# Dubai Champions Cup

The Dubai Champions Cup (originally called the Dubai Super Cup) was an annual association football match contested between the champions of the English and Scottish leagues. The competition took place for three consecutive seasons from 1986–87 to 1988–89 in the United Arab Emirates port of Dubai, during the time when English football clubs were banned from taking part in UEFA club competitions as a result of the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985.

## History

The first match took place on 9 December 1986 at the Al Wasl Stadium between English champions Liverpool and Scottish champions Celtic. The match finished 1–1, with Liverpool winning 4–2 on a penalty shoot-out.
English champions Everton and Scottish champions Rangers played the match the following year in December 1987. Rangers came from two goals behind to level the match after 90 minutes at 2–2. This was despite referee Keith Cooper disallowing six goals for the Ibrox club during the game. Rangers went on to win 8–7 on penalty kicks.
The final match took place on 4 April 1989 at the Al-Nasar Stadium. The competition was now renamed the Dubai Champions Cup and featured the same sides that took part in 1986; Liverpool and Celtic. Once again the match finished level after 90 minutes, 1–1; this time Celtic won 4–2 on penalty kicks.

## 1986–87

| GK | Pat Bonner |
| DF | Danny McGrain |
| DF | Roy Aitken |
| DF | Pierce O'Leary |
| DF | Derek Whyte |
| MF | Peter Grant |
| MF | Tony Shepherd |
| MF | Paul McStay |
| FW | Alan McInally |
| FW | Mark McGhee |
| FW | Owen Archdeacon |
| Substitutes: ||
| DF | Willie McStay |
| FW | Mo Johnston |
| Manager: ||
| Davie Hay ||
| GK | Bruce Grobbelaar |
| DF | Gary Gillespie |
| DF | Barry Venison |
| DF | Alan Hansen |
| DF | Jim Beglin |
| MF | Steve Nicol |
| DF | Mark Lawrenson |
| MF | Steve McMahon |
| MF | Ronnie Whelan |
| FW | Paul Walsh |
| FW | Ian Rush |
| Substitutes: ||
| FW | Kenny Dalglish |
| Player/Manager: ||
| Kenny Dalglish ||

## 1987–88

| GK | Chris Woods |
| DF | Scott Nisbet |
| DF | Jimmy Phillips |
| DF | Graham Roberts |
| MF | Ray Wilkins |
| DF | Richard Gough |
| MF | Trevor Francis |
| FW | Robert Fleck |
| FW | Ally McCoist |
| MF | Ian Durrant |
| MF | Derek Ferguson |
| Substitutes: ||
| GK | Nicky Walker |
| DF | Stuart Munro |
| DF | Jimmy Nicholl |
| MF | Dave MacFarlane |
| MF | Graeme Souness |
| MF | Davie Kirkwood |
| Player/Manager: ||
| Graeme Souness ||
| GK | Neville Southall |
| DF | Gary Stevens |
| DF | Neil Pointon |
| DF | Kevin Ratcliffe |
| DF | Dave Watson |
| MF | Peter Reid |
| MF | Trevor Steven |
| FW | Adrian Heath |
| FW | Graeme Sharp |
| MF | Ian Snodin |
| MF | Kevin Sheedy |
| Substitutes: ||
| MF | Ian Wilson |
| MF | Neil Adams |
| GK | Bobby Mimms |
| Manager: ||
| Colin Harvey ||

## 1988–89

| GK | Pat Bonner |
| DF | Chris Morris |
| DF | Anton Rogan |
| DF | Steve McCahill |
| DF | Mick McCarthy |
| MF | Peter Grant |
| MF | Joe Miller |
| MF | Paul McStay |
| FW | Tommy Coyne |
| FW | Mark McGhee |
| MF | Steve Fulton |
| Substitutes: ||
| GK | Ian Andrews |
| DF | Lex Baillie |
| MF | Billy Stark |
| FW | Andy Walker |
| Manager: ||
| Billy McNeill ||
| GK | Bruce Grobbelaar |
| DF | Gary Ablett |
| DF | David Burrows |
| DF | Steve Nicol |
| MF | Ronnie Whelan |
| DF | Gary Gillespie |
| FW | Peter Beardsley |
| MF | Barry Venison |
| FW | Ray Houghton |
| MF | John Barnes |
| MF | Steve McMahon |
| Substitutes: ||
| MF | Mike Marsh |
| FW | John Aldridge |
| DF | Steve Staunton |
| FW | Kenny Dalglish |
| DF | Alex Watson |
| Player/Manager: ||
| Kenny Dalglish ||