Dundee United F.C.
| File:DUFC 100years.png | |||
| Full name | Dundee United Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Terrors The Arabs (supporters) | ||
| Founded | 24 May 1909 as Dundee Hibernian | ||
| Ground | Tannadice Park, Dundee | ||
| Capacity | 14,209 | ||
| Chairman | 
Stephen Thompson | ||
| Manager | Craig Levein | ||
| League | Scottish Premier League | ||
| 2008–09 | Scottish Premier League, 5th | ||
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Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Traditionally, United are nicknamed The Terrors[1] and the supporters known as The Arabs,[2] though the latter has been applied equally to the club in recent times by the sporting media, in favour of the former.
United currently play in the Scottish Premier League and have been managed by Craig Levein since October 2006. The late Eddie Thompson, chairman from September 2002[3] until his death in October 2008, was the majority shareholder of Dundee United, whilst the supporters, under the guise of ArabTRUST, own the second largest shareholding. In 2005/06, Tannadice attracted an average attendance of 8,197,[4] the sixth-highest average in the SPL.
In European competition, United are Scotland's fourth most experienced team, having played 104 matches over 23 seasons in Europe.[5]
2009 is Dundee United's centenary year, 1909 - 2009.
History
Beginning (1909–1971)
Inspired by the example of Hibernian in Edinburgh the Irish Catholic community in Dundee formed a new football club in 1909, following the demise of 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 who then 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 FC.[6]
United won promotion to the First Division for the first time in 1924/25 when they won the Second Division title, although they were relegated back down within two seasons.[6] 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 in the 1960s).
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 1960s were highlighted by the playing skills of the some notable imports from Scandinavia: Örjan Persson, Finn Seemann, Lennart Wing, Finn Døssing and Mogens Berg.[7] These players also helped give United their first taste of European football, where they eliminated 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 25 August. 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) took United to their first ever Scottish Cup final in 1973/74. They achieved a record high of third place in the Scottish Premier Division in 1977/78 then again in 1978/79, before guiding the side to several major honours; the first by winning the Scottish League Cup in 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.[8]
Dundee United won the Scottish Premier Division title for the first time in the club's history in the 1982/83 season, 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, Borussia Mönchengladbach, PSV Eindhoven, 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 AS 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.[9] 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.[10]
The pinnacle of their achievements in Europe came later in 1986/87 when United became the first Scottish club to reach the final of the UEFA Cup.[8] 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.[11] Although they failed to beat IFK Gothenburg 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.[12]
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.[13] As Dundee F.C. were not always in the top flight at that time, the New Firm 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)
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 to Rangers for a fee of £4 million, breaking the record transfer fee involving two British clubs.[14] According to one source,[15] United had already turned down £3million bids from Bayern Munich, Leeds United and 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, a late run of defeats, culminating in a 1–0 defeat at home to Celtic on the last day, saw them relegated to the First Division. Despite being title favourites at the lower level, they eventually finished second, which left them facing a two leg play-off against Partick Thistle for the right to play in the Premier Division in the 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, United reached the League Cup final, but lost 3–0 to Celtic. United reached their first Scottish Cup final for eleven years in 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 League Cup final on penalties, under manager Craig Levein and miss out on a UEFA Cup place in the last two matches of the season.
In October 2008, chairman Eddie Thompson died from prostate cancer, six years after gaining control of his beloved club.
Colours and badge
- For a complete pictorial history of playing kit, see the Historical Football Kits site.
United's playing kit is distinct: 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.[16] 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 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-style broad hoops, Queen's Park-style narrow hoops and an 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.[17] 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.
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 associate 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 began sponsoring the club from season 2008/09.
United have had a number of official kit suppliers, including Adidas, Hummel and, from June 2009, Nike.
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; the two stadia are the closest senior football grounds anywhere in the United Kingdom.[18]
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.
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 UEFA Euro 2008,[19] with several clubs seeking to benefit from a new stadium[20] with planning permission given to a proposed site at Caird Park.[21] Special dispensation was requested to proceed with the proposal,[22] 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,[23] although the plan was raised again in June 2008 following doubts about joint-host Ukraine's ability to stage Euro 2012 with the SFA keen as alternative hosts.[24]
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 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, for which the management, in a desperate attempt to get Tannadice Park 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.[25] Other sources point to earlier usage, with a "1950s sandtrap" used as one such reference.[26] 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 even wrote a song declaring this fact. By then, even the official club souvenir shops were selling replica keffiyehs 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,[27] 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.[28] 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.[25] In a BBC online poll in March 2006, Dundee United fan Zippy was named as Britain's favourite sporting celebrity by a landslide margin.[29]
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.
Achievements
League
The club's first trophy came in 1925, when they won the 1924/25 Division Two championship. After two seasons in the top tier, the club was 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. 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 Premier Division title for the only time in 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 First Division in 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 3 times, in 2003/04 , 2007/08. and 2008/09.
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, losing 3–0 to Celtic. Towards the end of the 1970s, things began to change, with three successive appearances in the League Cup Final. First, a win in 1979/80 with a 3–0 replay victory over 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 (3-0), lost out again in the Scottish Cup with a replay defeat to Rangers. The following season, in 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, 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. 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. 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 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 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 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 Celtic or Rangers 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 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.[12]
List
- European Cup:
- Semi-finalists (1): 1983/84
- Scottish League Premier Division:
- Winners (1): 1982/83
- Scottish League First Division:
- Runners-up (1): 1995/96
- Scottish Challenge Cup:
- Runners-up (1): 1995/96
- City of Discovery Cup:
- Winners (1): 2005
Current squad
First-team squad
As of 16 August 2009 Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Under 19 squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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- For recent transfers, see List of Scottish football transfers 2009–10
Noted players
- For a full list of current and former players with articles, see Category:Dundee United F.C. players.
