View source for Dundee United F.C.

{{short description|Association football club in Scotland}}
{{about|the side formed in 1909|the similarly named club formed in 1893 | Dundee F.C.}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox football club
| nickname    = The Terrors, The Tangerines
| ground      = [[Tannadice Park]], Dundee
| capacity    = {{SPFL-stadiums|dundeeu}}<ref name="capacity"/>
| current     = 2020–21 Dundee United F.C. season
| pattern_la1 = _dundeeutd2021h
| pattern_b1  = _dundeeutd2021h
| pattern_ra1 = _dundeeutd2021h
| pattern_sh1 = _dundeeutd2021h
| pattern_so1 = _dundeeutd2021h
| leftarm1    = FF5F00
| body1       = FF5F00
| rightarm1   = FF5F00
| shorts1     = 000000
| socks1      = 000000
| pattern_la2      = _dundeeutd2021a
| pattern_b2       = _dundeeutd2021a
| pattern_ra2      = _dundeeutd2021a
| pattern_sh2      = _dundeeutd2021a
| pattern_so2      = _dundeeutd2021a
| rightarm2        = 000000
| body2            = 4F2B83
| leftarm2         = 000000
| shorts2          = 4F2B83
| socks2           = 4F2B83
| image       = DUFCcrest.png
| image_size  = 175px
| clubname    = Dundee United
| fullname    = Dundee United Football Club
| founded     = {{Start date and years ago|df=y|1909|5|24}}<br />(as ''Dundee Hibernian'')
| chairman    = Mark Ogren
| mgrtitle    = 
|  manager    = [[Micky Mellon]]
| league      = {{Scottish football updater|DundeeUn}}
| season      = {{Scottish football updater|DundeeUn2}}
| position    = {{Scottish football updater|DundeeUn3}}
| website     = https://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/
}}

'''Dundee United Football Club''' is a Scottish professional [[association football|football]] club based in the city of [[Dundee]]. Formed in 1909, originally as '''Dundee Hibernian''',<ref name="centenary">{{cite news|url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2009/09/02/newsstory13714670t0.asp|publisher=[[The Courier (Dundee)|The Courier]]|date=2 September 2009|access-date=29 September 2009|title=Civic reception ‘great honour’ for Dundee United centenary|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090907025125/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2009/09/02/newsstory13714670t0.asp|archive-date=7 September 2009}}</ref> the club changed to the present name in 1923.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?tm=136|title=Dundee United Beginnings|publisher=Dundee United FC|access-date=29 September 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091025201816/http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?tm=136|archive-date=25 October 2009}}</ref> United are nicknamed ''The Terrors''<ref name="terrors">{{cite web | access-date=29 September 2009 | url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?pg=302 | title=Dundee United A – Z ( T ) | publisher=Dundee United FC | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208045249/http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?pg=302 | archive-date=8 December 2008 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> or ''The Tangerines'' and the supporters are known as ''Arabs''.<ref name="arabs">{{cite web|url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?pg=216|title=Dundee United A-Z (A)|publisher=Dundee United FC|access-date=28 June 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529221350/http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?pg=216|archive-date=29 May 2008}}</ref>

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 [[Scottish Professional Football League|SPFL]] structure. United were relegated in 2016 to the [[Scottish Championship]], the second tier of the SPFL, before being promoted back to the [[Scottish Premiership]] in 2020.

Domestically, the club has won the [[Scottish Football League Premier Division|Scottish Premier Division]] on one occasion ([[1982–83 Scottish Premier Division|1982–83]]), the [[Scottish Cup]] twice ([[1994 Scottish Cup Final|1994]] and [[2010 Scottish Cup Final|2010]]) and the [[Scottish League Cup]] twice ([[1979 Scottish League Cup Final (December)|1979]] and [[1980 Scottish League Cup Final|1980]]). United appeared in European competition <!--United are Scotland's fourth most experienced team, having played 104 matches over 23&nbsp;seasons in Europe.<ref name="Europe">{{cite web | url=http://uk.geocities.com/scottishfootballineurope/allscores.htm | title=All Scottish European results | access-date=26 September 2006}}</ref>--> for the first time in the 1966–67 season, going on to appear in Europe in 14&nbsp;successive seasons from 1976. They also reached the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] semi-finals in [[1983–84 European Cup|1983–84 season]] and the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]] [[1987 UEFA Cup Final|final]] in [[1986–87 UEFA Cup|1987]]. 

The club's main rivals are [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]]. The two teams contest the [[Dundee derby]], with the local rivals' [[Dens Park]] stadium being located virtually next door to Tannadice Park.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.football-stadiums.co.uk/grounds/scotland/dundee/|title=Dundee Football Clubs and Stadiums|publisher=Football Stadiums.co.uk|access-date=1 July 2018}}</ref>

== History ==
{{Main|History of Dundee United F.C.}}
[[File:DundeeUnitedFC League Performance.svg|thumb|right|Chart of historic performance of Dundee United in the League.]]
=== Beginning (1909–1959) ===
[[File:p houston.jpg|thumb|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 relegated between the first and second tier three times, winning the [[Scottish Football League Second Division|Second Division]] title in [[1924–25 Scottish Second Division|1925]] and [[1928–29 Scottish Second Division|1929]].<ref name="history2">{{cite web | url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?pg=439 | title=History – The Early Days | publisher=Dundee United FC | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329044059/http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?pg=439 | archive-date=29 March 2012 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

=== Promotion to the Top Flight (1959–1971) ===
The club took significant strides forward when [[Jerry Kerr]] became manager in 1959. Kerr's team won promotion in his first season in charge and became an established team in the top flight, where they remained until 1995.<ref name="kerr-history">{{cite web|url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?pg=440|access-date=29 September 2009|title=History – 50s & 60s|publisher=Dundee United FC|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006120849/http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?pg=440|archive-date=6 October 2013}}</ref>

A key characteristic of Kerr's reign was the strengthening of the playing squad with Scandinavian imports,<ref name="kerr-history" /> most notably with the signings of [[Lennart Wing]], [[Finn Døssing|Finn Dossing]], [[Mogens Berg]], [[Finn Seemann]] and [[Örjan Persson|Orjan Persson]].

It was during this period that United qualified for European competition for the first time, eliminating [[Inter-Cities Fairs Cup]] holders [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] on their European debut in 1966.

