Dundee United F.C.

This article is about the Scottish Premiership side formed in 1909. For the similarly named club formed in 1893 also playing in the Scottish Premiership, see Dundee F.C..
Dundee United
Full name Dundee United Football Club
Nickname(s) The Terrors, The Tangerines, Arabs (Supporters)
Founded 24 May 1909 (1909-05-24)
(as Dundee Hibernian)
Ground Tannadice Park, Dundee
Ground Capacity 14,223[1]
Chairman Stephen Thompson
Head coach Mixu Paatelainen
League Scottish Premiership
2014–15 Scottish Premiership, 5th
Website Club home page

Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian,[2] the club changed to the present name in 1923.[3] United are nicknamed The Terrors[4] or The Tangerines and the supporters are known as Arabs.[5]

The club has played in tangerine kits since the 1960s and have played at the present ground, Tannadice Park, since their foundation in 1909. United were founder members of the Scottish Premier League (SPL) in 1998 and were ever-present in the competition until it was abolished in 2013 to make way for the new Scottish Premiership which is the top division of the current SPFL structure.

Domestically, the club has won the Scottish Premier Division on one occasion (1982–83), the Scottish Cup twice (1994 and 2010) and the Scottish League Cup twice (1979 & 1980). United appeared in European competition for the first time in the 1966–67 season, going on to appear in Europe in 14 successive seasons from 1976. They also reached the European Cup semi-finals in 1984 and the UEFA Cup final in 1987. The club has a 100% record in four matches against Barcelona in competitive European ties.

History

Beginning (1909–1971)

Manager Peter Houston celebrating Dundee United's 2010 Scottish Cup Final win

The club was formed as Dundee Hibernian in 1909, playing from the outset at Tannadice Park. They were voted into the Scottish Football League in 1910. After being saved from going out of business in October 1923, the club changed their name to Dundee United in order to widen their appeal.

Between 1925 and 1932 United were promoted and then relegated three times, winning the Second Division title in 1925 and 1929.[6] The club achieved little other success until Jerry Kerr became manager in 1959. Kerr's team won promotion in his first season in charge and became established in the top flight, where they remained until 1995.[7]

Kerr strengthened the playing squad with Scandinavian imports [7] and United qualified for European competition in 1966, going on to eliminate Inter-Cities Fairs Cup holders Barcelona on their European debut.

Jim McLean era (1971–1993)

Jim McLean took over from Kerr in 1971 and his youth policy led to the most successful era in the club's history. United won the Scottish League Cup in 1979 and 1980[8] and then the Premier Division title in 1982–83.

The club were also successful in Europe, reaching the European Cup semi-finals in 1984 and the 1987 UEFA Cup Final.,[8] the latter featuring another elimination of Barcelona.[9] Despite losing to IFK Gothenburg in the final, the club won a FIFA Fair Play Award.[10] McLean retired as manager in 1993, but remained as club chairman.[11]

Since 1993

United won the Scottish Cup for the first time in 1994 under McLean's successor Ivan Golac, but were relegated in 1995, returning a year later. Eddie Thompson purchased the club from Jim McLean in 2002 and invested heavily in the team, but with little progress made until Craig Levein became manager in 2006 and successfully restructured the youth system. Shortly after Levein's departure, the club won the Scottish Cup for a second time in 2010 under the management of Peter Houston.

Colours and badge

Pre-1993 lion rampant design
For a complete pictorial history of playing kit, see the Historical Football Kits site.

United's playing kit consists of tangerine shirts and black shorts, first used when the team played under the Dallas Tornado moniker in the United Soccer Association competition of 1967, which they were invited to participate in after their first European excursion had created many headlines in the football world.[12] After persuasion by the wife of manager Jerry Kerr, the colour would soon be adopted as the club's own in 1969 to give the club a brighter, more modern image. The new colour was paraded for the first time in a pre-season friendly against Everton in August.