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. *In the cases of Pat Onstad and Kémoko Camara, their year of signing is given as neither played a first-team game for the club.
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Hall of Fame
The club launched its official Hall of Fame in 2008, with seven inaugural members.[30] A further six players were inducted in January 2009.[31]
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2008: |
2009:
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Managers
List of prominent and recent managers, with respective records, as of 26 August 2009. Only competitive matches are counted.
| From | To | Name | P | W | D | L | F | A | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | 1971 | Jerry Kerr
|
566 | 247 | 123 | 196 | 1059 | 942 | 43.6 |
| 1971 | 1993 | Jim McLean
|
1094 | 527 | 266 | 301 | 1722 | 1128 | 48.2 |
| 1993 | 1995 |  Ivan Golac
|
72 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 114 | 113 | 34.7 |
| 1995 | 1996 | Billy Kirkwood
|
56 | 25 | 13 | 18 | 108 | 66 | 44.6 |
| 1996 | 1998 | Tommy McLean
|
93 | 36 | 27 | 30 | 134 | 107 | 38.7 |
| 1998 | 2000 | Paul Sturrock
|
85 | 27 | 19 | 39 | 97 | 119 | 31.8 |
| 2000 | 2002 | Alex Smith
|
99 | 31 | 23 | 45 | 107 | 146 | 31.3 |
| 2002 | 2003 | Paul Hegarty
|
18 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 20 | 33 | 22.2 |
| 2003 | 2005 | Ian McCall
|
92 | 28 | 24 | 40 | 116 | 149 | 30.4 |
| 2005 | 2006 | Gordon Chisholm
|
36 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 40 | 54 | 27.8 |
| 2006 | 2006 | Craig Brewster
|
30 | 3 | 11 | 16 | 28 | 59 | 10.0 |
| 2006 | Present | Craig Levein
|
121 | 48 | 35 | 38 | 163 | 143 | 39.6 |
References
- ^ "Dundee United A - Z ( T )". Dundee United FC.
- ^ "Dundee United A-Z (A)". Dundee United FC. Retrieved 2008-06-28.
- ^ "Dundee Utd takeover complete". BBC Sport website. 26 September 2002.
- ^ "2005/06 Statistics: Attendance". SPL Official website.
- ^ "All Scottish European results". Retrieved 26 September 2006.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dateformat=ignored (help) - ^ a b "History". Dundee United FC.
- ^ "History". Dundee United FC.
- ^ a b "History". Dundee United FC. Retrieved 26 September 2006.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dateformat=ignored (help) Cite error: The named reference "history4" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page). - ^ "Dundee United A - Z (I)". Dundee United FC. Retrieved 26 September 2006.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dateformat=ignored (help) - ^ Keir Radnedge. "A potted guide to corruption in football".
- ^ Moffat, Colin (2007-07-24). "Barca out to end Dundee Utd jinx". BBC Sport website.
- ^ a b "FIFA Fair Play Prizes". FIFA. Retrieved 26 September 2006.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dateformat=ignored (help) - ^ "The New Firm and the Dons' Cup-Winners' Cup glory in 1983". A Sporting Nation. The BBC. Retrieved 29 September 2006.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dateformat=ignored (help) - ^ "From £250,000 to £29.1m". Observer Sport Monthly. 2006-03-05.
- ^ Kenrick, Michael (2006). "Duncan Ferguson". ToffeeWeb. Retrieved 26 September 2006.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dateformat=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ "Dundee United A - Z (D)". Dundee United FC. Retrieved 26 September 2006.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dateformat=ignored (help) - ^ "Dundee United A-Z (C)". Dundee United FC. Retrieved 28 September 2006.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dateformat=ignored (help) - ^ Phil Gordon (1 September 2002). "Smart adds spice to Duffy's return". The Independent (Online Edition).
- ^ "Dundee clubs plan stadium share". BBC Sport website. 29 June 2001.
- ^ "Deadline day for new stadia". BBC Sport website. 31 July 2001.
- ^ "Dundee clubs get stadium boost". BBC Sport website. 30 April 2002.
- ^ "Dundee rivals request groundshare". BBC Sport website. 17 September 2002.
- ^ "Dundee rivals to rethink stadia plans". BBC Sport website. 12 December 2002.
- ^ "North east trio unite on Euro bid". BBC Sport website. 2008-06-06. Retrieved 2008-06-07.
- ^ a b "Dundee United A - Z (A)". Dundee United FC. Retrieved 26 September 2006.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dateformat=ignored (help) - ^ "10 Differences between Ben Aden and Sir Anthony Eden". The Angry Corrie Issue 12: April/May 1993. Retrieved 26 September 2006.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dateformat=ignored (help) - ^ "ArabTRUST - the Dundee United Supporters' Trust". Dundee United FC. Retrieved 28 September 2006.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dateformat=ignored (help) - ^ "ArabTRUST News". Dundee United FC. Retrieved 28 September 2006.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dateformat=ignored (help) - ^ "Zippy is top fan". BBC Sport website. 10 March 2006.
- ^ Brown, John (2008-02-05). "Blether with Brown - 05 February 2008". The Evening Telegraph.
- ^ "Scottish Football Podcast". BBC Scotland. 2008-11-21.
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