=== Jim McLean era (1971–1993) ===
[[Jim McLean]] took over from Kerr in 1971 and under his management the club enjoyed the most successful era in its history. McLean's era became known for his youth policy and the offering of long-term contracts that would see future Scotland international players such as [[David Narey|Dave Narey]], [[Paul Sturrock]], [[Paul Hegarty]], [[Davie Dodds]], [[Eamonn Bannon]] and [[Maurice Malpas]] spend the majority of their careers at the club.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.arabarchive.co.uk/players-apps.php|title=Player Appearance Totals {{!}} Dundee United (Dundee United Archive)|website=www.arabarchive.co.uk|access-date=26 February 2019}}</ref>

United won its first major honour under McLean, capturing the [[Scottish League Cup]] in [[1979 Scottish League Cup Final (December)|1979]] and again in [[1980 Scottish League Cup Final|1980]].<ref name="history4">{{cite web | url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?pg=441 | title=History | publisher=Dundee United FC | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314043042/http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?pg=441 | archive-date=14 March 2012 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> They were crowned [[Scottish Football League Premier Division|Premier Division]] champions in [[1982–83 Dundee United F.C. season|1982–83]].

The club were also successful in Europe, reaching the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] semi-finals in [[1983-84 European Cup|1984]] and the [[UEFA Cup]] Final in [[1987 UEFA Cup Final|1987]],<ref name="history4" /> the latter campaign involving another elimination of Barcelona during the earlier rounds (maintaining a 100% record over the Catalans in competitive European ties).<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=24 July 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/10-things-about-dundee-united|title=10 things about Dundee United|last=Stewart|first=Craig|date=24 September 2014|work=SPFL|access-date=8 January 2019}}</ref> Despite losing to [[IFK Göteborg|IFK Gothenburg]] in the final, the club was awarded a FIFA Fair Play Award.<ref name="uefa">{{cite web | url=https://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/worldwideprograms/footballforhope/fairplay/awards.html | publisher=FIFA | title=Fair Play Awards | access-date=29 September 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080611155854/http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/worldwideprograms/footballforhope/fairplay/awards.html |archive-date = 11 June 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

McLean retired as manager in 1993, but remained as club chairman.<ref name="90s">{{cite web|url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?pg=442|publisher=Dundee United FC|access-date=29 September 2009|title=History – 90s|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329044129/http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?pg=442|archive-date=29 March 2012}}</ref>

=== Scottish Cup wins and relegation (1993–2016) ===
United won the [[Scottish Cup]] for the first time in [[1994 Scottish Cup Final|1994]] under McLean's successor [[Ivan Golac]], but were relegated in 1995, before returning to the Premier Division a year later.

Following a number of board changes, the club was purchased from McLean in 2002 by former [[Morning, Noon and Night (Convenience Store)|Morning Noon and Night]] co-founder and chief executive [[Eddie Thompson]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/oct/20/dundee-united-football|title=Obituary: Eddie Thompson|last=Wilson|first=Brian|date=19 October 2008|work=The Guardian|access-date=26 February 2019|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> A lifelong United fan, Thompson invested heavily in the team in a bid to compete with significant spending which had developed following the formation of the [[Scottish Premier League]], however little progress was made until [[Craig Levein]] became manager in 2006. Levein established United as a top six club, regularly achieving European qualification before he left the club to take the post as Scotland manager in 2009.

With the foundations of the side in place, United won the Scottish Cup for a second time in [[2010 Scottish Cup Final|2010]] under the management of [[Peter Houston]].

After several relatively successful seasons, a series of poor results in the [[Scottish Premiership|Premiership]] led to United being relegated in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dundee United relegated from Premiership after 2–1 derby defeat|url=http://stv.tv/sport/football/1352697-dundee-united-relegated-from-premiership-after-2-1-derby-defeat/|website=stv.tv/sport|access-date=2 May 2016}}</ref>

=== Scottish Championship and promotion battles (2016 – 2020) ===
Dundee United's first season in the [[Scottish Championship|Championship]] was under the management of [[Ray McKinnon (footballer)|Ray McKinnon]]. United won the [[Scottish Challenge Cup|Challenge Cup]] by beating [[2017 Scottish Challenge Cup Final|St Mirren]] 2–1 in the final and they reached the play-off final for the [[2016–17 Scottish Premiership|Premiership]]. However they lost narrowly 1–0 to [[Hamilton Academical F.C.|Hamilton]]. The second season in the second tier was less successful, as manager McKinnon was sacked and replaced with [[Csaba László (footballer, born 1964)|Csaba László]]; after a very disappointing season, United lost in the play-off semi-final to eventual promotion winners [[Livingston F.C.|Livingston]]. After a poor start to the [[2018–19 Scottish Championship|2018–19 season]] the manager was once again sacked and replaced with [[Robbie Neilson]]. The team finished second in the Championship but lost in the play-offs to St Mirren, missing four penalty kicks in the process. United started the [[2019–20 Scottish Championship|2019–20 season]] in title winning form, maintaining the top spot since the opening weekend, but the season was postponed due to the global [[COVID-19 pandemic]] on 13 March 2020. On 15 April 2020, the SPFL plan proposing an end to the season was approved. A 14-point lead over second place [[Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.|Inverness CT]] saw United crowned champions and subsequently promoted back to the Premiership. On 21 June 2020, the club announced that they were parting ways with manager Robbie Neilson, who agreed a deal to return to newly relegated side [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Heart of Midlothian]].

=== Scottish Premiership return (2020 – present) ===
Prior to the start of the [[2020–21 Scottish Premiership|Premiership]] season, Dundee United hired [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]] manager [[Micky Mellon]] to replace Neilson, and began their campaign at home to Tayside rivals [[St Johnstone F.C.|St Johnstone]], drawing 1–1.

== Colours and badge ==
[[File:DUFC Crest.JPG|left|thumb|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.<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) | access-date=26 September 2006 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410204548/http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?pg=238 | archive-date=10 April 2008 | df=dmy-all }}</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.

