Team Managers

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• Jim Goodwin (32 games)

  Took charge on Wednesday March 1st, 2023

  

  Having retired early due to injury, Jim took the reigns at Alloa Athletic and guided them to the SPFL Championship before taking the job at St Mirren. He then secured a Premiership place for the Buddies and was offered the Aberdeen job in the summer of 2022. His tenure was short, winning 13 of 21 games in charge, and he was sacked at the end of January. Just over a month later, he was appointed as the new manager at United on a deal until the end of the season. Despite relegation, Jim was offered an extension until 2025.

• Liam Fox (25 games)

  Took charge on Tuesday August 30th, 2022

  

  Initially taking over as caretaker following the departure of Jack Ross, Liam was permanently appointed as head coach on 23 September 2022. He first arrived at Tannadice in June 2021 as assistant to Jack Ross. Despite a bright start, Fox was eventually relieved of his duties with United bottom of the Premiership in mid February.

• Jack Ross (7 games)

  Took charge on Monday June 20th, 2022

  

  Following the departure of Tam Courts in June 2022, Jack was appointed Head Coach at Tannadice after a six month break. His start to Tannadice was a memorable yet ultimately catastrophic one. After a draw against Kilmarnock, he guided United to a fantastic 1-0 win over AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League third round qualifer, but subsequent defeats to Livingston, Hearts and St Mirren, along with a 7-0 crushing in the away leg against AZ began to spell a premature end to his term as manager. A record home defeat of 9-0 against Celtic proved to be the final nail for Jack, as he was sacked two days later.

• Tam Courts (47 games)

  Took charge on Monday June 7th, 2021

  

  Arriving at Tannadice in January 2019 as the Academy's Head of Tactical Performance, Tam was surprisingly promoted to first team Head Coach after Micky Mellon's departure in the summer of 2021.Appointed with an eye to giving more first team chances to the Academy graduates, the manager surprised everybody by leading the Club to their highest-placed finish in nine years, and secured European football for the first time in a decade. However, after just over a year in the job, Courts left to seek a new adventure as Bupapest Honved's manager in Hungary.

• Micky Mellon (46 games)

  Took charge on Monday July 6th, 2020

  

  Following the summer departure of Robbie Neilson, Glasgow native Micky took charge of newly promoted United, having agreed a two year deal. The United gig was his first managerial job in Scotland, having left his previous club Tranmere Rovers where he spent four years. At the end of his first full season, having kept United in the Premiership, he left the club by mutual consent.

• Robbie Neilson (70 games)

  Took charge on Tuesday October 9th, 2018

  

  A former Hearts player and manager, Robbie had most recently managed MK Dons when he arrived at Tannadice in 2018 with the task of getting the team promoted. Unsuccessful in 2018-19, United were clear front runners the next season, sitting 14 points clear at the top of the Championship upon the suspension of the league due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The club were then declared champions, earning promotion back to the top flight. Soon after, Robbie accepted an offer to leave United and return to Hearts.

• Laurie Ellis (Caretaker) (1 game)

  Took charge on Monday October 1st, 2018

  

  Staying on at United following Ray McKinnon's departure, Laurie retained his post as assistant manager, this time under newly appointed manager Csaba László. Just under a year later though, he was called upon as caretaker manager for one more match when the club parted ways with Csaba.

• Csaba Laszlo (44 games)

  Took charge on Wednesday November 8th, 2017

  

  Possessing vast experience in football across the World, Csaba's highlights included spells as manager of Ferencváros, Hearts and the international teams of Lithuania and Uganda. He arrived at Tannadice with the aim of getting United back in the Premiership, but his tenure was overshadowed by waves of transition at the club and having failed to win promotion in 2017-18, a poor start to the following season resulted in his sacking after 7 games.

• Laurie Ellis (Caretaker) (2 games)

  Took charge on Sunday October 22nd, 2017

  

  A former Raith Rovers defender, Laurie went on to coach at Stark's Park before leaving along with Ray McKinnon to take up the assistant's role at Tannadice in May 2016. Following Ray's sacking, Laurie took temporary charge of the side for two games before Csaba László was appointed.

• Ray McKinnon (72 games)

  Took charge on Sunday May 15th, 2016

  

  A former United player, Ray returned to Tannadice in 2016 to take charge of the club's first season in the second tier of Scottish football for 20 years - with the aim of bouncing back at a first attempt. Having won the Irn Bru Challenge Cup earlier in the campaign, he took United to the Premiership playoff final but lost to Hamilton by a single goal over two legs, missing out on promotion. Ten games into the next season, with United sitting in fourth place, Ray left the club by mutual consent.