When originally founded as Dundee Hibernian, they had followed the example of other clubs of similar heritage by adopting the traditionally Irish colours of green shirts and white shorts. By the time the club became Dundee United in 1923, the colours had been changed to white shirts and black shorts as they sought to appeal to a wider cross-section of the community. These colours persisted in various forms up until 1969, sometimes using plain shirts, but also at various times including Celtic-style broad hoops, Queen's Park-style narrow hoops and an Airdrie-style "V" motif.

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
1973–76 Bukta none
1976–85 Adidas
1985–87 VG
1987–89 Belhaven
1989–91 Asics
1991–92 Bukta
1992–93 Loki
1993–94 none
1994–96 Pony Rover
1996–98 Telewest
1998–2000 Olympic Sports
2000–03 TFG Sports
2003–06 Morning, Noon and Night
2006–08 Hummel Anglian Home Improvements
2008–09 Carbrini Sportswear
2009–10 Nike
2010–present Calor

The present club badge was introduced in 1993, and saw the previous lion rampant design rebranded in a new circular logo incorporating the club colours.[13] To mark the club's centenary in 2009, a special version of the badge with an added "1909 2009 Centenary" logo has been introduced for the duration of the 2009–10 season, along with additional green trim on the badge, representing Dundee Hibernian's colours.

Previously, the lion had been represented on a simpler shield design. Although this "classic" version had been used as the club crest on the cover of the matchday programme as early as 1956, it had never appeared on the players' strip prior to 1983. Since 1959, various other designs had been worn on the shirts, incorporating either the lion rampant or the letters DUFC, often on a circular badge.

The club first introduced shirt sponsorship in the 1985–86 season when future chairman Eddie Thompson's VG chain sponsored the club in the first of a two-year deal. A six-year association with Belhaven then ensued with a sponsorless 1993–94 season. Rover began a two-year deal early in time for the 1994 Scottish Cup final, sponsoring the club until the end of the 1995–96 season. Telewest took over sponsorship from 1996 for six years until Eddie Thompson's Morning, Noon and Night started sponsoring the club in 2002. This association continued until 2006 when Anglian Home Improvements began a two-year deal with an optional third year. At the same time, Ole International became the first shorts sponsors. JD Sports' Carbrini Sportswear brand sponsored the club in the 2008–09 and 2009–10 seasons. United's shirt sponsor since the 2010–11 season has been Calor Gas.

United have had a number of official kit suppliers, including Adidas, Hummel and, from June 2009, Nike.

Historical home kits

c. 1909
c.1929–30
1986-87
1990–91
1993–94
1994–95
2006–07
2008–09
2009–10
2010–11
2011–12
2013–14
2014–15
2015-16

Stadium

Dundee United's home ground throughout their history has been Tannadice Park, located on Tannadice Street in the Clepington area of the city. It is situated a mere 170 yards (160 m) away from Dens Park, home of rivals Dundee;[14] The club has only ever played one home fixture at another venue. This was a League Cup tie against Rangers in March 1947, when despite snow rendering Tannadice Park unplayable, the match was able to go ahead across the road at Dens Park.

Tannadice is currently an all-seater with a capacity of 14,223.[1] The Main Stand, built in 1962, was the first cantilever to be constructed at a Scottish football ground.[15] For long periods of its history, only a small proportion of the ground contained seated accommodation. In the late 1980s the ground had 2,252 seats out of a total capacity of 22,310.[15]

East Stand at Tannadice Park

The comparative age and proximity of their stadiums has led to various discussions about the possibility of both Dundee clubs moving to a new, purpose-built shared stadium. The most recent proposal was put forward as part of Scotland's bid to jointly host the UEFA Euro 2008 championship,[16] with several clubs seeking to benefit from a new stadium.[17] With planning permission given to a proposed site at Caird Park,[18] special dispensation was requested to proceed with the proposal,[19] as rules at the time forbade SPL teams from groundsharing. Following Scotland's failed bid to host the tournament, the scheme was shelved,[20] although it was resurrected in June 2008, following doubts about joint-host Ukraine's ability to stage Euro 2012, and the SFA's keenness to act as an alternative host.[21]

