Dundee United F.C.
331074
226043817
2008-07-16T16:02:38Z
194.247.83.33
/* Notable players */
{{Infobox Football club |
clubname = Dundee United |
current = Dundee United F.C. season 2008-09 |
image = [[Image:Dufc.gif]] |
fullname = Dundee United Football Club |
nickname = The Terrors<br />The Arabs (supporters)|
founded = 1909 (as Dundee Hibernian)|
ground = [[Tannadice Park]], [[Dundee]] |
capacity = 14,209 |
record attendance = 28,000 vs [[F.C. Barcelona|Barcelona]], 1966 |
chairman = [[Eddie Thompson]] |
mgrtitle = Manager |
manager = [[Craig Levein]] |
league = [[Scottish Premier League]] |
season = [[Scottish Premier League 2007-08|2007-08]] |
position = Scottish Premier League, 5th |
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pattern_la2 = _blackborder|pattern_b2=_black_seam|pattern_ra2=_blackborder|
pattern_sh2 = _blackleft|pattern_so2=_blacktop|
leftarm2 = FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FFFFFF
}}
'''Dundee United Football Club''' is a [[Scotland|Scottish]] professional [[Football (soccer)|football]] club located in the city of [[Dundee]]. Traditionally, United are [[nickname]]d ''The Terrors''<ref name="terrors">{{cite web | url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?pg=302 | title=Dundee United A - Z ( T ) | publisher=Dundee United FC}}</ref> and the supporters known as ''The Arabs'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?pg=216|title=Dundee United A-Z (A)|publisher=Dundee United FC|accessdate=2008-06-28}}</ref> though the latter has been applied equally to the club in recent times by the sporting media, in favour of the former. ''The Tangerines'' (or ''Tangerine Terrors'') is another term occasionally used to describe the club.
United currently play in the [[Scottish Premier League]] and have been managed by [[Craig Levein]] since late October 2006. [[Eddie Thompson]], [[chairman]] since September 2002,<ref name="chairman">{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee_utd/2271899.stm | publisher=BBC Sport website | title=Dundee Utd takeover complete | date=[[September 26]], [[2002]]}}</ref> is the majority shareholder of Dundee United, whilst the supporters, under the guise of ''ArabTRUST'', own the second largest shareholding. In [[2005-06 in Scottish football|2005-06]], Tannadice attracted an average attendance of 8,197,<ref name="crowd">{{cite web | url=http://www.scotprem.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Attendance/0,,10002~20053,00.html | title=2005-0 Statistics: Attendance | publisher=SPL Official website}}</ref> the sixth-highest average in the SPL.
In European competition, United are Scotland's fourth most experienced team, having played 104 matches (six fewer than [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]]) over 22 seasons in Europe.<ref name="Europe">{{cite web | url=http://uk.geocities.com/scottishfootballineurope/allscores.htm | title=All Scottish European results | accessmonthday=September 26 | accessyear=2006}}</ref>
==History==
===Beginning (1909-1971)===
[[Image:Dundee United FC 1914.jpg|right|thumb|1914 team.]]
Inspired initially by the example of [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]] in Edinburgh and later by [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] in Glasgow, the [[Ireland|Irish]] community in [[Dundee]] formed a new football club in 1909, following the demise of [[Dundee Harp F.C.|Dundee Harp]]. Originally called Dundee Hibernian, the club took over Clepington Park (renamed [[Tannadice Park]]) from Dundee Wanderers and played their inaugural game on [[18 August]], [[1909]] against Hibernian, with the match ending in a 1-1 draw. The following year, the club was voted into the Scottish Football League The club was saved from going out of business in October 1923 by a group of Dundee businessmen. They decided to change the club's name to Dundee United in order to attract a wider appeal; the name ''Dundee City'' was considered but was protested by long standing city rivals [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee FC]].<ref name="history2">{{cite web | url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/history2.asp | title=History | publisher=Dundee United FC}}</ref>
[[Image:Dundee United FC 1929-30.jpg|left|thumb|1929-30 team.]]
United won promotion to the First Division for the first team in [[1924-25 in Scottish football|1924-25]] when they won the Second Division title, although they were relegated back down within two seasons.<ref name="history2">{{cite web | url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/history2.asp | title=History | publisher=Dundee United FC}}</ref> Despite another title win (and immediate relegation), for many years, the club languished in the lower reaches of the Scottish league, competing in the top division only four seasons, until the appointment of [[Jerry Kerr]] as manager in 1959. Kerr ended the club's 28-year absence from the First Division in his first season in charge, winning promotion through finishing second in the Second Division. Some notable players from this period included forwards [[Dennis Gillespie]] and [[Jim Irvine]], and defenders [[Doug Smith]] and [[Ron Yeats]] (who went on to captain [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] in the 1960s).