• Gordon Young (Caretaker) (3 games)

  Took charge on Thursday May 5th, 2016

  

  A former academy manager at Sheffield United and Motherwell, Gordon was appointed as assistant to Mixu Paatelainen in October 2015. Following United's relegation in 2016, and Mixu's immediate departure, Gordon took charge of United as caretaker boss for the remainder of the games in the season.

• Mixu Paatelainen (30 games)

  Took charge on Wednesday October 14th, 2015

  

  A popular former player with United fans and a Finnish international, Mixu enjoyed a well travelled playing career. Post-retirement, he had spells as manager of several Scottish clubs before spending four years at the helm of the Finnish international side. Soon after this tenure, he took charge of United during a fierce relegation battle. Despite reducing a significant gap at the bottom of the table, United were ultimately relegated for the first time in 20 years and Mixu was sacked the next day.

• Dave Bowman (Caretaker) (1 game)

  Took charge on Wednesday September 30th, 2015

  

  A vastly experienced player with United, Dave retired in 2002 and has assisted at Tannadice in various coaching roles since that time. Having managed the development squad since 2015, he took temporary charge of the first team when Jackie McNamara left the club in October of that year.

• Jackie McNamara (119 games)

  Took charge on Wednesday January 30th, 2013

  

  Having made a name for himself as manager of Partick Thistle, Jackie was chosen to replace Peter Houston in January 2013. Achieving a top six spot in just a few months, he took United to fourth place the following season, as well as a Scottish Cup Final appearance. A rich vein of form saw Jackie's United sitting top of the Premiership table after nine games, however an equally bad downturn in results was to follow. Unable to replace key players, United slumped to the bottom of the SPL and Jackie's contract was terminated in September 2015.

• Peter Houston (150 games)

  Took charge on Wednesday December 23rd, 2009

  

  Peter had undertaken coaching roles with Falkirk, Hearts and Leicester before he joined Craig Levein as assistant manager at United in 2006. When Craig departed in late 2009, Peter was appointed as interim manager until the end of the season, and after steering the club to an historic Scottish Cup win in May, he signed a 3 year deal to become United's new manager. In January 2013, after attempts to extend his contract broke down, he left the club by mutual consent.

• Craig Levein (136 games)

  Took charge on Monday October 30th, 2006

  

  Making an immediate impact upon his appointment, former Hearts player and manager Craig Levein brought about a major turnaround at the club. Rescuing United from relegation, he turned the team into regular Top 6 contenders and cup competitors. He also oversaw the redevelopment of the club's youth programme, laying the groundwork for the emergence of several future first team players. He later became a director, having formed a strong bond with the club's chairman Eddie Thompson before leaving the club in late 2009 to become Scotland manager.

• Craig Brewster (30 games)

  Took charge on Monday January 16th, 2006

  

  Beloved by the United support for his goal in the Scottish Cup Final in 1994, Craig was a popular appointment with fans, signing on initially as a player/manager before injury restricted him to the touchline - but results on the park proved disastrous during his tenure and by October the same year he was relieved of his duties.

• Billy Dodds (Caretaker) (1 game)

  Took charge on Friday January 13th, 2006

  

  Having had a successful spell with United a few years earlier, Billy returned to Tannadice in 2002, where he took up a coaching role in 2004. Appointed Assistant Manager under Gordon Chisholm in June 2005, he took charge of the first team as caretaker manager for one match against Falkirk in January 2006. After the arrival of Craig Brewster as manager, Billy left for Partick Thistle and later re-joined Gordon Chisholm at Queen of the South and Dundee.

• Gordon Chisholm (36 games)

  Took charge on Monday March 14th, 2005

  

  Gordon arrived at Tannadice in 2003, as Assistant Manager to Ian McCall. When McCall was sacked in March 2005, Chisholm stepped in as caretaker manager, and after guiding the Club clear of relegation and to a place in the 2005 Scottish Cup Final at Hampden, he was given the manger's job in a permanent basis. However a poor run of form saw him sacked in January 2006.

• Ian McCall (91 games)

  Took charge on Thursday January 30th, 2003

  

  United chairman Eddie Thompson had several unsuccessful attempts to convince Ian to leave Falkirk for Tannadice, but eventually got his man in January 2003. He steered United clear of relegation from the SPL, before guiding them to their first top six finish since the introduction of "the split" in 2003-04. The following season was to be McCall's undoing however, as in March 2005 he was removed from the position of manager

• Paul Hegarty (17 games)

  Took charge on Monday October 7th, 2002

  

  When United's most successful captain came to the end of his playing career, he took up coaching roles at several clubs before returning to Tannadice once more under United Manager Alex Smith. He became interim manager when Smith was sacked in 2002, and was given the position until the end of the season. However Paul was sacked in January 2003 after a bad run of results.