Achievements

League

Dundee United's first trophy came in 1925, when they won the 1924–25 Division Two championship. After two seasons in the top tier, they were relegated, but they won the Division Two title for a second time in 1928–29. Immediate relegation followed and the club finished runners-up in 1931–32.[6] Another runners-up spot was claimed in 1959–60, in manager Jerry Kerr's first season, and from then club remained in the top division for the next thirty-five years.[7] Under Jim McLean's management, the club won the Premier Division title for the only time, in 1982–83, resulting in European Cup football the following season. The title win was United's last league success, although they finished runners-up in the First Division in 1995–96, after nearly avoiding relegation the previous season, and in third place in their first season back in the Premier Division.[11]


Cups

The club had to wait several decades before their first realistic chance at cup silverware, when they began the first of a six-game losing streak of Scottish Cup Final appearances in 1974, losing 3–0 to Celtic. Towards the end of the 1970s, things began to change, with three successive appearances in the League Cup Final. United won their first major trophy with a 3–0 replay victory over Aberdeen in the 1979–80 Scottish League Cup Final.[22] The club reached both cup finals in the following season; while they retained the League Cup by winning 3–0 against rivals Dundee,[22] United lost out again in the Scottish Cup with a replay defeat to Rangers. United reached a third consecutive League Cup Final in 1981–82, but failed to make it a hat-trick of wins as they lost 2–1 to Rangers.[22]

United (in red) versus Kilmarnock at Tannadice in the 2013-14 Scottish Cup.

United suffered the agony of reaching three out of four Scottish Cup finals in the mid-1980s, only to lose them all by a single goal. First came a 2–1 defeat to Celtic in 1984–85, compounded by a 1–0 League Cup final loss to Rangers in the same season; then a 1–0 defeat in extra time to St Mirren in 1986–87; and finally, a last-minute 2–1 loss against Celtic the following year, despite being a goal ahead.[8] A three-year gap ensued before the 1990–91 Scottish Cup final, which pitted Jim McLean against his brother Tommy, at Motherwell. The final was won 4–3 by 'Well, with United again losing in extra time.[11] The sixth Cup Final loss was also the club's fifth final appearance in eleven years.

These defeats in cup finals at Hampden Park led to the Scottish football media claiming that United suffered from a Hampden hoodoo, as they had failed to win ten cup finals played at the ground between 1974 and 1991.[23] When the club reached the 1994 Scottish Cup Final, manager Ivan Golac dismissed talk of the hoodoo, even though opponents Rangers were strong favourites to complete a domestic treble in the 1993–94 season.[23] United broke the supposed hoodoo and won the Scottish Cup for the first time when Craig Brewster's goal gave them a 1–0 win.[11][23]

Eleven years passed until the next Scottish Cup final appearance, when United lost 1–0 to Celtic in 2005. Sandwiched in the middle of these appearances was a defeat on penalties to Stenhousemuir in the Scottish Challenge Cup (when United failed to concede a goal in the whole competition) and a 3–0 defeat to Celtic in the 1997 Scottish League Cup Final. United then lost the 2008 Scottish League Cup Final on penalties to Rangers after the match had finished 2–2 after extra time. Dundee United won their next major trophy in 2010, under the guidance of manager Peter Houston, when First Division side Ross County were defeated 3–0 in the 2010 Scottish Cup Final.[24] David Goodwillie scored the first goal and Craig Conway scored the second and third goals.[24]

United's 10th appearance in the Scottish Cup final came in 2014, but the team lost 2–0 to St Johnstone at Celtic Park. The Tangerines reached the League Cup final the following year, but lost to Celtic in the final.