[[Image:Dundee United FC 1937-38.jpg|right|thumb|1937-38 team.]]
In the following season, United finished in the top half of the league (one place above city rivals Dundee), where the club would stay with few exceptions for the next 35 years. The sixties were highlighted by the playing skills of the some notable imports from [[Scandinavia]]: [[Örjan Persson]], [[Finn Seemann]], [[Lennart Wing]], [[Finn Døssing]] and [[Mogens Berg]].<ref name="history3">{{cite web | url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/history3.asp | title=History | publisher=Dundee United FC}}</ref> These players also helped give United their first taste of [[Europe]]an football, where they eliminated [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] in 1966, who were the then-holders of the [[Inter-Cities Fairs Cup]] (now known as the UEFA Cup). The team were the first Scottish club to win in Spain with the 2-1 result on [[August 25]]. Jerry Kerr had successfully established Dundee United and the impending arrival of Jim McLean would enhance their reputation further.
===Jim McLean era (1971-1994)===
[[Jim McLean]], who was a coach at city rivals Dundee F.C. at the time, took over from Jerry Kerr in 1971 and the most successful era in the club's history began. Up until this point, United was the smaller and less successful of the two Dundee-based football clubs. However, this would change as McLean (and for a time, with assistant manager [[Walter Smith (footballer)|Walter Smith]]) took United to their first ever [[Scottish Cup]] final in [[1973-74 in Scottish football|1973-74]]. They achieved a record high of third place in the Scottish Premier Division in [[1977-78 in Scottish football|1978]] then again in [[1978-79 in Scottish football|1979]], before guiding the side to several major honours; the first by winning the [[Scottish League Cup]] in [[1979-80 in Scottish football|1979-80]], with the trophy being retained the following season. McLean's use of youth was seen as key in the club's success for the next two decades.<ref name="history4">{{cite web | url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/history4.asp | title=History | publisher=Dundee United FC | accessmonthday=September 26 | accessyear=2006}}</ref>
Dundee United won the [[Scottish Premier Division]] title for the first time in the club's history in [[1982-83 in Scottish football|1982-83]], with what was then a record number of points and record number of goals scored. By then, United had already established a reputation in Europe with wins over sides like [[AS Monaco FC|AS Monaco]], [[Borussia Mönchengladbach]], [[PSV Eindhoven]], [[R.S.C. Anderlecht|Anderlecht]] and [[Werder Bremen]]. In the resulting [[European Cup]], United reached the semi-final stage in their first run, only to be narrowly eliminated by [[A.S. Roma]]. After winning the first leg 2-0, United lost 3-0 away, although the Italian side were later fined for attempting to bribe the referee.<ref name="bribe">{{cite web | url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?pg=287 | publisher=Dundee United FC | title=Dundee United A - Z (I) | accessmonthday=September 26 | accessyear=2006}}</ref> In 1986, a year's suspension was dealt by [[UEFA]] to the Italians alongside a four-year ban for president [[Dino Viola]], due to the bribery attempt.<ref name="ban">{{cite web | url=http://www.sportsjournalists.co.uk/blog/?p=17 | title=A potted guide to corruption in football | author=Keir Radnedge}}</ref>
The pinnacle of their achievements in Europe came later in [[1986-87 in Scottish football|1986-87]] when United became the first Scottish club to reach the final of the [[UEFA Cup]].<ref name="history4">{{cite web | url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/history4.asp | title=History | publisher=Dundee United FC}}</ref> Along the way, United repeated their 1966 feat of eliminating FC Barcelona, this time managed by [[Terry Venables]] and featuring British players [[Gary Lineker]], [[Mark Hughes]] and [[Steve Archibald]]. United defeated Barcelona home and away; they remain the only British side to date to achieve this in any European competition, with a record of four wins from four games.<ref name="barcawins">{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee_utd/6913295.stm | title=Barca out to end Dundee Utd jinx | publisher=BBC Sport website | author=Moffat, Colin | date=[[2007-07-24]]}}</ref> Although they failed to beat [[IFK Göteborg]] in the two-legged final, there was glory in defeat as [[FIFA]] awarded a first-ever ''Fair Play Award'' to the club for the sporting behaviour of the fans on a memorable night at [[Tannadice Park]].<ref name="uefa">{{cite web | url=http://www.fifa.com/en/fairplay/fairplay/0,1234,8,00.html | publisher=FIFA | title=FIFA Fair Play Prizes | accessmonthday=September 26 | accessyear=2006}}</ref>
During those years, Dundee United and Aberdeen broke the traditional dominance of the [[Old Firm]] in Scottish football, and the two clubs became known in the press as the [[New Firm (Scotland)|New Firm]].<ref name="newfirm">{{cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/sportscotland/asportingnation/article/0081/ | publisher=The BBC | title=The New Firm and the Dons' Cup-Winners' Cup glory in 1983 | work=A Sporting Nation | accessmonthday=September 29 | accessyear=2006}}</ref> As Dundee F.C. were not always in the top flight at that time, the New Firm [[Local derby|derby]] had superseded the Dundee derby. Dundee United had come a long way under McLean, progressing from comparative obscurity to become one of Scotland's foremost clubs. However, after nearly 22 years at the helm he relinquished the position in the June 1993, whilst remaining chairman of the club.
