in a 4-3-3 formation:

GK: Stefan Klos

Starting off in goal we have plumped for iconic Rangers goalkeeper Stefan Klos, who spent eight-and-a-half years at Ibrox between 1998 and 2007 after joining from Borussia Dortmund.

Nicknamed 'Der Goalie', a play on fellow legendary Rangers keeper Andy Goram's own moniker 'The Goalie', Klos won 10 major trophies with the Gers and was appointed captain in 2004.

Relatively small for a goalkeeper in modern terms at 6ft, Klos was an ever-reliable figure between the sticks for Rangers who was outstanding at shot-stopping and thwarting opposition forwards in one-v-one situations.
 

RB: James Tavernier

The only current player to force his way into this side, Rangers captain James Tavernier has been an inspirational figure for the Light Blues since signing from Wigan Athletic in 2015.

Helping earn Rangers promotion back to the top flight of Scottish football in 2016 following a four-year stint in the lower leagues, Tavernier was handed the club captaincy by Steven Gerrard in 2018.

Scorer of over 100 goals in Rangers in all competitions from right-back, Tavernier is a tremendously technically gifted footballer who has so often delivered the goods for the Gers both from set pieces and open play during his time in Glasgow.
 

CB: Lorenzo Amoruso

Joining Rangers from Italian outfit Fiorentina in 1997, central defender Lorenzo Amoruso would go on to enjoy six memorable years at Ibrox.

An instantly recognisable figure with long dark hair, Amoruso was a defender who played the game with grace and style, regularly striding forward with the ball and launching ambitious forward passes.

A key member of Rangers' Treble-winning side of 2002/03 under Alex McLeish, Amoruso was named PFA Players' Player of the Year.
 

CB: Virgil van Dijk

Signed from FC Groningen for £2.6m in 2013, Virgil van Dijk was a revelation during his two-year stint at Celtic Park.

Winner of two Premiership titles during his time in Glasgow, as well as a League Cup trophy under Ronny Deila, Van Dijk was revered by Celtic supporters for his domineering presence and relentless winning mentality.

Now heralded as one of the best central defenders in the world, the Dutch powerhouse was sold to Southampton for £13m before making his switch to Liverpool, where's he added the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup to his illustrious trophy collection.

LB: Kieran Tierney

A graduate of Celtic's academy system, Kieran Tierney left everything out on the pitch during his four years as a professional with his boyhood club.

A tenacious defender who is very difficult to beat one-on-one, Tierney is also a threat going forward with unrelenting energy and the capacity to pick out a telling pass or cross.

Winning a total of eight major trophies during his time at Celtic, Tierney became the most expensive Scottish player of all time when transferring to Premier League giants Arsenal for £25m in 2019.
 

CM: Scott Brown

Growing into the face of Celtic as club captain for 11 years, Scott Brown won a staggering total of 22 trophies at the Parkhead giants.

Patrolling the heart of the midfield with his trademark skinhead haircut, Brown was a natural leader with a terrific football brain and unparalleled competitive spirit.

Always demanding the highest standards from his teammates around him, Brown was the heartbeat of a Celtic side which won nine consecutive league titles between 2011/2 and 2019/20.
 

CM: Barry Ferguson

If Scott Brown was the face of Celtic in the 2010s, then Barry Ferguson was the equivalent at Rangers in the 2000s.

Arguably one of the most naturally gifted young Scottish footballers ever produced, Ferguson was named Rangers captain at the age of 22 after graduating through the club's youth system.

A classy midfielder with a tigerish workrate, Ferguson won a total of 15 major trophies across two spells at Rangers, and captained the club to the 2007/08 UEFA Cup Final before the Gers succumbed to Zenit St Petersburg at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.
 

CM: Ronald de Boer

A Champions League winner with Ajax in 1995 and a Dutch international, Rangers pulled off a major coup when acquiring Ronald de Boer from Barcelona in 2000.

Joining an existing contingent of Dutch players at Ibrox under Dick Advocaat including Arthur Numan, Fernando Ricksen and Giovanni van Bronckhorst, with twin brother Frank also signing for the club in 2004, De Boer made a huge impact across four years at Rangers.

A member of Rangers' distinguished Treble-winning side of 2002/03, scoring 19 goals in all competitions, the technically outstanding De Boer oozed class in an attacking midfield position.
 

ST: Henrik Larsson

One of the finest players to have ever adorned the famous green-and-white hoops of Celtic, Swedish striker Henrik Larsson was a phenomenon at Parkhead between 1997 and 2004 after signing from Feyenoord for a bargain £650,000.

A forward with sublime technical quality and finishing prowess, Larsson scored a staggering 242 goals in 315 Celtic matches - ranking him third in the club's all-time scoring standings.

Winning a total of eight major trophies in Glasgow, Larsson picked up the European Golden Shoe in 2001 after firing 53 goals for the Hoops in all competitions as Martin O'Neill's side claimed the treble.
 

ST: Chris Sutton

Although having played alongside the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at Sweden, Barcelona and Manchester United respectively, Henrik Larsson has publicly disclosed his best ever strike partner to have been Chris Sutton at Celtic.

High praise indeed from the man Celtic supporters refer to as the 'King of Kings', with Sutton proving a resounding success in Glasgow following a transfer from Chelsea in 2000.

At 6ft 3, Sutton was able to provide a focal point up front for Celtic, acting as the perfect foil for Larsson whilst also prolific in front of goal himself - scoring 79 times in 180 appearances for the Bhoys in all competitions.
 

ST: Kris Boyd

Despite a poor record in Old Firm derby matches - netting just once against Celtic as a Rangers player - Kris Boyd remains one of the finest goalscorers in the Govan giants' history.

Notching a mammoth 217 goals in Scotland's top flight across spells at Kilmarnock and Rangers, Boyd is the record scorer in the Scottish Premiership by a long way, a total of 79 goals in front of Celtic icon Henrik Larsson.

Not always first pick for Old Firm games or European nights, Boyd's penalty box instincts and devastating finishing helped fire Rangers to six major trophies during his four-year stay Ibrox between 2006 and 2010.