When 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 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.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;float:right"
|-
!Period
!Kit manufacturer
!Shirt sponsor
|-
|1973–1976
|[[Bukta]]
|rowspan=2|''none''
|-
|1976–1985
|rowspan=3|[[Adidas]]
|-
|1985–1987
|[[VG (shop)|VG]]
|-
|1987–1989
|rowspan=4|[[Belhaven Brewery|Belhaven]]
|-
|1989–1991
|[[ASICS]]
|-
|1991–1992
|[[Bukta]]
|-
|1992–1993
|rowspan=2|Loki
|-
|1993–1994
|''none''
|-
|1994–1996
|rowspan=2|[[Pony International|Pony]]
|[[Rover Group|Rover]]
|-
|1996–1998
|rowspan=3|[[Telewest]]
|-
|1998–2000
|Olympic Sports
|-
|2000–2003
|rowspan=2|TFG Sports
|-
|2003–2006
|[[Morning, Noon and Night (Convenience Store)|Morning, Noon and Night]]
|-
|2006–2008
|rowspan=2|[[Hummel International|Hummel]]
|[[Anglian Home Improvements]]
|-
|2008–2009
|rowspan=2|[[Carbrini Sportswear]]
|-
|2009–2010
|rowspan=4|[[Nike, Inc.|Nike]]
|-
|2010–2016
|[[Calor Gas|Calor]]
|-
|2016–2018
|[[McEwan Fraser Legal]]
|-
|2018–2019
|rowspan=2|Utilita
|-
|2019–
|[[Macron (sportswear)|Macron]] 
|}

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) | access-date=28 September 2006 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929211834/http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?pg=220 | archive-date=29 September 2013 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> To mark the club's centenary in 2009, a special version of the badge with an added ''"1909 2009 Centenary"'' logo was 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 in Scottish football|1985–86 season]] when future chairman [[Eddie Thompson]]'s [[VG (shop)|VG]] chain sponsored the club in the first of a two-year deal. A six-year association with [[Belhaven Brewery|Belhaven]] then ensued with a sponsorless [[1993–94 in Scottish football|1993–94 season]]. [[Rover Group|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]] took over sponsorship from 1996 for six years until Eddie Thompson's [[Morning, Noon and Night (Convenience Store)|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 from the 2016–17 season was [[McEwan Fraser Legal]], with Utilita taking over in 2018.

United have had a number of official kit suppliers, including [[Adidas]], [[Hummel International|Hummel]], [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] and most recently [[Macron_(sportswear)|Macron]].

=== Historical home kits ===
{|
|
{{Football kit
| pattern_b  = 
| body       = 006400
| pattern_l  = 
| leftarm    = 006400
| pattern_ra = 
| rightarm   = 006400
| pattern_sh = 
| shorts     = FFFFFF
| socks      = 006400
| title      = c. 1909
}}
|
{{Football kit
| pattern_la = 
| pattern_b  = _Vhighonwhite
| pattern_sh = 
| pattern_so = _black_midband_color
| leftarm    = FFFFFF
| body       = 000000
| rightarm   = FFFFFF
| shorts     = 000000
| socks      = 000000
| title      = c.1929–30
}}
|
{{Football kit
| pattern_la = _blackline
| pattern_b  = _vneckblack
| pattern_ra = _blackline
| leftarm    = EE7700
| body       = EE7700
| rightarm   = EE7700
| shorts     = 000000
| socks      = EE7700
| title      = 1986–87
}}
|
{{Football kit
| pattern_la = _blackcuffpiping
| pattern_b  = _blackwhiteshoulders
| pattern_ra = _blackcuffpiping
| leftarm    = EE7700
| body       = EE7700
| rightarm   = EE7700
| shorts     = 000000
| socks      = EE7700
| title      = 1990–91
}}
|
{{Football kit
| pattern_la = 
| pattern_b  = _foldedcollarblackshoulders
| pattern_ra = 
| leftarm    = FF4400
| body       = FF4400
| rightarm   = FF4400
| shorts     = FF4400
| socks      = FF4400
| title      = 1993–94
}}
|
{{Football kit
| pattern_a  = _blackborder
| pattern_b  = _narrowwhitestripes
| pattern_ra = _blackborder
| leftarm    = EE7700
| body       = EE7700
| rightarm   = EE7700
| shorts     = 000000
| socks      = EE7700
| title      = 1994–95
}}
|
{{Football kit
| pattern_la = _blackborder
| pattern_b  = _thingreysides
| pattern_ra = _blackborder
| leftarm    = FC6916
| body       = FC6916
| rightarm   = FC6916
| shorts     = 000000
| socks      = FC6916
| title      = 2006–07
}}
|
{{Football kit
| pattern_b  = _dundeeutd0809
| body       = FC9916
| pattern_la = _blackborder
| leftarm    = FC9916
| pattern_ra = _blackborder
| rightarm   = FC9916
| pattern_sh = _hummel08 black
| shorts     = FC9916
| pattern_so = _hummel08black
| socks      = FC9916
| title      = 2008–09
}}
|}
{|
|
{{Football kit
| pattern_b  = 
| body       = FF7700
| pattern_l  = 
| leftarm    = FF7700
| pattern_ra = 
| rightarm   = FF7700
| pattern_sh = 
| shorts     = 000000
| socks      = FF7700
| title      = 2009–10
}}
|
{{Football kit
| pattern_b  = _nike_2010_black
| body       = FF7700
| pattern_la = 
| leftarm    = FF7700
| pattern_ra = 
| rightarm   = FF7700
| pattern_sh = _stripes_cut_white
| shorts     = 000000
| pattern_so = _nike_2010_black
| socks      = FF7700
| title      = 2010–11
}}
|
{{Football kit
| pattern_la = 
| pattern_b  = _chevron_black
| pattern_ra = 
| pattern_sh = 
| pattern_so = 
| leftarm    = FF7700
| body       = FF7700
| rightarm   = FF7700
| shorts     = FF7700
| socks      = FF7700
| title      = 2011–12
}}
|
{{Football kit
| pattern_la = 
| pattern_b  = _dufc1314h
| pattern_ra = 
| pattern_sh = 
| pattern_so = 
| leftarm    = FF6600
| body       = FF6600
| rightarm   = FF6600
| shorts     = 000000
| socks      = 000000
| title      = 2013–14
}}
|
{{Football kit
| pattern_la = 
| pattern_b  = _dufc1415h
| pattern_ra = 
| pattern_sh = 
| pattern_so = 
| leftarm    = 000000
| body       = FF7700
| rightarm   = 000000
| shorts     = 000000
| socks      = FF7700
| title      = 2014–15
}}
|
{{Football kit
| pattern_la = 
| pattern_b  = _dundee1516h
| pattern_ra = 
| pattern_sh = 
| pattern_so = 
| leftarm    = FF550F
| body       = FF550F
| rightarm   = FF550F
| shorts     = 000000
| socks      = FF550F
| title      = 2015–16
}}
|
{{Football kit
| pattern_la       = _dufc1617h
| pattern_b        = _dufc1617h
| pattern_ra       = _dufc1617h
| pattern_sh       = 
| pattern_so       = 
| leftarm          = 
| body             = 
| rightarm         = 
| shorts           = FF5F01
| socks            = FF5F01
| title      = 2016–17
}}
|
{{Football kit
| pattern_la           =_southendunited1819t
| pattern_b           =_southendunited1819t
| pattern_ra        =_southendunited1819t
| pattern_sh       = 
| pattern_so       = 
| leftarm          = 
| body             = 
| rightarm         = 
| shorts = FF6600
| socks = FF6600
| title      = 2017–18
}}
|}