Europe

The club's first experience of Europe came in 1966–67 when, helped by a clutch of Scandinavian players, United defeated Fairs Cup holders F.C. Barcelona both home and away. Although Juventus proved too strong in the next round with a 3–1 aggregate victory, United made headlines and were asked to compete as Dallas Tornado in the United Soccer Association league in North America during the summer of 1967.[7] After their only Premier Division championship win, the team reached the resulting semi-final of the European Cup in 1984, losing 3–2 on aggregate to Roma. In 1987, the club went one better, reaching the final of the UEFA Cup. Despite the 2–1 aggregate loss to IFK Gothenburg, the Arabs won the first-ever FIFA Fair Play Award for their sporting behaviour after the final defeat.[10]

United for Kids

Dundee United have received national and international acclaim for their "United for Kids" (or UfK) scheme, which began in 2005 following a suggestion from an exiled supporter. The club accepts charitable donations from fans, sponsors and other donors and matches all donations before using the funds to supply free season tickets to under-privileged and disadvantaged children from Dundee and the surrounding area. These kids, who can be accompanied by their carers free-of-charge, would otherwise be unable to attend football matches. Since the scheme began, several hundred children and their carers have received free season tickets. Dundee Council's social work department have stated that the scheme has brought joy to the lives of many orphans, abused and battered children and others from disadvantaged backgrounds. All donations to UfK are now handled by Dundee United's "United for All" official charity – a secure link to make donations can be found on the club's website.[25]

Rivalries

Facade of the Jerry Kerr stand of Tannadice with Dens Park, home of neighbours Dundee in the distance

Dundee United's traditional rivals are Dundee, with whom they compete in the Dundee derby. The fixture was lacking a competitive element for a number of years until Dundee's return to the top flight of the Scottish game in 2012. A unique element of the rivalry lies in the fact that both clubs' stadiums are located within 100 yards of one another.

In spite of their rivalry, the two sides previously contemplated ground-sharing as part of the SFA's unsuccessful bid to host Euro 2008. Perhaps one of their most notable meetings was in the 1980 Scottish League Cup Final played at Dens Park when United won 3–0 to claim their second League Cup in successive seasons.

Another intense fixture is that of the New Firm derby between United and North-East rivals Aberdeen F.C.. The match itself became one of fierce competition due to the domestic and European success the two sides achieved in the late 1970s and 1980s under the stewardship of United's Jim McLean and Aberdeen's Alex Ferguson. Despite the relative lack of trophies in the years ahead, the derby has endured and continues to be one of the most eagerly awaited fixtures of the Scottish season.

United also share a rivalry with St Johnstone F.C. due to the relatively close proximity of Dundee and Perth, known as the Tayside derby. The most notable meeting between the two sides was in the 2014 Scottish Cup Final, when Saints came out on top after a 2–0 victory at Celtic Park in the Tangerines' tenth final appearance.

Honours

League

Cups

Europe

Other

Backroom staff

Current Head Coach, Mixu Paatelainen
Position[27] Name
Head Coach Mixu Paatelainen
Assistant Head Coach Gordon Young
Physiotherapist Jeff Clarke
Kit Coordinator Ian McIntyre
Development Squad Assistant Manager Dave Bowman
Senior Academy Manager Brian Grant

Current squad

First-team squad

As of 6 February 2016[28][29]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Japan GK Eiji Kawashima
2 Republic of Ireland DF Seán Dillon (captain)
3 Scotland DF Paul Dixon
5 Republic of Ireland DF Callum Morris
6 Northern Ireland MF Paul Paton
7 Northern Ireland FW Billy Mckay (on loan from Wigan Athletic)
8 Scotland MF John Rankin
9 Nigeria FW Edward Ofere
10 Scotland FW Robbie Muirhead
11 Scotland MF Chris Erskine
12 England DF Kyle Knoyle (on loan from West Ham United)
14 Scotland FW Ryan Dow
15 Scotland FW Simon Murray
No. Position Player
17 Scotland DF Mark Durnan
19 Republic of Ireland DF Gavin Gunning
20 Scotland MF Blair Spittal
21 Poland GK Michał Szromnik
22 Scotland MF Scott Fraser
25 Finland FW Riku Riski (on loan from Rosenborg BK)
26 Estonia FW Henri Anier
28 Scotland DF Coll Donaldson
30 Croatia FW Darko Bodul
51 Germany GK Luis Zwick
54 France FW Florent Sinama Pongolle
55 Ivory Coast DF Guy Demel