===After McLean (1994 onwards)===
[[Image:Dundee United seasons.PNG|right|thumb|SPL season-by-season summary]]
Filling his shoes was the first continental to be appointed manager of a Scottish club - [[Ivan Golac]]. He inherited a healthy legacy with some of Scotland's finest young talent, though his first action was to sell [[Duncan Ferguson (footballer)|Duncan Ferguson]] to [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] for a fee of £4 million, breaking the record transfer fee involving two [[United Kingdom|British]] clubs.<ref name="recordtransfer">{{cite news | url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,1720979,00.html | title=From £250,000 to £29.1m | publisher=Observer Sport Monthly | date=[[2006-03-05]]}}</ref> According to one source,<ref name="everton">{{cite web | url=http://www.toffeeweb.com/players/past/Ferguson.asp | title=Duncan Ferguson | author=Kenrick, Michael | publisher=ToffeeWeb | date=May 2006 | accessmonthday=September 26 | accessyear=2006}}</ref> United had already turned down £3million bids from [[Bayern Munich]], [[Leeds United A.F.C.|Leeds United]] and [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] before accepting Rangers' record bid. In Golac's first season, he brought the [[Scottish Cup]] to Tannadice Park for the first time in 1994 after six previous failures, thus completing the full set of domestic honours for the club. United beat Rangers 1-0 with [[Craig Brewster]] scoring the winner from close range. However, the club's fortunes took a turn for the worse after this, as despite enjoying a relatively average campaign in season [[1994-95 in Scottish football|1994-95]], a late run of defeats, culminating in a 1-0 defeat at home to [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] on the last day, saw them relegated to the [[Scottish Football League First Division|First Division]]. Despite being title favourites at the lower level, they eventually finished second, which left them facing a two leg [[playoff]] against [[Partick Thistle F.C.|Partick Thistle]] for the right to play in the Premier Division in the [[1996-97 in Scottish football|1996-97]] season. Dundee United won 3-2 on aggregate, with [[Owen Coyle]] scoring the extra-time winner.
In recent years the club has struggled to maintain such success, much like the previous provincial powers of Scottish football. In [[1997-98 in Scottish football|1997-98]], United reached the [[Scottish League Cup|League Cup]] final, but lost 3-0 to Celtic. United reached their first Scottish Cup final for eleven years in [[2004-05 in Scottish football|2004-05]], only to be beaten by Celtic again, 1-0. Since the SPL's conception in 1998, United have finished in the top half on only two occasions (2003-04, and 2007-08). They finished 9th for three consecutive seasons, between 2005 and 2007. However the purchase of the club by long-time supporter [[Eddie Thompson]] in 2002 brought a period of sustained investment in playing staff and managers. The 2007-08 season saw United narrowly lose the CIS Cup final on penalties, under manager [[Craig Levein]] and miss out on a [[UEFA Cup]] place in the last two matches of the season.
==Colours and badge==
:''For a complete pictorial history of playing kit, see the [http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Scottish_Football_League/Dundee_United/Dundee_United.htm Historical Football Kits site].''
United's playing kit is distinct: [[Tangerine (color)|tangerine]] in colour, 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.<ref name="tangerine">{{cite web | url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?pg=238 | publisher=Dundee United FC | title=Dundee United A - Z (D) | accessmonthday=September 26 | accessyear=2006}}</ref> 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 F.C.|Everton]] in August.
[[Image:DUFC Crest.JPG|right|thumb|Pre-1993 lion rampant design.]]
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 distance themselves from their Irish origins. These colours persisted in various forms up until 1969, sometimes using plain shirts, but also at various times including [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]-style broad hoops, [[Queen's Park F.C.|Queen's Park]]-style narrow hoops and an [[Airdrie United F.C.|Airdrie]]-style "V" motif.
