Full name | Dundee United Football Club |
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Nickname(s) | The Tangerines, The Terrors, Arabs (Supporters) |
Founded | 24 May 1909 (as Dundee Hibernian) |
Ground | Tannadice Park, Dundee |
Capacity | 14,223 |
Chairman | Stephen Thompson |
Manager | Ray McKinnon |
League | Scottish Championship |
2015–16 | Scottish Premiership, 12th (relegated) |
Website | Club home page |
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923. United are nicknamed The Terrors or The Tangerines and the supporters are known as Arabs.
The club has played in tangerine kits since the 1960s and have played at the present ground, Tannadice Park, since their foundation in 1909. United were founder members of the Scottish Premier League (SPL) in 1998 and were ever-present in the competition until it was abolished in 2013 to make way for the new Scottish Premiership which is the top division of the current SPFL structure.
Domestically, the club has won the Scottish Premier Division on one occasion (1982–83), the Scottish Cup twice (1994 and 2010) and the Scottish League Cup twice (1979 and 1980). United appeared in European competition for the first time in the 1966–67 season, going on to appear in Europe in 14 successive seasons from 1976. They also reached the European Cup semi-finals in 1984 and the UEFA Cup final in 1987. The club has a 100% record in four matches against Barcelona in competitive European ties.
The club was formed as Dundee Hibernian in 1909, playing from the outset at Tannadice Park. They were voted into the Scottish Football League in 1910. After being saved from going out of business in October 1923, the club changed their name to Dundee United in order to widen their appeal. Between 1925 and 1932 United were promoted and then relegated three times, winning the Second Division title in 1925 and 1929. The club achieved little other success until Jerry Kerr became manager in 1959. Kerr's team won promotion in his first season in charge and became established in the top flight, where they remained until 1995. Kerr strengthened the playing squad with Scandinavian imports and United qualified for European competition in 1966, going on to eliminate Inter-Cities Fairs Cup holders Barcelona on their European debut.