'''Alternative'''
{|
|
{{Football kit
| pattern_la = _blackline
| pattern_b  = _vneckblack
| pattern_ra = _blackline
| leftarm    = FFFFFF
| body       = FFFFFF
| rightarm   = FFFFFF
| shorts     = 000000
| socks      = FFFFFF
| title      = 1985–86
}}
|
{{Football kit
| pattern_la = _blackcuffpiping
| pattern_b  = _blackwhiteshoulders
| pattern_ra = _blackcuffpiping
| leftarm    = FFFFFF
| body       = FFFFFF
| rightarm   = FFFFFF
| shorts     = FFFFFF
| socks      = FFFFFF
| title      = 1989–91
}}
|
|{{Football kit
| pattern_la = _black_stripes
| pattern_b  = _blackstripes3
| pattern_ra = _black_stripes
| leftarm    = 777777
| body       = 777777
| rightarm   = 777777
| shorts     = 000000
| socks      = 777777
| title      = 1995–96
}}
|
{{Football kit
| pattern_la = 
| pattern_b  = _whiteorangehorizontal
| pattern_ra = 
| leftarm    = 348017
| body       = 348017
| rightarm   = 348017
| shorts     = 348017
| socks      = FFFFFF
| title      = 2002–03
}}
|
{{Football kit
| pattern_b  = _white_vcollar
| body       = 000000
| pattern_la = _orange_border
| leftarm    = 000000
| pattern_ra = _orange_border
| rightarm   = 000000
| pattern_sh = 
| shorts     = 000000
| pattern_so = <!--_band_black-->
| socks      = FF7700
| title      = 2009–10
}}
|
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|
{{Football kit
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{{Football kit
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{{Football kit
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== 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 {{convert|170|yd|m}} away from [[Dens Park]], home of rivals [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]];<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 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022043630/http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/scotland/article175436.ece | archive-date=22 October 2007 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> The club has 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 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 {{SPFL-stadiums|dundeeu}}.<ref name="capacity">{{cite web |url=http://spfl.co.uk/clubs/dundee-united/ |title=Dundee United Football Club|publisher=Scottish Professional Football League |access-date=30 September 2013}}</ref> The Main Stand, built in 1962, was the first cantilever to be constructed at a Scottish football ground.<ref name="Inglis">{{cite book |last=Inglis |first=Simon |title=The Football Grounds of Great Britain (2nd ed.) |publisher=Collins Willow |location=London |year=1987 |isbn=0-00-218249-1|page=328}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Inglis"/>

[[File:Dundee football grounds from Dundee Law, November 2014.jpg|right|thumb|Tannadice Park is situated just 300 metres from [[Dens Park]], home of neighbours [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]]]]

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,<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=29 June 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=31 July 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=30 April 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=17 September 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,<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=12 December 2002}}</ref> although it was resurrected in June 2008, following doubts about joint-host [[Ukraine]]'s ability to stage [[Euro 2012]], and the [[Scottish Football Association|SFA]]'s keenness to act as an alternative host.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/7440929.stm|title=North east trio unite on Euro bid |date=6 June 2008|publisher=BBC Sport website|access-date=7 June 2008}}</ref>

===League Attendance===
The table below displays Dundee United's league attendances over the past decade. 

The highest attendance in that period came on 30th August 2019 when United beat their city rivals Dundee 6-2 in front a 14,108 crowd, their largest league attendance since 1998.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dundee United 6 - 2 Dundee {{!}} Friday, August 30th, 2019 {{!}} Match Details (Arab Archive)|url=https://www.arabarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=5769|access-date=2021-04-23|website=www.arabarchive.co.uk|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Dundee United 1 - 2 Rangers {{!}} Saturday, May 9th, 1998 {{!}} Match Details (Arab Archive)|url=https://www.arabarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=807|access-date=2021-04-23|website=www.arabarchive.co.uk|language=en}}</ref> In the same season United also set their highest average attendance and highest low attendance of the decade, these records being set despite the club residing in the second tier of the [[Scottish Professional Football League]] at the time. The lowest attendance of the 2019-20 season was larger than the highest attendance of the previous year, likely due to United's strong performance.<ref>{{Cite web|last=McKay|first=Gabriel|date=2020-02-24|title=The game and date Dundee United could seal promotion|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/game-date-dundee-united-could-21564042|access-date=2021-04-23|website=Daily Record|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Can anyone deny Dundee Utd the title?|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50905787|access-date=2021-04-23}}</ref>

Due to United's failure to gain promotion back to the Scottish Premiership over the previous seasons and growing mistrust of the club chairman and owner, 2018-19 saw the lowest average attendance of the decade.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Fans group call for protest at Tannadice tonight against Dundee United owner Stephen Thompson|language=en-GB|work=Evening Telegraph|url=https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/fans-group-call-protest-tannadice-tonight-dundee-united-owner-stephen-thompson/|access-date=2021-04-23|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> The lowest attendance was set the season before.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Dundee United 2-0 Dumbarton|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43550891|access-date=2021-04-23}}</ref>