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.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?pg=220 | publisher=Dundee United FC | title=Dundee United A - Z (C) | accessmonthday=September 28 | accessyear=2006}}</ref> 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 in Scottish football|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 associate with [[Belhaven Brewery|Belhaven]] then ensued with a sponsorless [[1993-94 in Scottish football|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 in Scottish football|1995-96 season]]. [[Telewest (former)|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]] brand sponsor the club as from season 2008-09.
==Stadium==
{{mainarticle|Tannadice Park}}
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 {{convert|170|yd|m}} away from [[Dens Park]], home of rivals [[Dundee F.C.]]; the two stadia are the closest senior football grounds anywhere in the United Kingdom.<ref name="stadiums">{{cite news | url=http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/scotland/article175436.ece | title=Smart adds spice to Duffy's return | publisher=The Independent (Online Edition) | author=Phil Gordon | date=[[1 September]] [[2002]]}}</ref>
The club have only ever played one home fixture at another venue. This was a [[Scottish League Cup|League Cup]] tie against [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] in March 1947, when despite snow rendering Tannadice unplayable, the match was able to go ahead across the road at Dens Park.
The comparative age and proximity of their stadia has led to the possibility of both clubs moving to a new, purpose-built shared stadium being discussed on various occasions. The most recent and serious proposal for this was put forward as part of Scotland's bid to joint-host the [[2008 European Football Championship]],<ref name="stadia1">{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/1413923.stm | publisher=BBC Sport website | title=Dundee clubs plan stadium share | date=[[June 29]], [[2001]]}}</ref> with several clubs seeking to benefit from a new stadium<ref name="stadia2">{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/1466447.stm | publisher=BBC Sport website | title=Deadline day for new stadia | date=[[July 31]], [[2001]]}}</ref> with planning permission given to a proposed site at Caird Park.<ref name="stadia3">{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/1960616.stm | publisher=BBC Sport website | title=Dundee clubs get stadium boost | date=[[April 30]], [[2002]]}}</ref> Special dispensation was requested to proceed with the proposal,<ref name="stadia4">{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/2263533.stm | publisher=BBC Sport website | title=Dundee rivals request groundshare | date=[[September 17]], [[2002]]}}</ref> as rules at the time forbade SPL teams from groundsharing. Following Scotland's failed bid to host the tournament, the scheme was shelved for the time being,<ref name="stadia5">{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2570537.stm | publisher=BBC Sport website | title=Dundee rivals to rethink stadia plans | date=[[December 12]], [[2002]]}}</ref> although the plan was raised again in [[June 2008]] following doubts about joint-host [[Ukraine]]'s ability to stage [[Euro 2012]] with the [[Scottish Football Association|SFA]] keen as alternative hosts.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/7440929.stm|title=North east trio unite on Euro bid |date=2008-06-06|publisher=BBC Sport website|accessdate=2008-06-07}}</ref>
==Supporters==
There have been several stories regarding the origins of the 'Arabs' term. The most popular view is that the name was coined during the severe winter of the [[1962-63 in Scottish football|1962-63 season]]. The weather was so bad, with heavy snow that refused to thaw, that between December and March, Dundee United were able to play only three times. One of these was a [[Scottish Cup]] tie against [[Albion Rovers F.C. (Scotland)|Albion Rovers]], for which the management, in a desperate attempt to get Tannadice playable, hired an industrial tar burner to melt the several inches of snow and ice from the pitch. Not only did it do this, but it also removed the grass. Several lorry loads of builders' sand were ordered and spread across the barren surface, and the regulation pitch markings painted on top. United adapted well to this playing surface and won the game 3-0, prompting observers to comment that they had taken to the sand like [[Arabs]].<ref name="Arabs">{{cite web | url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?pg=216 | publisher=Dundee United FC | title=Dundee United A - Z (A) | accessmonthday=September 26 | accessyear=2006}}</ref> Other sources point to earlier usage, with a "1950s sandtrap" used as one such reference.<ref name="sandtrap">{{cite web | url=http://bubl.ac.uk/org/tacit/TAC/tac12/10differ.htm | title=10 Differences between Ben Aden and Sir Anthony Eden | work=The Angry Corrie Issue 12: April/May 1993 | accessdaymonth=[[September 26]] | accessyear=[[2006]]}}</ref> The fans, however, used the term to describe themselves. The term was then later resurrected during the early 1990s through the pages of the popular Dundee United football [[fanzine]], ''The Final Hurdle'', with supporters soon declaring that they were 'Proud To Be An Arab'. [[Deacon Blue]] singer and long-time Dundee United supporter [[Ricky Ross (musician)|Ricky Ross]] even wrote a song declaring this fact.<ref name="ricky">{{cite web | url=http://www.lyricsdownload.com/deacon-blue-and-ricky-ross-proud-to-be-an-arab-lyrics.html | title=Proud To Be An Arab Lyrics | author=Ross, Ricky | publisher=LyricsDownload.com | accessmonthday=[[September 26]] | accessyear=[[2006]]}}</ref> By then, even the official club souvenir shops were selling replica [[keffiyeh]]s in tangerine and black. The term was now firmly connected with Dundee United.