• Alex Smith (99 games)

  Took charge on Tuesday August 8th, 2000

  

  When Paul Sturrock resigned as United manager, chairman Jim McLean turned to his friend Alex Smith to step in, and the former Aberdeen boss led the team through a torrid time, helping United survive a relegation battle against his old club St Mirren in 2001. After an inconsistent 2001/02 season, United started the 2002/03 season badly, and when Eddie Thompson bought a controlling interest in the Club in 2002, one of his first steps was to replace Smith as manager.

• Paul Sturrock (85 games)

  Took charge on Saturday September 5th, 1998

  

  After his success at St Johnstone, United legend Paul Sturrock became the ideal candidate for the United manager's position when Tommy McLean resigned in September 1998. After a first transitional season he had United sitting third in the SPL by December 1999. However, the sale of Billy Dodds to Rangers saw the team go into freefall, and by the end of the season they were only three points off the bottom of the table. After two defeats in the first two SPL matches of the 2000/01 season, Sturrock surprisingly resigned due to personal reasons.

• Tommy McLean (93 games)

  Took charge on Tuesday September 10th, 1996

  

  The former Motherwell and Hearts boss had just taken over the hot seat at Raith Rovers when he was offered the job at Tannadice by the United chairman, his brother Jim, in September 1996. Taking over the team that had won back their place in the Premier Division, Tommy rebuilt the side, and lead them to an incredible 3rd place finish and European qualification in his first season. After reaching the 1997 League Cup Final, the side's form began to wane, and United only just survived a relegation battle with Hibs. Tommy failed to halt the slide, and just 4 games into the 1998/99 season, he and United went their separate ways.

• Billy Kirkwood (61 games)

  Took charge on Tuesday March 28th, 1995

  

  Kirkwood returned to Tannadice for a third time, this time as manager, in March 1995, where he was unable to prevent the Club from dropping out of the top flight after taking over from Ivan Golac. After rebuilding the squad from top to bottom, he guided the team to a Play-Off victory against Partick Thistle and a return to the Premier Division at the first time of asking. However, after only one win in the first six games of the 1996/97 season, Kirkwood was replaced with Tommy McLean.

• Gordon G Wallace (Caretaker) (2 games)

  Took charge on Tuesday March 14th, 1995

  

  A former United player, Gordon joined Jim McLean as first team coach in 1983 but later left to become Dundee manager. He returned as Ivan Golac's assistant in 1993, and following Golac's sacking in March 1995, Gordon became caretaker manager of United, taking charge of two matches before the appointment of Billy Kirkwood.

• Ivan Golac (94 games)

  Took charge on Sunday August 1st, 1993

  

  In the summer of 1993 Ivan became the surprise replacement for long standing manager Jim McLean, with his appointment being first time a Scottish Club had employed an overseas manager. His laid back attitude was in complete contrast to McLean's style, and this could well have been a contributing factor to the Club finally winning the Scottish Cup for the first time in their history during his first year at Tannadice. However, League form did not match that of the 1994 Cup run, and in March 1995 Golac left the club by mutual consent.

• Jim McLean (1,113 games)

  Took charge on Monday December 6th, 1971

  

  Unquestionably, the most successful manager in the Club's history, and unlikely to ever be surpassed. Arriving from Dens Park in 1971, 'Wee Jim' was in the Tannadice hot seat for an incredible 21 years, guiding the team to its first ever major honour, the League Cup, in 1979. Retaining the trophy in 1980, the highlight of his tenure at the Club was the 1982/83 season, where the team won the Premier Division for the first and so far only time. Jim McLean's Dundee United became known throughout Europe, before Jim eventually stepped down as manager to concentrate on his role as Chairman in May 1993.

• Jerry Kerr (567 games)

  Took charge on Monday June 1st, 1959

  

  Kerr took the United job in July 1959 and within a year he had led the Club from the depths of the Second Division to promotion into the top flight. He remained in charge for twelve years, during which time he transformed United into not only an established First Division side, but also a team who could take on the likes of Barcelona and Juventus as the Club qualified for Europe for the first time in its history. In 1971, at the age of 59, Kerr took the decision to retire, taking on the less involved role of general manager. In 1973 he quietly left the Club, and would later take on the manager's position at Forfar Athletic for a short spell.

