The Dundee derby is a football match between Dundee and Dundee United. The clubs are based yards apart in the city of Dundee, the fourth-largest city in Scotland.

Dundee is the older of the two, having been founded in 1893, compared to Dundee United which was founded in 1909 as Dundee Hibernian following the demise of Dundee Harp, a club founded by Irish immigrants in 1879. While United's origins stem from Irish immigration, the rivalry is not sectarian in the manner of the Old Firm.

Dundee had long been the more successful club, playing more seasons in the top flight than their rivals and winning one League title, one Scottish Cup and three League Cups before United lifted a major trophy. However, from the 1970s under Jim McLean the tide turned in the city's footballing rivalry. United would go on to be a major force in Scottish football in the 1980s, winning their first three major honours at Dens Park including a League Cup win against Dundee in 1980; the 1983 league title was also won there. Their rivalry with Aberdeen, who also lifted several trophies during the period, was entitled the New Firm. In 1994 United won their first Scottish Cup, and their second in 2010, in doing so drawing level with Dundee on five major trophies won.

The two grounds are the closest League grounds in Britain and with it a unique rivalry has developed, though one often deemed more amicable than most, similar to the Merseyside derby, Derby della Madonnina in Milan, and the Derby della Lanterna of Genoa with many families split down the middle in support.^{[citation needed]}

The two clubs even had a combined hooligan 'firm', known as the Dundee Utility, which was formed to stand up to the larger firms of the Glasgow and Edinburgh clubs.^[1]

The following are records just for the Dundee derby itself:

• The longest unbeaten run in all matches is 13, held by United, this was between December 1979 and September 1983, 11 of these were Wins.
• The longest unbeaten run in home matches is held by Dundee when United failed to beat them for 14 games between November 1925 and August 1962.
• The longest unbeaten run in away matches is held by United with a 12 match run at Dens Park between April 1963 and April 1971 which included 8 victories.
• The longest unbroken winning run in all matches belongs to United with 7 between March 1988 and April 1989.
• The longest unbroken winning run at home belongs to United with 6 between September 1974 and September 1981.
• The longest unbroken winning run away from home belongs to United who scored 8 consecutive victories at Dens Park between December 1980 and November 1984.
• The record home victory in a league match is 5–0 recorded by Dundee at Dens Park in August 1926
• The record away victory in a league match is 5–0 recorded by United at Dens Park in September 1965.
• The highest scoring match was in September 1971 when Dundee won 6–4 at Dens Park.
• Paul Sturrock of United holds the mark for the most derby goals with 14, 2 of these came in United's 3–0 League Cup Final win over Dundee at Dens Park in December 1980.
• Record Attendance:
  • 29,106 at Dens Park, 14 May 1983 (Premier Division)
  • 21,325 at Tannadice, 3 January 1966 (old Division One)
• Lowest Attendance:
  • 9,185 at Tannadice, 12 December 1999 (SPL)
  • 7,645 at Dens Park, 29 January 1994 (Premier Division)

16 players have signed for Dundee United directly from Dundee, with 10 making the opposite journey from Tannadice to Dens Park. Only players who have played at least one first team game for both clubs are currently included.

More information Date, Player ...

Dundee to Dundee United Date Player Fee 00 000 1909 Tim Dailly Unknown[6] 00 000 1909 Thomas Flood Unknown[6] 00 000 1913 Collie Martin Unknown[6] 00 000 1913 Fred Stoessel Unknown[6] 25 June 1929 Jock Ross Unknown[7] 00 000 1933 James Angus Munro Unknown[6] 00 000 1947 Jimmy Dickson Unknown[6] 00 000 1948 Kinnaird Ouchterlonie Unknown[6] 00 000 1952 Bobby Henderson Unknown 00 000 1969 Alex Stuart Unknown 00 000 1973 Duncan MacLeod Unknown 00 000 1977 Bobby Robinson Unknown 29 Nov 1978 Iain Phillip £25,000[8] 6 Aug 1996 Neil Duffy £200,000[9] 3 Jun 2008 Scott Robertson Bosman[10] 23 Jun 2008 Paul Dixon £25,000[11]

Dundee United to Dundee Date Player Fee 00 000 1947 George Mackay Unknown[6] 00 000 1948 Jack Court Unknown[6] 00 000 1971 Ian Scott Unknown 00 000 1977 Billy Williamson Unknown 13 Dec 1986 Tommy Coyne £75,000[12] 00 000 1995 Roy McBain Unknown 3 Jun 1997 Jim McInally Free[13] 5 Jan 2019 Craig Curran Free[14] 26 Jan 2021 Paul McMullan Loan[15] 11 Jun 2021 Paul McMullan Free[16]

Close

Fixtures from 1925 to the present day featuring League games, Scottish Cup and League Cup matches. Friendlies, testimonials and other non-competitive games are not included.^[17][18] Dundee wins are coloured in blue, United wins in tangerine and draws are grey. Note that United played in white until 1969 but tangerine is used throughout for ease.