The table does '''not''' include playoff attendances.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Dundee United Attendance 2010-2020
!Season
!Division
!Tier
!Place
!Lowest Attendance
!Highest Attendance
!Average Attendance
|-
|[[2019–20 Dundee United F.C. season|2019–20]]
|[[Scottish Championship]]
|2
| bgcolor="#98fb98" |1st
|bgcolor="#98fb98"|6,929
| bgcolor="#98fb98" |14,108
| bgcolor="#98fb98" |8,496
|-
|[[2018-19 Dundee United F.C. season|2018–19]]
|[[Scottish Championship]]
|2
|2nd
|4,201
|bgcolor="#ffc0cb" |6,532
| bgcolor="#ffc0cb" |5,079
|-
|[[2017–18 Dundee United F.C. season|2017–18]]
|[[Scottish Championship]]
|2
|3rd
| bgcolor="#ffc0cb" |3,620
|6,936
|5,505
|-
|[[2016–17 Dundee United F.C. season|2016–17]]
|[[Scottish Championship]]
|2
|4th
|4,661
|10,925
|6,584
|-
|[[2015–16 Dundee United F.C. season|2015–16]]
|[[Scottish Premiership]]
|1
| bgcolor="#ffc0cb" | 12th
|4,689
|11,835
|7,969
|-
|[[2014–15 Dundee United F.C. season|2014–15]]
|[[Scottish Premiership]]
|1
|5th
|5,243
|12,964
|8,114
|-
|[[2013–14 Dundee United F.C. season|2013–14]]
|[[Scottish Premiership]]
|1
|4th
|5,784
|12,601
|7,548
|-
|[[2012–13 Dundee United F.C. season|2012–13]]
|[[Scottish Premier League]]
|1
|6th
|5,117
|13,538
|7,547
|-
|[[2011–12 Dundee United F.C. season|2011–12]]
|[[Scottish Premier League]]
|1
|4th
|5,232
|11,741
|7,496
|-
|[[2010–11 Dundee United F.C. season|2010–11]]
|[[Scottish Premier League]]
|1
|4th
|4,918
|11,790
|7,389
|}

== Achievements ==

=== League ===
Dundee United'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, they 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.<ref name="history2"/> 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 35-years.<ref name="kerr-history"/> Under [[Jim McLean]]'s management, the club won the [[Scottish Football League Premier Division|Premier Division]] title for the only time, in [[1982–83 in Scottish football|1982–83]], resulting in [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] football the following season. The title win was United's last major league success, although they finished runners-up in the [[Scottish First Division|First Division]] in [[1995–96 in Scottish football|1995–96]], after nearly avoiding relegation the previous season, and in third place in their first season back in the Premier Division. A third lower league title was added in [[2019–20 in Scottish football|2019–20]], after the curtailment of the campaign with United clear in 1st place.

=== 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 [[1973–74 Scottish Cup|1974]], 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. United won their first major trophy with a 3–0 replay victory over [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]] in the [[1979 Scottish League Cup Final (December)|1979–80 Scottish League Cup Final]].<ref name="league cup"/> The club reached both cup finals in the [[1980–81 in Scottish football|following season]]; while they retained the League Cup by winning 3–0 against rivals [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]],<ref name="league cup"/> United lost out again in the Scottish Cup with a replay defeat to [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]]. United reached a third consecutive League Cup Final in [[1981 Scottish League Cup Final|1981–82]], but failed to make it a hat-trick of wins as they lost 2–1 to Rangers.<ref name="league cup">{{cite web |access-date=29 September 2009| url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?pg=292 | title=Dundee United A – Z ( L ) | publisher=Dundee United FC}}</ref>

[[File:DUFCvKilmarnock.jpg|thumb|right|United (in red) versus [[Kilmarnock F.C.|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 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.<ref name="history4" /> 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.<ref name="90s" /> 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.<ref name="hoodoo">{{cite web | url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?pg=285 | title=Dundee United A – Z ( H ) | publisher=Dundee United FC | access-date=29 September 2009 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025041629/http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?pg=285 | archive-date=25 October 2007 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> When the club reached the [[1994 Scottish Cup Final]], manager [[Ivan Golac]] dismissed talk of the hoodoo, even though opponents [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] were strong favourites to complete a domestic treble in the [[1993–94 in Scottish football|1993–94 season]].<ref name="hoodoo"/> 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.<ref name="90s" /><ref name="hoodoo"/>

Eleven years passed until the next Scottish Cup final appearance, when United lost 1–0 to Celtic in [[2005 Scottish Cup Final|2005]]. 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 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 [[Scottish First Division|First Division]] side [[Ross County F.C.|Ross County]] were defeated 3–0 in the [[2010 Scottish Cup Final]].<ref name = "2010 final">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8682861.stm |first=Thomas |last=McGuigan |work=BBC Sport |title=Dundee Utd 3 – 0 Ross County |date=15 May 2010 |access-date=25 April 2014}}</ref> [[David Goodwillie]] scored the first goal and Craig Conway scored the second and third goals.<ref name = "2010 final"/>

United's 10th appearance in the Scottish Cup final came in [[2014 Scottish Cup Final|2014]], but the team lost 2–0 to [[St Johnstone F.C.|St Johnstone]] at [[Celtic Park]]. The Tangerines reached the League Cup final the following year, but lost to [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] in the [[2015 Scottish League Cup Final|final]].

Two years later, after the club's relegation from the [[2015–16 Scottish Premiership|Scottish Premiership]], they faced [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]] in the [[2017 Scottish Challenge Cup Final]]. United won the game 2–1, marking the club's first silverware since [[2009–10 Scottish Cup|2010]].

=== Europe ===
{{Main|Dundee United F.C. in European football}}
The club's first experience of Europe came in [[1966–67 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup|1966–67 season]] when, helped by a clutch of Scandinavian players, United defeated [[Inter-Cities Fairs Cup]] holders [[FC Barcelona]] both home and away. Although [[Juventus F.C.|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.<ref name="kerr-history" />

In 1981–82 they began a period in which they were competitive in European competition. In a six-year spell they reached one UEFA final, another semi-final and two quarter finals. After their only Premier Division win in 1983, the team reached the resulting semi-final of the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] in 1984, losing 3–2 on aggregate to [[A.S. Roma|Roma]]. In 1987, the club went one better, reaching the final of the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]. Despite the 2–1 aggregate loss to [[IFK Göteborg|IFK Gothenburg]], the club won the first-ever [[FIFA Fair Play Award]] for their supporters' sporting behavior after the final defeat.<ref name="uefa" />

== Rivalries ==
[[File:Scottish Cup Final2 31.jpg|left|thumb|Dundee United faced rivals [[St Johnstone F.C.|St Johnstone]] in the [[2014 Scottish Cup Final]]]]

Dundee United's traditional rivals are [[Dundee F.C.|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. A unique element of the rivalry lies in the fact that the 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 [[Scottish Football Association|SFA]]'s unsuccessful bid to host [[Euro 2008]]. Perhaps the most notable meeting was the final game of the [[1982-83 Scottish Premier Division|1982–83 Premier Division]] season, where if United were victors at Dens Park, they would clinch the top flight title; United were victorious thanks to an [[Eamonn Bannon]] winner.