• Andy McCall (30 games)

  Took charge on Wednesday October 15th, 1958

  

  When Tommy Gray resigned in October 1958, the Dundee coach became the forth United manager in four years, but the team's poor form continued under the new boss. The team dropped to third bottom in Division Two after several heavy defeats, and McCall resigned at the end of the season after only six months in charge.

• Tommy Gray (70 games)

  Took charge on Friday March 15th, 1957

  

  The ex-Dundee centre half had been with Arbroath for eight years as a player, captain and manager when he accepted the managers position at Tannadice on a part-time basis. After a mid table finish in 1957, his second season was an improvement with a 9th place finish. However the 1958/59 season started badly, with United leaking goals at an alarming rate, and Gray resigned in October 1958 citing ‘pressure of business’.

• Ally Gallacher (Caretaker) (8 games)

  Took charge on Tuesday January 15th, 1957

  

  Having been Reggie Smith's assistant manager, Ally was place in temporary charge when Smith resigned in January 1957, He had a steady start with three wins in his first five matches, but disaster struck when United went down 7-0 to Raith Rovers in the Scottish Cup, and a week later suffered a repeat scoreline against Morton. For the third consecutive match, United conceded seven goals with a 7-1 defeat to Clyde, and he resigned as manager after just seven weeks in charge.

• Reggie Smith (110 games)

  Took charge on Wednesday September 1st, 1954

  

  The former England International was a coach at Dens Park when he was chosen as the next Dundee United manager after Willie McFadyen departed in September 1954. In his first season he managed to keep United off the bottom of the Division Two table, and followed that up with a respectable 8th place in 1955/56. Midway through his third season, Smith resigned to take over Division One club Falkirk, who he lead to Scottish Cup glory just a few months later.

• Willie MacFadyen (341 games)

  Took charge on Monday October 15th, 1945

  

  Appointed secretary/manager at Tannadice at the end of Second World War, the former Motherwell star held the position for nine years, in which he built a memorable attack minded team, spearheaded by the legendary Peter McKay. But a lack of finances and a defence that shipped as many goals at the forwards could score hampered the Club's chances of promotion to the top Division. After four straight defeats at the start of the 1954/55 season MacFadyen resigned, and stepped away from football altogether.

• Charlie McGillivray (34 games)

  Took charge on Wednesday November 15th, 1944

  

  The former Ayr United, Celtic, Manchester United, Motherwell and Dundee outside right played for United during WW2 and signed formerly in January 1944. After assisting Manager Jimmy Littlejohn, Charlie took over the Manager’s job in November 1944 - at the age of 32, he remains the Club's youngest ever manager. He was kept on as a registered player until he was given a free transfer in July 1945 but stayed on as Manager until Willie MacFadyen was appointed three months later.

• Jimmy Littlejohn (72 games)

  Took charge on Thursday October 1st, 1942

  

  Playing for United when War broke out, Jimmy played in the final of the Emergency War Cup in 1940 before becoming joint team Manager with Jimmy Allan. In November 1942 he took sole charge of team matters, as remained as manager whilst United played in the Wartime League set-up, eventually being replaced by his assistant, Charlie McGillivray. Having been elected to the Board of Directors in 1942, he continued to serve the Club until his death in 1989.

• Jimmy Allan (84 games)

  Took charge on Wednesday November 1st, 1939

  

  When the Second World War broke out and the Scottish League was abandoned in October 1939, Jimmy Allan took over the Managers position when Booby McKay had his contract terminated. Allan took the club to its first major Cup Final, in the Emergency War Cup, against Rangers at Hampden Park in May 1940, and, apart from the 1940/41 season when the Club closed down, he lead United through the early War years until October 1942 after a dispute with the board.

• Bobby McKay (2 games)

  Took charge on Saturday July 1st, 1939

  

  Appointed Secretary/Manager at Tannadice in July 1939, Bobby McKay replaced his old team-mate from Bristol Rovers, Sam Irving. However, just four League matches into the 1939/1940 season, the competition was abandoned due to the outbreak of the Second World War, and McKay's contract was terminated after just three months and five matches.

• Sam Irving (36 games)

  Took charge on Wednesday July 6th, 1938

  

  The former Dundee player was one of a group of businessmen who rescued the Club in 1938, becoming a director in the process. Along with the help of former manager Jimmy Brownlie, Irving took over the manager's duties for the 1938/39 season, guiding the team to a 9th place finish in Division Two. Both Irving and Brownlie returned to their director's roles when Bobby McKay was appointed manager in July 1939, and Irving left the boardroom in 1942.