The former Dundee United Supporters Association (DUSA) is now known as the Federation of Dundee United Supporters' Clubs, whilst on [[1 February]] [[2003]], the Dundee United Supporters Society - ArabTRUST - was officially launched,<ref name="trust1">{{cite web | url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/arabtrust.asp | publisher=Dundee United FC | title=ArabTRUST - the Dundee United Supporters’ Trust | accessmonthday=September 28 | accessyear=2006}}</ref> and after regular share purchase and investment into the Club, ArabTRUST not only hold the largest shareholding in the club behind the Thompson family, but were also granted an Associate Directorship in the Club in early 2004.<ref name="trust2">{{cite web | url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?tm=56 | publisher=Dundee United FC | title=ArabTRUST News | accessmonthday=September 28 | accessyear=2006}}</ref> The official club weekly email newsletter is known as ArabNeWS, and the club website has an ArabFORUM. Various supporters clubs and fan websites have 'Arab' in their names too. Elsewhere, the football media tend to refer to the club mostly as ''The Arabs'', although the official website confirms this refers to the fans and the club nickname is ''The Terrors''.<ref name="Arabs">{{cite web | url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?pg=216 | publisher=Dundee United FC | title=Dundee United A - Z (A) | accessmonthday=September 26 | accessyear=2006}}</ref> In a [[BBC]] online [[Opinion poll|poll]] in March 2006, Dundee United fan [[Zippy (Rainbow)|Zippy]] was named as [[United Kingdom|Britain's]] favourite sporting celebrity by a landslide margin.<ref name="zippy">{{cite news | url=http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/funny_old_game/4789752.stm | publisher=BBC Sport website | title=Zippy is top fan | date=[[March 10]], [[2006]]}}</ref>
Dundee United supporters were awarded the inaugural [[FIFA Fair Play Award]] for their sportsmanship after the [[UEFA Cup]] final defeat to [[IFK Gothenburg]] in 1987.
{{start box}}
{{s-awards}}
{{succession box
|title=[[FIFA Fair Play Award]] Winners
|before=None
|after=[[Frank Ordenewitz]]
|years=1987}}
{{end box}}
== Current squad ==
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=1|nat=POL|name=[[Łukasz Załuska]]|pos=GK}}
{{Fs player|no=2|nat=IRE|name=[[Sean Dillon (footballer)|Sean Dillon]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=3|nat=ENG|name=[[Daniel Grainger|Danny Grainger]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=4|nat=SCO|name=[[Lee Wilkie]]|pos=DF|other=[[Image:Captain sports.svg|14px]]}}
{{Fs player|no=5|nat=SCO|name=[[Darren Dods]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=6|nat=IRL|name=[[Willo Flood]]|pos=MF|other=on loan from [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]]}}
{{Fs player|no=7|nat=NIR|name=[[Warren Feeney]]|pos=FW|other=on loan from [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]]}}
{{Fs player|no=9|nat=IRE|name=[[Jon Daly]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=10|nat=IRE|name=[[Noel Hunt]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=12|nat=SCO|name=[[David Robertson (footballer born 1986)|David Robertson]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=14|nat=SCO|name=[[Scott Robertson (footballer born 1985)|Scott Robertson]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=15|nat=SCO|name=[[Craig Conway (footballer)|Craig Conway]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=16|nat=FRA|name=[[Morgaro Gomis]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=17|nat=SCO|name=[[Greg Cameron]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=18|nat=SCO|name=[[Garry Kenneth]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=20|nat=GHA|name=[[Prince Buaben]]|pos=MF}}
{{fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=23|nat=SCO|name=[[Danny Swanson]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=24|nat=SUI|name=[[Mihael Kovačević]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=26|nat=SCO|name=[[David Goodwillie]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=27|nat=SCO|name=[[Keith Watson (footballer)|Keith Watson]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=28|nat=SCO|name=[[Marco Andreoni]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=29|nat=SCO|name=[[Ryan McCord]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=30|nat=SCO|name=[[Johnny Russell (footballer)|Johnny Russell]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=32|nat=SCO|name=[[Fraser Milligan]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=50|nat=SCO|name=[[Kevin Smith (footballer)|Kevin Smith]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|11|nat=SCO|name=[[Paul Dixon (footballer)|Paul Dixon]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=—|nat=NIR|name=[[Michael McGovern]]|pos=GK}}
{{Fs player|no=—|nat=GER|name=[[Andis Shala]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=—|nat=ESP|name=[[Francesco Sandaza]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs end}}
:''For recent transfers, see [[List of Scottish football transfers 2008-09]].''