Another intense fixture is that of the [[New Firm (Scotland)|New Firm]] derby between United and North-East rivals [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]]. 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]].

United also share a rivalry with [[St Johnstone F.C.|St Johnstone]] due to the relatively close proximity of [[Dundee]] and [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]], known as the [[Tayside derby]]. The most notable meeting between the two sides was in the [[2014 Scottish Cup Final]], when St Johnstone won 2–0 at [[Celtic Park]] in United's tenth final appearance.

== Honours ==

=== League ===
* '''[[List of Scottish football champions|Scottish league]], first tier:'''
** '''Winners:''' [[1982–83 Scottish Premier Division|1982–83]]<ref name="scotprem-honours" />
* '''[[Scottish football league system|Scottish league]], second tier:'''
**'''Winners:''' [[1924–25 in Scottish football|1924–25]], [[1928–29 in Scottish football|1928–29]], [[2019–20 Scottish Championship|2019–20]]<ref name="scotprem-honours"/>

=== Cups ===
* '''[[Scottish Cup]]:'''
** '''Winners''': [[1994 Scottish Cup Final|1993–94]], [[2010 Scottish Cup Final|2009–10]]<ref name="scotprem-honours" />
** Runners-up (8): [[1974 Scottish Cup Final|1973–74]], [[1981 Scottish Cup Final|1980–81]], [[1985 Scottish Cup Final|1984–85]], [[1987 Scottish Cup Final|1986–87]], [[1988 Scottish Cup Final|1987–88]], [[1991 Scottish Cup Final|1990–91]], [[2005 Scottish Cup Final|2004–05]], [[2014 Scottish Cup Final|2013–14]]
* '''[[Scottish League Cup]]:'''
** '''Winners:''' [[1979 Scottish League Cup Final (December)|1979–80]], [[1980 Scottish League Cup Final|1980–81]]<ref name="scotprem-honours" />
** Runners-up (5): [[1981 Scottish League Cup Final|1981–82]], [[1984 Scottish League Cup Final (October)|1984–85]], [[1997 Scottish League Cup Final|1997–98]], [[2008 Scottish League Cup Final|2007–08]], [[2015 Scottish League Cup Final|2014–15]]
* '''[[Scottish Challenge Cup]]:'''
** '''Winners:''' [[2017 Scottish Challenge Cup Final|2016–17]]
** Runners-up: [[1995 Scottish Challenge Cup Final|1995–96]]
* '''[[Summer Cup (Scottish football)|Summer Cup]]:'''
** Runners-up: [[Summer Cup (Scottish football)|1964–65]]

=== Europe ===
* '''[[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]:'''
** Runners-up: [[1987 UEFA Cup Final|1986–87]]<ref name="scotprem-honours">{{cite web|url=http://www.scotprem.com/content/default.asp?page=s10_3|publisher=SPL|access-date=29 September 2009|title=Dundee United Football Club Team Honours|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081116021209/http://www.scotprem.com/content/default.asp?page=s10_3|archive-date=16 November 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* '''[[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]]:'''
** Semi-finalists: [[1983–84 European Cup|1983–84]]

=== Other ===
* '''[[Forfarshire Cup]]:'''
** '''Winners (21):''' [[1910–11 in Scottish football|1910–11]], [[1914–15 in Scottish football|1914–15]], [[1919–20 in Scottish football|1919–20]], [[1928–29 in Scottish football|1928–29]], [[1929–30 in Scottish football|1929–30]], [[1947–48 in Scottish football|1947–48]], [[1950–51 in Scottish football|1950–51]], [[1953–54 in Scottish football|1953–54]], [[1960–61 in Scottish football|1960–61]], [[1962–63 in Scottish football|1962–63]], [[1964–65 in Scottish football|1964–65]], [[1968–69 in Scottish football|1968–69]], [[1971–72 in Scottish football|1971–72]], [[1974–75 in Scottish football|1974–75]], [[1975–76 in Scottish football|1975–76]], [[1976–77 in Scottish football|1976–77]], [[1979–80 in Scottish football|1979–80]], [[1984–85 in Scottish football|1984–85]], [[1986–87 in Scottish football|1986–87]], [[1987–88 in Scottish football|1987–88]], [[2004–05 in Scottish football|2004–05]]
**Runners-up (12)
* '''[[Scottish War Emergency Cup]]:'''
** Runners-up: [[Scottish War Emergency Cup|1940]]
*'''[[Evening Telegraph Challenge Cup]]:'''
**'''Winners:''' 2005
**Runners-up: 2006

===Youths===
*'''[[SPFL Development League|SFL Youth League]]'''
**'''Winners: 1996–97
**Runners-up: 1997–98, 1999–00
* '''[[Scottish Youth Cup]]'''
**'''Winners: 1990, 1991,
**Runners-up: 1989, 1998

== Coaching staff ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Position !! Name
|-
| Manager || [[Micky Mellon]]
|-
| Assistant Manager || [[Stephen Frail]]
|-
| Goalkeeping Coach || [[Neil Alexander]]
|-
| Sporting Director || Tony Asghar
|-
| Head of Recruitment || [[David Byrne (footballer, born 1961)|David Byrne]]
|-
| Academy Director || Andy Goldie
|-
| Head of Academy Operations || Michael McPake
|-
| Head Professional Performance Coach || [[Adam Asghar]]
|-
| Head of Talent ID & Recruitment || [[Jordan Moore]]
|-
| Head of Player Pathway and Loans || [[Brian Grant (footballer)|Brian Grant]]
|-
| Player Transition Coach || [[Dave Bowman (footballer, born 1964)|Dave Bowman]]
|-
| Physiotherapist || Jordan Cleland
|-
| Head Academy Physiotherapist || [[Jeff Clarke (English footballer)|Jeff Clarke]]
|-
| Head of Tactical Performance || [[Tam Courts]]
|-
| Head of Technical Performance || Andy Payne
|-
| Head of Physical Performance || Ewan Anderson
|- 
| Head of Performance & Data Analysis || Stevie Grieve
|-
| Head of Academy Analysis || Aaron Butters
|-
| Head of Medicine || Marcin Szostak
|-
| Kit Coordinator || Andy Bryan
|}

