Everything That's Happened in Football Since Scotland Last Qualified for a Major Tournament

Scotland can qualify for a major tournament for the first time in 23 years when they take on Serbia on Thursday evening

The Scots are on an eight-game unbeaten run and will book their place at Euro 2020 with victory in Belgrade, ending an absence of over two decades from major tournament football.

Scotland last featured at a major tournament at the 1998 World Cup in France, securing their qualification for the flagship event on 11 October 1997.

23 years is a long time and the landscape of football has changed drastically - let's take a look at everything that's happened since.

1. The Transfer World Record Has Been Multiplied By 10

Ronaldo had replaced Alan Shearer as the world's most expensive player in 1997 / GERARD JULIEN/Getty Images

In October 1997, Brazilian Ronaldo was the brand new transfer world record holder, having moved from Barcelona to Inter for £19.5m that summer.

Since, the transfer world record has been broken on 10 occasions, and the world record fee has multiplied by 10, following Neymar's £198m move from Barcelona to PSG in 2017.

2. Rangers Have Won Seven League Titles, Been Relegated to the Fourth Tier & Promoted Back to the Scottish Premiership

Rangers have had an up and down two decades / Michael Steele/Getty Images

In October 1997, Rangers were hunting a record breaking 10th successive Scottish league title. They would be thwarted by Celtic during the 1997/98 season, but would go on to be crowned champions of Scotland seven times over the next 12 years.

However, in 2012, Rangers suffered a plethora of financial problems, entered administration and were relegated to the fourth tier. They have since won three promotions in four years to return to the Premiership, and are now embarking on their first serious title challenge in a decade.

3. Roy Hodgson Has Managed 12 Different Teams in Seven Different Countries

Roy Hodgson in 1997 / Getty Images/Getty Images

And what a variety of teams they have been; from Udinese to the UAE, Finland to Fulham.

Hodgson was in charge at Blackburn during the 1997 season. He then went to Swiss outfit Grasshoppers, Danish outfit Copenhagen, before spells in Norway with Viking and Italy with Udinese. Going from Liverpool to West Brom to England was arguably his least strange managerial journey.

4. Manchester City Have Been Relegated to the Third Tier & Crowned Premier League Champions Four Times

City were relegated to the third tier before the 1998 World Cup / Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

During the 1997/98 season, Manchester City finished 22nd in Division One to succumb to relegation to the third tier. Their top scorer was Scotland international Paul Dickov, who netted nine goals.

They secured successive promotions to book their place in the Premier League in 2002 - and were then relegated again. Sheikh Mansour bought the club in 2008, City won the Premier League in 2012 and set a record points total in 2018.

5. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Christian Pulisic & Declan Rice Have Been Born

Neither Pulisic or Alexander-Arnold had been born when Scotland last qualified for a major tournament / Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

When Scotland last secured qualification for a major tournament, Alexander-Arnold, Pulisic and Rice were still just a pipe dream.

Pulisic was born in September 1998, Alexander-Arnold followed that October and Rice was born in January 1999, meaning not only were the trio not around to see Scotland's successful qualification, but they also missed their World Cup 98 group stage exit.

6. Wimbledon Have Gone from the Premier League to MK Dons and Secured Six Promotions

Joe Kinnaear's Wimbledon were a Premier League mainstay in the 90s / Phil Cole/Getty Images

Back in October 1997, Wimbledon were flying high in the Premier League and pushing for a European place. They capitulated during the second half of the season but still preserved their status as a top flight side.

In May 2000, the club were relegated and in 2003, they controversially moved to Milton Keynes.

Phoenix club AFC Wimbledon were formed in 2002, and they secured five promotions in nine years to climb from the very bottom of the football pyramid back to the Football League. Wimbledon were promoted once more in 2016, and the League One outfit have since moved back to their spiritual home at Plough Lane.

7. Chelsea Have Had 15 Managerial Changes

Mourinho has been appointed Chelsea manager twice since Scotland qualified for a major tournament / Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Ruud Gullit was Chelsea manager when Scotland last qualified for a major tournament. He was replaced by Gianluca Vialli four months before Scotland's 1998 World Cup campaign, who was then replaced by Claudio Ranieri.

Roman Abramovich completed his Chelsea takeover in June 2003 and the managerial merry-go-round really went up a pace. 11 different men have since taken the Stamford Bridge hot seat - including Jose Mourinho and Guus Hiddink twice.

8. RB Leipzig Have Formed, Secured Four Promotions & Reached the Champions League Semi Finals

Leipzig were -12 years old when Scotland qualified for the 1998 World Cup / TF-Images/Getty Images

RB Leipzig were still a pipe dream in October 1997 - Red Bull had only just gone on sale in the States when Scotland qualified for the World Cup.

The club were formed in 2009 and have since secured four promotions and reached the Champions League semi finals in just their second season in the competition.