The Glenrothes Arabs - Dundee United Supporters Club

For the first 50 years of the Club's history, United languished in the lower reaches of the Scottish League, sometimes flirting with finacial ruin and banruptcy, but occassionally gaining promotion to the top Division only to find themselves relegated within a year or two. This all changed in the late 1950's with the appointment of Jerry Kerr as manager, who won the Club promotion to Division One in his first season, and over the next five years built a side that was able to solidify it's place in Scotland's top League. Kerr's team finished in 5th place at the end of the 1965/66 season, the highest finish the Club had ever had, and United qualified for European Football for the first time in their history.

Jim McLean took over from Kerr in 1971, and took the Club to new and unexpected heights. After surviving a relegation battle by goal difference in the first year of the Premier Division in 1976, United went on to qualify for European Football for the next 15 years in a row, playing in European competitions in every season from 1977/78 to 1990/91. Under McLean's management the club became well known throughout the continent, defeating teams such as Barcelona, Borussia Moenchengladbach, Monaco, Werder Bremen, PSV Eindhoven and Anderlecht, whilst running teams like Juventus, Roma, Manchester United & IFK Gothenburg close on several occassions. United even went as far as to reach the Semi Finals of the European Cup in 1983/84 and the Final of the UEFA Cup in 1986/87.

During McLean's 20 year spell as manager at Dundee United the Club only failed to qualify for Europe on 5 occasions. However after his retirement in 1993 United's standards dropped, and they only qualified 4 times over the next 15 years. It wasn't until the arrival of Craig Levein and Peter Houston that United began to challenge for a European place again.

This section of our website covers every match United have played in European competitions over the years, including line ups, scorers, appearances, photos and video clips.

PLEASE NOTE: Only the 1966/67 and 1969/70 seasons have been completed so far. More will be added later. However, all statistics and the Interactive Map are currently up to date.

1966/67 - FAIRS CUP
Progress: 2nd ROUND
Opponents: Barcelona / Juventus

1969/70 - FAIRS CUP
Progress: 1st ROUND
Opponents: Newcastle United

1970/71 - FAIRS CUP
Progress: 2nd ROUND
Opponents: Grasshoppers of Zurich / Sparta Prague

1974/75 - CUP WINNERS CUP
Progress: 2nd ROUND
Opponents: Jiul Petrosani / Bursaspor

1975/76 - UEFA CUP
Progress: 2nd ROUND
Opponents: IBK Keflavik / FC Porto

1977/78 - UEFA CUP
Progress: 1st ROUND
Opponents: KB Copenhagen

1978/79 - UEFA CUP
Progress: 1st ROUND
Opponents: Standard Liege

1979/80 - UEFA CUP
Progress: 2nd ROUND
Opponents: Anderlecht / Diosgyori VTK

1980/81 - UEFA CUP
Progress: 2nd ROUND
Opponents: Slask Wroclaw / KSC Lokeren

1981/82 - UEFA CUP
Progress: QUARTER FINALS
Opponents: AS Monaco / Borussia Moenchengladbach / Winterslag / Radnicki Nis

1982/83 - UEFA CUP
Progress: QUARTER FINALS
Opponents: PSV Eindhoven / Viking Stavanger / Werder Bremen / Bohemians of Prague

1983/84 - EUROPEAN CUP
Progress: SEMI FINALS
Opponents: Hamrun Spartans / Standard Liege / Rapid Vienna / AS Roma

1984/85 - UEFA CUP
Progress: 3rd ROUND
Opponents: AIK Stockholm / LASK Linz / Manchester United

1985/86 - UEFA CUP
Progress: 3rd ROUND
Opponents: Bohemians of Dublin / Vardar Skopje / Neuchatel Xamax

1986/87 - UEFA CUP
Progress: FINAL
Opponents: RC Lens / Universiti Craiova / Hajduk Split / Barcelona / Borussia Moenchengladbach / IFK Gothenburg