== Current squad ==

=== First-team squad ===
{{Updated|24 April 2021<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/team/first-team |title=First Team Squad |website=Dundee United FC |access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>}}
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=1|nat=SUI|name=[[Benjamin Siegrist]]|pos=GK}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=2|nat=SCO|name=[[Liam Smith (footballer, born 1996)|Liam Smith]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=3|nat=ARG|name=[[Adrián Spörle]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=5|nat=IRL|name=[[Mark Connolly]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]|no=6|nat=SCO|name=[[Mark Reynolds (footballer, born 1987)|Mark Reynolds]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=8|nat=SCO|name=[[Peter Pawlett]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=10|nat=SCO|name=[[Nicky Clark]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=12|nat=ENG|name=[[Ryan Edwards (English footballer)|Ryan Edwards]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=14|nat=KVX|name=[[Florent Hoti]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=15|nat=SCO|name=[[Logan Chalmers]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=17|nat=SCO|name=[[Jamie Robson]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=18|nat=ENG|name=[[Calum Butcher]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=19|nat=TUR|name=[[Deniz Mehmet]]|pos=GK}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=21|nat=SCO|name=[[Declan Glass]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=22|nat=SCO|name=[[Kieran Freeman]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=23|nat=USA|name=[[Ian Harkes]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=24|nat=SCO|name=[[Lawrence Shankland]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=25|nat=SCO|name=[[Kai Fotheringham]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=26|nat=SCO|name=[[Chris Mochrie]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=27|nat=SCO|name=[[Louis Appéré]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=28|nat=SCO|name=Jake Davidson|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=29|nat=SCO|name=Ross Graham|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=30|nat=SCO|name=[[Lewis Neilson]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=31|nat=SCO|name=Jack Newman|pos=GK}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=32|nat=SCO|name=[[Archie Meekison]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=34|nat=SCO|name=Nathan Cooney|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=36|nat=SCO|name=[[Darren Watson (footballer)|Darren Watson]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=43|nat=SCO|name=[[Kerr Smith (footballer)|Kerr Smith]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|other=|no=66|nat=CMR|name=[[Jeando Fuchs]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs end}}
<!--===On loan===
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs end}}-->

== Noted players ==
{{about||a full list of current and former players with articles|:Category:Dundee United F.C. players|a list of players who have played 100 or more matches in major competitions for the club|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.

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; {{flagicon|AUS}} Australia
* 2014 [[Curtis Good]]
* 2015 [[Ryan McGowan]]

; {{flagicon|CAN}} Canada
* 1998 [[Jason de Vos]]
* 2004 [[Lars Hirschfeld]]

; {{flagicon|EST}} Estonia
* 2015 [[Henri Anier]]

; {{flagicon|FIN}} Finland
* 1987 [[Mixu Paatelainen]]

; {{flagicon|GHA}} Ghana
* 2007 [[Prince Buaben]]

; {{flagicon|ISL}} Iceland
* 1997 [[Siggi Jónsson]]
* 2002 [[Arnar Gunnlaugsson]]

; {{flagicon|ISR}} Israel
* 1999 [[Jan Talesnikov]]

; {{flagicon|LAT}} Latvia
* 2010 [[Pāvels Mihadjuks]]

; {{flagicon|NIR}} Northern Ireland
* 1989 [[Michael O'Neill (footballer)|Michael O'Neill]]
* 1998 [[Iain Jenkins]]
* 1998 [[Darren Patterson]]
* 2000 [[Danny Griffin (footballer)|Danny Griffin]]
* 2008 [[Warren Feeney]]
* 2013 [[Paul Paton]]
* 2015 [[Billy Mckay]]

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;{{flagicon|SCO}} Scotland
* 1973 [[Dave Narey]]
* 1974 [[Paul Hegarty]]
* 1974 [[Paul Sturrock]]
* 1976 [[Davie Dodds]]
* 1979 [[Eamonn Bannon]]
* 1981 [[Richard Gough]]
* 1981 [[Maurice Malpas]]
* 1985 [[Kevin Gallacher]]
* 1986 [[David Bowman (footballer born 1964)|Dave Bowman]]
* 1986 [[Jim McInally]]
* 1986 [[Billy McKinlay]]
* 1990 [[Duncan Ferguson (footballer)|Duncan Ferguson]]
* 1997 [[Steven Thompson (footballer, born 1978)|Steven Thompson]]
* 1998 [[Billy Dodds]]
* 2000 [[Paul Gallacher]]
* 2000 [[Charlie Miller]]
* 2003 [[Barry Robson]]
* 2005 [[Garry Kenneth]]
* 2005 [[Lee Miller (footballer)|Lee Miller]]
* 2005 [[David Goodwillie]]
* 2006 [[Craig Conway (footballer)|Craig Conway]]
* 2008 [[Scott Robertson (footballer born 1985)|Scott Robertson]]
* 2009 [[Andy Webster (footballer, born 1982)|Andy Webster]]
* 2011 [[Gary Mackay-Steven]]
* 2013 [[Andrew Robertson]]
* 2019 [[Lawrence Shankland]]

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; {{flagicon|SEN}} Senegal
* 2007 [[Morgaro Gomis]]

; {{flagicon|SVK}} Slovakia
* 2010 [[Dušan Perniš]]
* 2018 [[Pavol Šafranko]]

; {{flagicon|SWE}} Sweden
* 1964 [[Örjan Persson]]
* 1965 [[Lennart Wing]]

; {{flagicon|TRI}} Trinidad and Tobago
* 1993 [[Jerren Nixon]]
* 2003 [[Collin Samuel]]
* 2003 [[Jason Scotland]]

; {{flagicon|SFR Yugoslavia}} Yugoslavia
* 1988 [[Miodrag Krivokapić (footballer)|Miodrag Krivokapić]]
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=== 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<ref>{{cite news|title=Scottish Football Podcast|date=21 November 2008|publisher=BBC Scotland}}</ref> and seven more in January 2010. Since then six players have been inducted each year.