==International players==
:''A list of former and current players who have played at full international level while with the club are ordered by nationality and year of United debut below. Where the year is in brackets, this indicates a player who didn't play in any first team matches; in these cases, the year given is for when they signed for the club.''
:''For a full list of former/current players with articles, see [[:Category:Dundee United F.C. players]].
{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}
; {{flagicon|CAN}} Canada
* 1998 [[Jason de Vos]]
* 1999 [[Pat Onstad]]
* 2004 [[Lars Hirschfeld]]
; {{flagicon|FIN}} Finland
* 1987 [[Mixu Paatelainen]]
; {{flagicon|GHA}} Ghana
* 2007 [[Prince Buaben]]
; {{flagicon|GUI}} Guinea
* 2008 [[Kémoko Camara]]
; {{flagicon|ISL}} Iceland
* 1997 [[Siggi Jónsson]]
; {{flagicon|NIR}} Northern Ireland
* 1989 [[Michael O'Neill (footballer)|Michael O'Neill]]
* 1998 [[Iain Jenkins]]
* 1998 [[Darren Patterson]]
* 2000 [[Danny Griffin]]
{{col-3}}
;{{flagicon|SCO}} Scotland
* 1973 [[Dave Narey]]
* 1974 [[Paul Hegarty]]
* 1974 [[Paul Sturrock]]
* 1976 [[Davie Dodds]]
* 1979 [[Eamonn Bannon]]
* 1981 [[Richard Gough (footballer)|Richard Gough]]
* 1981 [[Maurice Malpas]]
* 1985 [[Kevin Gallacher]]
* 1986 [[Dave Bowman (footballer)|Dave Bowman]]
* 1986 [[Jim McInally]]
* 1986 [[Billy McKinlay]]
* 1990 [[Duncan Ferguson (footballer)|Duncan Ferguson]]
* 1997 [[Steven Thompson (Scottish footballer)|Steven Thompson]]
* 1998 [[Billy Dodds]]
* 2000 [[Paul Gallacher]]
* 2000 [[Charlie Miller]]
* 2003 [[Barry Robson]]
* 2006 [[Lee Miller (footballer)|Lee Miller]]
{{col-3}}
; {{flagicon|SWE}} Sweden
* 1964 [[Örjan Persson]]
* 1965 [[Lennart Wing]]
; {{flagicon|TRI}} Trinidad and Tobago
* 1993 [[Jerren Nixon]]
* 2003 [[Collin Samuel]]
* 2003 [[Jason Scotland]]
; {{flagicon|FR Yugoslavia}} Yugoslavia
* 1988 [[Miodrag Krivokapić (footballer)|Miodrag Krivokapić]]
{{col-3}}
{{col-end}}
===Hall of Fame===
Seven players were inducted into the inaugural club Hall of Fame in 2008:<ref name="hof">{{cite news|url=http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/output/2008/02/05/blether.shtm|title=Blether with Brown - 05 February 2008|publisher=The Evening Telegraph|date=[[2008-02-05]]|author=Brown, John}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Dennis Gillespie]]
* {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Doug Smith (footballer)|Doug Smith]]
* {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Jimmy Briggs]]
* {{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Finn Døssing]]
* {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Dave Narey]]
* {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Maurice Malpas]]
* {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Paul Hegarty]]
==Managers==
{{Main|Dundee United F.C. managers}}
''List of prominent and recent managers, as of [[2008-03-17]]. Only competitive matches are counted.