    Development squad

    Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

    No. Position Player
    31 Northern Ireland GK Joe McGovern
    33 Netherlands FW Justin Johnson
    34 Scotland FW Reghan Tumilty
    35 Scotland MF Brad Smith
    36 Scotland DF Cameron Ballantyne
    37 Scotland FW Jordan Garden
    38 Scotland DF Harry Souttar
    39 Scotland DF Grieg McNaughton
    40 Scotland MF Jamie Robson
    No. Position Player
    41 Scotland GK Ryan Booth
    42 Scotland FW Scott Allardyce
    43 Scotland DF Matty Smith
    44 Northern Ireland FW Aaron Duke
    48 Scotland MF Logan Davie
    49 Scotland MF Graham Taylor
    50 Scotland DF Gavin Ritchie
    53 England DF Jassem Sukar

    Out on loan

    Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

    No. Position Player
    16 Scotland MF Charlie Telfer (on loan at Livingston)
    24 Scotland DF Euan Spark (on loan at Forfar Athletic)
    No. Position Player
    27 Scotland MF Ali Coote (on loan to East Fife)

    Noted players

    For a full list of current and former players with articles, see Category:Dundee United F.C. players. For a list of players who have played 100 or more matches in major competitions for the club, see list of Dundee United F.C. players.

    International Players

    This is a list of former and current players who have played at full international level while with the club. They are ordered by nationality and year of United debut below. Additionally, two goalkeepers – Pat Onstad (Canada) and Kémoko Camara (Guinea) – were both capped while at Tannadice yet never played a first-team game for United.

    Australia Australia
    Canada Canada
    Estonia Estonia
    Finland Finland
    Ghana Ghana
    Iceland Iceland
    Israel Israel
    Latvia Latvia
    Northern Ireland Northern Ireland
    Scotland Scotland
    Senegal Senegal
    Slovakia Slovakia
    Sweden Sweden
    Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago
    Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslavia

    Hall of Fame

    The club launched its official Hall of Fame in 2008, with seven inaugural members. A further six players were inducted in January 2009[30] and seven more in January 2010. Since then six players have been inducted each year.

    2008:

    2009:

    2010:

    2011:

    2012:

    2013:

    2014:[31]

    2015:

    2016:

    Managers

    List of prominent and recent managers, with respective records, as of 27 September 2015. Only competitive matches are counted.[32][33][34]

    From To Name P W D L F A Win %Unbeaten %
    1959 1971 Scotland Kerr, JerryJerry Kerr 568247124197106095043.565.3
    1971 1993 Scotland McLean, JimJim McLean 11125352703071779116048.172.4
    1993 1995 Serbia Golac, IvanIvan Golac 9431342911411333.069.1
    1995 1996 Scotland Kirkwood, BillyBilly Kirkwood 612914181066347.570.5
    1996 1998 Scotland McLean, TommyTommy McLean 9336273013410738.767.7
    1998 2000 Scotland Sturrock, PaulPaul Sturrock 852719399711931.854.1
    2000 2002 Scotland Smith, AlexAlex Smith 9931234510914931.354.5
    2002 2003 Scotland Hegarty, PaulPaul Hegarty 18459203422.250.0
    2003 2005 Scotland McCall, IanIan McCall 9128234011614930.856.0
    2005 2006 Scotland Chisholm, GordonGordon Chisholm 36101016405427.855.6
    2006 2006 Scotland Brewster, CraigCraig Brewster 3031116285910.046.7
    2006 2009 Scotland Levein, CraigCraig Levein 13655404118516040.469.9
    2009 2013 Scotland Houston, PeterPeter Houston 15063444323220542.071.3
    2013 2015 Scotland McNamara, JackieJackie McNamara 11951244419217342.963