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'''2008:'''
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Jimmy Briggs]]
* {{flagicon|DEN}} [[Finn Døssing]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Dennis Gillespie]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Paul Hegarty]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Maurice Malpas]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[David Narey]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Doug Smith (footballer born 1937)|Doug Smith]]
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'''2009:'''
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Eamonn Bannon]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[John Coyle|Johnny Coyle]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Hamish McAlpine]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Peter McKay]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Ralph Milne]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Andy Rolland]]
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'''2010:'''
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[David Bowman (footballer born 1964)|Dave Bowman]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[John Clark (footballer born 1964)|John Clark]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Davie Dodds]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Stewart Fraser (footballer)|Stewart Fraser]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Billy Hainey]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Ian Mitchell (footballer)|Ian Mitchell]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Paul Sturrock]]
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'''2011:'''
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Kenny Cameron]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[John Holt (footballer, born 1956)|John Holt]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Duncan Hutchison]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Frank Kopel]]
* {{flagicon|NOR}} [[Erik Pedersen]]
* {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Lennart Wing]]
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'''2012:'''
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Arthur Milne (footballer)|Arthur Milne]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Jim Irvine (footballer)|Jim Irvine]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Billy Kirkwood]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Billy Thomson]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Brian Welsh]]
* {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Kjell Olofsson]]
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'''2013:'''
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Johnny Hart (Scottish footballer)|Johnny Hart]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Don Mackay|Donald Mackay]]
* {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Örjan Persson]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[George Fleming (footballer, born 1948)|George Fleming]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[John Reilly (footballer born 1962)|John Reilly]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Alan Main]]
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'''2014:'''<ref>{{cite news|title=GALLERY: Dundee United Hall of Fame|url=http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/sport/dundee-united/gallery-dundee-united-hall-of-fame-1.213559|access-date=2 March 2014|newspaper=Evening Telegraph|date=10 February 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302145929/http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/sport/dundee-united/gallery-dundee-united-hall-of-fame-1.213559|archive-date=2 March 2014}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Billy McKinlay]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Willie Pettigrew]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Graeme Payne]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Lee Wilkie]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Tommy Millar]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Kevin Gallacher]]
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'''2015:'''
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Derek Stark]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Jim McInally]]
* {{flagicon|FIN}} [[Mixu Paatelainen]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Christian Dailly]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Pat Reilly]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Jim McLean]]
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'''2016:'''
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Sandy Davie]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Jerry Kerr]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Andy McLaren]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Frank Quinn (footballer, born 1926)|Frank Quinn]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Richard Gough]]
* {{flagicon|IRE}} [[Seán Dillon]]
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'''2017:'''<ref name="HallFame">{{cite web|title=Hall of Fame 2017|url=https://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/the-club/hall-of-fame/hall-of-fame-2017|website=Dundee United Football Club|access-date=29 March 2019}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Davie Wilson]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Iain Phillip]]
* {{flagicon|NED}} [[Guido van de Kamp]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Ian Redford]]
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'''2019:'''<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cran |first1=George |title=Dundee United legends Craig Brewster, Ivan Golac, Jimmy Brownlie and Tommy Neilson to join Hall of Fame |url=https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/dundee-united-legends-craig-brewster-ivan-golac-jimmy-brownlie-and-tommy-neilson-to-join-hall-of-fame/ |access-date=17 February 2019 |work=Evening Telegraph |date=15 February 2019 |location=Dundee}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Craig Brewster]]
* {{flagicon|YUG}} [[Ivan Golac]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Jimmy Brownlie]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Tommy Neilson]]
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== Managers ==
{{Main|List of Dundee United F.C. managers}}
The first [[Manager (association football)|manager]] of Dundee Hibernian in 1909 was [[Pat Reilly]]. The club's longest serving and most successful manager, [[Jim McLean]], held the position from 1971 to 1993, winning three major honours – the [[Scottish Football League Premier Division|Scottish Premier Division]] title in [[1982-83 Scottish Premier Division|1982–83]] and the [[Scottish League Cup]] twice in [[1979 Scottish League Cup Final (December)|1979]] and [[1980 Scottish League Cup Final|1980]]. Two Dundee United managers have won the [[Scottish Cup]] – [[Ivan Golac]] in [[1994 Scottish Cup Final|1994]] and [[Peter Houston]] in [[2010 Scottish Cup Final|2010]].

== Women's team ==
{{main|Dundee United W.F.C.}}
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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dundee United set sights high with new women's team|url=http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/2015/04/16/dundee-united-set-sights-high-with-new-womens-team/|access-date=11 November 2015|work=Evening Telegraph|date=16 April 2015|location=Dundee|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929073253/http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/2015/04/16/dundee-united-set-sights-high-with-new-womens-team/|archive-date=29 September 2015}}</ref> [[Gavin Beith]] was appointed as the team's manager in June 2015.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dundee United appoint Gavin Beith as head coach of women's team|url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/sport/football/dundee-united/dundee-united-appoint-gavin-beith-as-head-coach-of-women-s-team-1.882811|access-date=11 November 2015|work=The Courier|location=Dundee|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304121751/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/sport/football/dundee-united/dundee-united-appoint-gavin-beith-as-head-coach-of-women-s-team-1.882811|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>

===Honours===
* '''[[Scottish Women's Football League First Division|SWFL First Division (North)]]'''
** '''Winners (1): '''[[2017-18 in Scottish football|2017–2018]]
* '''[[Scottish Women's Football League Second Division|SWFL Division 2 East]]'''
** '''Winners (1): '''[[2016-17 in Scottish football|2016–2017]]
* '''[[Scottish Women's Football League Second Division Cup|SWFL Division 2 Cup]]:'''
** '''Winners (2): '''2008, 2016

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Dundee United F.C.}}
* [http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/ Official Dundee United FC website]
* [http://www.arabtrust.co.uk ArabTRUST – The Dundee United Supporters' Society]
* [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]

{{DUFC infobox}}
{{Football in Dundee}}
{{Scottish Professional Football League}}
{{Scottish Premier League}}
{{Scottish Football League}}
{{Dallas Tornado}}
{{Good article}}

[[Category:Dundee United F.C.| ]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Dundee]]
[[Category:Irish diaspora in Scotland]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Scotland]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1909]]
[[Category:Diaspora sports clubs in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:United Soccer Association imported teams]]
[[Category:Scottish Premier League teams]]
[[Category:1909 establishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League teams]]
[[Category:Scottish Cup winners]]
[[Category:Scottish Professional Football League teams]]
[[Category:Scottish League Cup winners]]
[[Category:Dallas Tornado]]
[[Category:Scottish Challenge Cup winners]]