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size:95%"
|-
! From !! To !! Name !! P !! W !! D !! L !! F !! A !!Win %
|-
|1959
|1971
|align=left| {{flagicon|SCO}} {{sortname|Jerry|Kerr}}
|566||247||123||196||1059||942||43.6
|-
|1971
|1993
|align=left| {{flagicon|SCO}} {{sortname|Jim|McLean}}
|1094||527||266||301||1722||1128||48.2
|-
|1993
|1995
|align=left| {{flagicon|SER}} {{sortname|Ivan|Golac}}
|72||25||22||25||114||113||34.7
|-
|1995
|1996
|align=left| {{flagicon|SCO}} {{sortname|Billy|Kirkwood}}
|56||25||13||18||108||66||44.6
|-
|1996
|1998
|align=left| {{flagicon|SCO}} {{sortname|Tommy|McLean}}
|93||36||27||30||134||107||38.7
|-
|1998
|2000
|align=left| {{flagicon|SCO}} {{sortname|Paul|Sturrock}}
|85||27||19||39||97||119||31.8
|-
|2000
|2002
|align=left| {{flagicon|SCO}} {{sortname|Alex|Smith|Alex Smith (football)}}
|99||31||23||45||107||146||31.3
|-
|2002
|2003
|align=left| {{flagicon|SCO}} {{sortname|Paul|Hegarty}}
|18||4||5||9||20||33||22.2
|-
|2003
|2005
|align=left| {{flagicon|SCO}} {{sortname|Ian|McCall}}
|92||28||24||40||116||149||30.4
|-
|2005
|2006
|align=left| {{flagicon|SCO}} {{sortname|Gordon|Chisholm}}
|36||10||10||16||40||54||27.8
|-
|2006
|2006
|align=left| {{flagicon|SCO}} {{sortname|Craig|Brewster}}
|30||3||11||16||28||59||10.0
|-
|2006
| Present
|align=left| {{flagicon|SCO}} {{sortname|Craig|Levein}}
|66||28||16||22||91||79||42.4
|}
==Achievements==
===League===
The club's first trophy came in 1925, when they won the [[1924-25 in Scottish football|1924-25]] Division Two championship. After two seasons in the top tier, the club were relegated, but they won the Division Two title for a second time in [[1928-29 in Scottish football|1928-29]]. Immediate relegation followed and the club finished runners-up in 1931-32. Another runners-up spot was claimed in 1959-60, in manager [[Jerry Kerr]]'s first season, and it was from here that the club would remain in the top division for the next thirty-five years. Under [[Jim McLean]]'s management, the club clinched the [[Scottish Football League Premier Division|Premier Division]] title for the first time in [[1982-83 in Scottish football|1982-83]], resulting in [[European Cup]] football the following season. The title win was the last league success for the club, although they finished runners-up in the [[Scottish First Division|First Division]] in [[1995-96 in Scottish football|1995-96]] following relegation the previous season, and in third place in their first season back in the Premier Division. Since the SPL's conception in 1998, United have finished in the top half twice, in [[Scottish Premier League 2003-04|2003-04]] and [[Scottish Premier League 2007-08|2007-08]].
===Cups===
The club had to wait several decades before the first chance at cup silverware, when they began the first of a six-game losing streak of [[Scottish Cup]] Final appearances in [[1973-74 in Scottish football|1973-74]], losing 3-0 to [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]. Towards the end of the 1970s, things began to change, with three successive appearances in the [[Scottish League Cup|League Cup]] Final. First, a win in [[1979-80 in Scottish football|1979-80]] with a 3-0 replay victory over [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]]. The following season, the club reached the Scottish Cup final too, and while they were successful in defending the League Cup against rivals [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]] (3-0), lost out again in the Scottish Cup with a replay defeat to [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]]. The following season, in [[1981-82 in Scottish football|1981-82]], United failed to make it a hat-trick of successive League Cup wins when they lost 2-1 to Rangers.
United then 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 in Scottish football|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 F.C.|St Mirren]] in [[1986-87 in Scottish football|1986-87]]; and finally, a last-minute 2-1 loss against Celtic the following year, despite being a goal ahead. A three year gap ensued before the [[1990-91 in Scottish football|1990-91]] Scottish Cup final, which pitted Jim McLean against his brother [[Tommy McLean|Tommy]], at [[Motherwell F.C.|Motherwell]]. The final was won 4-3 by 'Well, with United again losing in extra time. The sixth Cup Final loss was also the club's fifth final appearance in eleven years. Fortunately, United finally reversed the trend and clinched the Cup when [[Craig Brewster]]'s goal defeated Rangers in [[1993-94 in Scottish football|1993-94]] for a 1-0 win. Eleven years passed until the next, and most recent, Scottish Cup final appearance, when United lost 1-0 to Celtic. Sandwiched in the middle of these appearances was a defeat on penalties to [[Stenhousemuir F.C.|Stenhousemuir]] in the [[Scottish Challenge Cup]] (when United failed to concede in the whole competition) and a 3-0 defeat to Celtic in the [[1997-98 in Scottish football|1997-98]] Scottish League Cup Final. In July 2005, United won the inaugural [[City of Discovery Cup]], a pre-season tournament held in [[Dundee]].