    Women's team

    Dundee United announced in April 2015 that the club would be launching a women's team, with the aim of entering the Scottish league structure in 2016.[35] Gavin Beith was appointed as the team's manager in June 2015.[36]

    References

    1. 1 2 "Dundee United Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
    2. ↑ "Civic reception ‘great honour’ for Dundee United centenary". The Courier. 2 September 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
    3. ↑ "Dundee United – Beginnings". Dundee United FC. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
    4. ↑ "Dundee United A – Z ( T )". Dundee United FC. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
    5. ↑ "Dundee United A-Z (A)". Dundee United FC. Retrieved 28 June 2008.
    6. 1 2 "History – The Early Days". Dundee United FC.
    7. 1 2 3 4 "History – 50s & 60s". Dundee United FC. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
    8. 1 2 3 "History". Dundee United FC.
    9. ↑ Moffat, Colin (24 July 2007). "Barca out to end Dundee Utd jinx". BBC Sport website.
    10. 1 2 "Fair Play Awards". FIFA. Archived from the original on 11 June 2008. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
    11. 1 2 3 4 "History – 90s". Dundee United FC. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
    12. ↑ "Dundee United A – Z (D)". Dundee United FC. Retrieved 26 September 2006.
    13. ↑ "Dundee United A-Z (C)". Dundee United FC. Retrieved 28 September 2006.
    14. ↑ Phil Gordon (1 September 2002). "Smart adds spice to Duffy's return". The Independent (Online Edition).
    15. 1 2 Inglis, Simon (1987). The Football Grounds of Great Britain (2nd ed.). London: Collins Willow. p. 328. ISBN 0-00-218249-1.
    16. ↑ "Dundee clubs plan stadium share". BBC Sport website. 29 June 2001.
    17. ↑ "Deadline day for new stadia". BBC Sport website. 31 July 2001.
    18. ↑ "Dundee clubs get stadium boost". BBC Sport website. 30 April 2002.
    19. ↑ "Dundee rivals request groundshare". BBC Sport website. 17 September 2002.
    20. ↑ "Dundee rivals to rethink stadia plans". BBC Sport website. 12 December 2002.
    21. ↑ "North east trio unite on Euro bid". BBC Sport website. 6 June 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2008.
    22. 1 2 3 "Dundee United A – Z ( L )". Dundee United FC. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
    23. 1 2 3 "Dundee United A – Z ( H )". Dundee United FC. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
    24. 1 2 McGuigan, Thomas (15 May 2010). "Dundee Utd 3 – 0 Ross County". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
    25. ↑ "United for Kids". Dundee United FC.
    26. 1 2 3 4 5 "Dundee United Football Club Team Honours". SPL. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
    27. ↑ "Team". dufc.co.
    28. ↑ "First Team". Dundee United FC. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
    29. ↑ "Development Squad". Dundee United FC. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
    30. ↑ "Scottish Football Podcast". BBC Scotland. 21 November 2008.
    31. ↑ "GALLERY: Dundee United Hall of Fame". Evening Telegraph. 10 February 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
    32. ↑ Ryan Gall. A Passion for Survival. Arabest Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9558341-0-3.
    33. ↑ Steve Gracie. The Rise of the Terrors. Arabest Publishing.
    34. ↑ "Dundee United Club Managers – The Arab Archive". arabarchive.co.uk.
    35. ↑ "Dundee United set sights high with new women's team". Evening Telegraph (Dundee). 16 April 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
    36. ↑ "Dundee United appoint Gavin Beith as head coach of women’s team". The Courier (Dundee). Retrieved 11 November 2015.

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