• Jimmy Brownlie (36 games)

  Took charge on Wednesday July 6th, 1938

  

  Two years after leaving the managers position for a second time, Brownlie returned to Tannadice once more, appointed a Director and took on the role of manager for a third occasion, this time jointly with Sam Irving. This partnership lasted until the outbreak of World War 2, when Brownlie announced that he was giving up both roles due to the pressure of his other business interests. After retiring, Brownlie was a regular visitor to Tannadice, rarely missing a home match, and witnessed the Club's return to the top Division in 1960.

• George Greig (60 games)

  Took charge on Tuesday October 13th, 1936

  

  Joining the board at Tannadice after having helped save the Club from extinction in 1934, Greig became sole owner by 1936. Despite having had no experience of professional football either as a player or as an administrator, Greig became manager/director when Jimmy Brownlie was dismissed in October 1936, and remained in charge of team affairs for eighteen months, when he then sold his shareholding to a new board of directors in April 1938, leaving behind both the Manager and Director roles, but remained a trustee of the club until his death.

• Jimmy Brownlie (94 games)

  Took charge on Thursday March 1st, 1934

  

  After having left the Club in mysterious circumstances in 1931, Brownlie returned to the Managers position in March 1934, when the new owners of the Club brought him back to replace out going manager Willie Reid. Brownlie missed out on a fourth promotion with the Club by just ten points during the 1934/35 season, but in 1936 the Club hit financial difficulties yet again, with director George Greig taking over the Club's debt and the Managers position.

• Willie Reid (107 games)

  Took charge on Monday June 1st, 1931

  

  A former Scotland international centre-forward and WW1 veteran, Willie had been Albion Rovers' secretary/manager before he replaced Jimmy Brownlie at United and saw them through some difficult times on and off the field. In March 1934, he was succeeded by the returning Brownlie.

• Jimmy Brownlie (327 games)

  Took charge on Friday June 1st, 1923

  

  The former international goalkeeper became player/manager in 1923, and in his first year at Tannadice Brownlie oversaw team matters while the Club changed from Dundee Hibernian to Dundee United. In only his second season in charge Brownlie pulled off the unthinkable - leading the Club to the Division Two championship and promotion to the top flight for the first time in the Club's history. He won the title again in 1929, and won United promotion for a third time as runners-up in 1931. Just weeks after their promotion, the Club took the bizarre step in letting Brownlie go after eight years as manager.

• Willie McAndrew (Caretaker)

  Took charge on Thursday March 15th, 1923

  

  Willie McAndrew was manager Peter O'Rourke's first signing, arriving at Tannadice in December 1922. Within three months, O'Rourke had departed, and McAndrew was placed in temporary charge, lasting until the end of the 1922/23 season when Jimmy Brownlie was appointed manager.

• Peter O'Rourke (2 games)

  Took charge on Wednesday December 6th, 1922

  

  In December 1922, Dundee Hibernian - then playing Non-League football after being relegated from the Scottish League - pulled of what looked to be a fantastic move by appointing former Bradford boss and FA Cup winner Peter O'Rourke as manager. However, after just 16 games O'Rourke resigned due to lack of financial support.

• Pat Reilly (44 games)

  Took charge on Saturday December 1st, 1917

  

  Having previously held the role of secretary/manager for six years, Reilly returned to the joint position when Herbert Dainty resigned in 1917, as the Club played in the Eastern League during the First World War, becoming champions in 1920. Having been promoted and relegated to the reinstated Scottish Division Two, Dundee Hibs were facing financial difficulties by 1922, and the board - including Reilly - stepped aside so that the Club could take a new direction.

• Herbert Dainty

  Took charge on Tuesday April 20th, 1915

  

  When Pat Reilly stood down as manager in 1915, Dundee Hibernian showed their ambition by bringing former Dundee player and Ayr manager Herbert Dainty to Tannadice. However, the escalation of the First World War meant that Scottish League football was curtailed, and Dundee Hibs played in the Eastern League during Dainty's two years in charge. He stood down in 1917, but stayed on as a player until the end of the season.

• Pat Reilly (148 games)

  Took charge on Tuesday June 1st, 1909

  

  The driving force behind the formation of Dundee Hibernian Football Club, Reilly became the Club's first ever Manager in June 1909. His his determination gained the Club a place in the Scottish League set up, and Reilly went on to build a team who consolidated themselves in Division Two up until the outbreak of the First World War. He guided the Club to their first silverware, winning several local Cup competitions, and lead them to their first national final, the Qualifying Cup in 1913, before handing over management duties to Herbert Dainty in 1915.