First Team
EVERY WORD | JACK WALTON LOOKS AHEAD TO IBROX TEST
21st November 2024
As we continue our United for 100 Years celebrations, we’re asking supporters to vote for their ultimate UTD100 starting XI - with Paul Hegarty completing the centre-back pairing!
VOTE FOR THE HEROES YOU'D LIKE TO SEE US INCLUDE ON OUR X FEED!
Born in 1954, Hegarty began his senior career as a striker with Hamilton Accies in 1972 but soon moved to Dundee United in 1974. Initially a striker, he transitioned to a dominant central defender in 1976, forming a formidable partnership with Dave Narey. Hegarty was rarely out of the team for the next thirteen years - making 707 appearances in total!
In 1978, he became club captain, a role he held for eight years and earned his first international cap in 1979 - later became the first United player to captain the national team.
Hegarty has been involved in all five of our major honours, captaining the side to our historic Premier Division Championship win in 1982-83.
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Hegarty’s impact on United’s European reputation was substantial. He played in 50 consecutive European ties, including famous victories against Monaco and Borussia Monchengladbach in 1981. He was part of the team that reached the European Cup Semi-Final in 1983/84 and the UEFA Cup Final in 1986/87.
The club would honour him with a testimonial, and he later joined both St Johnstone and Forfar Athletic as a player-manager.
He returned to Tannadice in coaching and caretaker manager roles - part of the coaching staff as we tasted Scottish Cup Glory for the second time in 2010.
In January 2008, Hegarty was inducted into the Dundee United Hall of Fame and goes down as our greatest-ever captain.
