Dundee United Manager Jim Goodwin Extends Contract

Dundee United are delighted to announce Manager, Jim Goodwin, has put pen to paper on a new contract with the club, that will see him remain in the Tannadice hot seat until at least the summer of 2026.

After taking the reigns of the Terrors on a permanent basis at the end of the 2022/23 campaign, the Irishman oversaw our immediate return to the top table of Scottish football during his first full season in post. 

Welcoming ten new recruits to the club in the summer, Goodwin steered a new-look United side to the Championship title at the first time of asking, with a final tally of 75 points the best of any second-tier outfit in almost a decade.

Our charge to glory saw us rack up a club-record of 12 victories on the road, concede the fewest number of goals in the SPFL pyramid and attract crowds of over 10,000 to the Calforth Construction Arena at Tannadice Park on numerous occasions.

The 42-year-old also put his trust in various homegrown talents to bring the trophy home - players aged under 21 spent over 5,100 minutes representing United throughout last term.

Tasked with another rebuild during the subsequent transfer window, Goodwin aided in the capture of 13 exciting new additions from various corners of the globe, including three full internationals - Richard Odada, David Babunski and Jort van der Sande. 

An upward trajectory continued on our eagerly-anticipated return to the William Hill Premiership, with our best start to a top-flight campaign in ten years seeing Heart of Midlothian, Hibernian, St Johnstone and St Mirren fall at the hands of the men in tangerine. After 11 matches, his side currently occupy fourth spot in the table.

Despite the influx of new faces, Academy graduates have continued to contribute, as Ross Graham, Miller Thomson and Kai Fotheringham remain key figures in the first-team setup. Emerging stars such as Owen Stirton, Scott Constable and Alan Domeracki are also regular fixtures in matchday squads.

Goodwin is now the longest-serving United boss since Jackie McNamara, on track to surpass a century of matches in the dugout by the end of 2024/25.

A CULTURE CONDUCIVE TO PROLONGED SUCCESS

The Tannadice boss commented: “It was an easy decision to extend my deal - the club’s long-term vision aligns perfectly with my own ambitions as a Manager.

“Last year was an incredibly special one, and I’m immensely proud to have played a part in helping Dundee United reclaim their rightful place among the top clubs in Scotland.

“I also have to reiterate my gratitude to the supporters for welcoming me from the minute I stepped foot through the door. That only strengthens my desire to bring more success to Tannadice for them to enjoy.

“However, it is important for our focus always to remain on the future and making improvements across the board, on a daily, monthly and yearly basis.

"We are trying to cultivate and maintain a culture conducive to prolonged success, and for this to be achieved, our talented group of players and hard-working staff must continue to buy into what is being asked of them.

“An exciting challenge lies ahead of me, both for the remainder of the season and beyond, and I am eager to embrace it with continued support from my backroom team and the board.”

AN EXCITING, YOUNG MANAGER WHO HAS EXCELLED SINCE HIS ARRIVAL

Chairman, Mark Ogren, added: “I’m very pleased to have secured Jim’s services intially for a further year. This represents a forward-thinking piece of business by the club, as we allow an exciting, young manager to build upon the strong foundations laid by himself, with assistance from his backroom team.

"Jim has excelled since his arrival, meeting all targets set by the board of directors so far, overseeing our crucial return to the Premiership and embracing the club’s overarching strategy.