Six of United's eight Scottish Cup finals have been against the Old Firm, and of the club's last five losses, all have been by a single goal. Overall, United have reached thirteen domestic finals, and won three; the record of winning one of eight Scottish Cup finals is the worst ratio of any Cup winner. United twice reached both cup finals in the same season (1980-81 and 1984-85), winning just one of the four. United most recently lost the 2008 CIS league cup final on penalties to Rangers. This happened after the match had finished 2-2 after extra time.
===Europe===
The club's first experience of Europe came in 1966-67 when, helped by the 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. After their only [[Scottish Football League|Premier Division]] championship win, the team reached the resulting semi-final of the [[European Cup]] in 1984, losing 3-2 on aggregate to [[AS Roma|Roma]]. In 1987, the club went one better, reaching the final of the [[UEFA Cup]]. Despite the 2-1 aggregate loss to [[IFK Göteborg]], the Arabs won the ''first-ever'' [[FIFA]] Fair Play Award for their sporting behaviour after the final defeat.<ref name="uefa">{{cite web | url=http://www.fifa.com/en/fairplay/fairplay/0,1234,8,00.html | publisher=FIFA | title=FIFA Fair Play Prizes | accessmonthday=September 26 | accessyear=2006}}</ref>
===List===
*'''[[UEFA Cup]]:'''
**'''Runners-up (1):''' [[UEFA Cup 1986-87|1986-87]]
*'''[[European Cup]]:'''
**'''Semi-finalists (1):''' [[European Cup 1983-84|1983-84]]
*'''[[Scottish Football League Premier Division|Scottish League Premier Division]]:'''
**'''Winners (1):''' [[1982-83 in Scottish football|1982-83]]
*'''[[Scottish Football League First Division|Scottish League First Division]]:'''
**'''Runners-up (1):''' [[1995-96 in Scottish football|1995-96]]
*'''[[Scottish Football League Division Two|Scottish League Division Two]]:'''
**'''Winners (2):''' [[1924-25 in Scottish football|1924-25]], [[1928-29 in Scottish football|1928-29]]
**'''Runners-up (2):''' [[1931-32 in Scottish football|1931-32]], [[1959-60 in Scottish football|1959-60]]
*'''[[Scottish Cup]]:'''
**'''Winners (1)''': [[1993-94 in Scottish football|1993-94]]
**'''Runners-up (7):''' [[1973-74 in Scottish football|1973-74]], [[1980-81 in Scottish football|1980-81]], [[1984-85 in Scottish football|1984-85]], [[1986-87 in Scottish football|1986-87]], [[1987-88 in Scottish football|1987-88]], [[1990-91 in Scottish football|1990-91]], [[2004-05 in Scottish football|2004-05]]
*'''[[Scottish League Cup]]:'''
**'''Winners (2):''' [[1979-80 in Scottish football|1979-80]], [[1980-81 in Scottish football|1980-81]]
**'''Runners-up (4):''' [[1981-82 in Scottish football|1981-82]], [[1984-85 in Scottish football|1984-85]], [[1997-98 in Scottish football|1997-98]], [[2007-08 in Scottish football|2007-08]]
*'''[[Scottish Challenge Cup]]:'''
**'''Runners-up (1):''' [[1995-96 in Scottish football|1995-96]]
*'''[[Forfarshire Cup]]:'''
**'''Winners (8):''' [[1910-11 in Scottish football|1910-11]], [[1919-20 in Scottish football|1919-20]], [[1950-51 in Scottish football|1950-51]], [[1964-65 in Scottish football|1964-65]], [[1971-72 in Scottish football|1971-72]], [[1975-76 in Scottish football|1975-76]], [[1979-80 in Scottish football|1979-80]], [[1987-88 in Scottish football|1987-88]], [[2005-06 in Scottish football|2005-06]]
*'''[[City of Discovery Cup]]:'''
**'''Winners (1):''' 2005
==See also==
*[[Dundee United F.C. records]]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
*[http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/ Official Dundee United FC website]
*[http://www.arabzone.co.uk ArabZONE - Official Dundee United FC members only website]
*[http://www.arabtrust.org.uk/ ArabTRUST]
*[http://www.youthatunited.com/ Dundee United Youth Development]
*[http://www.feddusc.com/ Federation of Dundee United Supporters' Clubs]
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee_utd/default.stm Dundee United BBC My Club page]
{{fb start}}
{{DUFC infobox}}
{{Scottish Premier League}}
{{Football in Scotland}}
{{fb end}}
[[Category:Dundee United F.C.| ]]
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