Dundee United Legends - Week Two - Maurice Malpas Only one player has made more appearances in a Tangerine jersey than Maurice Malpas, and that was the great Dave Narey. Maurice Malpas made a staggering 830 appearances for United over a period of twenty years with the club. In his time with United, Maurice played in some of the greatest Dundee United sides of all-time and most memorably of all, captained the club to its first ever Scottish Cup success, lifting the trophy aloft at Hampden Park in May 1994. Maurice Malpas was born in Dunfermline on August, 3rd 1962. He played youth football for Leven Royals and signed for Jim McLean at Dundee United on an S form in 1978, where he would remain for the rest of his career. Initially Maurice combined his football career with studying for an electrical engineering degree, and only became a full time professional following the completion of his studies in 1984. Despite this, Malpas made his full debut for the club in a 4-0 league win over Airdrieonians at Tannadice in November 1981, aged just 19, and went on to make 25 appearances for the first team that season. At the end of the 1981/82 season the legendary Frank Kopel who had owned Uniteds number 3 jersey for almost a decade, left the club, giving Malpas the perfect opportunity to nail down his position as a first team starter. Maurice made 34 league appearances for United during the 1982/83 season, missing only two matches as Jim McLeans great United side claimed the Scottish Premier Division Title for the first time in the clubs long history. Maurice showed maturity beyond his years as he handled the pressure of Uniteds nail-biting climax to the season at Dens Park, where only a win would secure the title, like an experienced pro and put in a solid display as the Terrors won 2-1 in the Dundee Derby to be crowned Champions of Scotland. The following season saw United embark on their first (and last to date) European Cup adventure. After knocking out Hamrun Spartans of Malta, Standard Liege of Belgium and Rapid Vienna of Austria, United were drawn against European giants AS Roma in the semi-final. Malpas, who had now made the number 3 jersey his own, started the 1st leg at Tannadice were United incredibly ran out 2-0 winners against the Italians thanks to goals from Davie Dodds and Derek Stark (screamer!). Unfortunately everything went horribly wrong in the away leg. Due to the culmination of an extremely hostile atmosphere, a bribed referee and a poor United performance, Roma recorded a controversial 3-0 win to put them through to the final against Liverpool, which was to be held at their own ground. Although it is indisputable that the referee was bribed, many players who played for United that day have admitted that they didnt deserve anything from the game. Paul Sturrock has also gone on record saying that the only player who deserved pass marks in the United line-up that day was Maurice Malpas. Unsurprisingly, following his impressive performances in both domestic and European competition, Malpas received his first full international Scotland cap against France in Paris, 1st June 1984. Over the next few years Malpas established himself as a regular first team starter in the Scotland team and represented his country at the 1986 and 1990 World Cup Finals as well as the 1992 European Championship. Maurice went on to win a total of 55 caps, the most caps any Dundee United player has ever received. Malpas also has the honour of captaining his country. United were starting to make a habit of losing cup finals and Malpas collected two runners-up medals in the 1984/85 season following defeat in the League Cup and Scottish Cup Finals by Rangers and Celtic respectively. The 1986/87 season would be another case of so close yet so far for Jim McLeans Dundee United side, reaching the UEFA Cup Final (defeating Barcelona on the way) and the Scottish Cup Final. Malpas collected another two runners-up medals as United failed to cross the finishing line yet again. Cup Final heartache was becoming familiar feeling for Maurice Malpas and his United. Defeats in the 1988 and 1991 Scottish a Cup Finals to Celtic and Motherwell added to the misery. Many started to believe that United were haunted by a Hampden Hoodoo having never won a cup final at the national stadium. However in 1994 that would change. Now managed by Ivan Golac following McLeans retirement, United knocked out Arbroath, Motherwell, Airdrieonians and Aberdeen on the way to the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park against Rangers on May, 21st 1994. Craig Brewsters iconic goal was enough to bring the Cup back to Tannadice for the first time, and now club-captain, Maurice Malpas climbed the Hampden steps to lift the trophy, the first Dundee United player to do so. However the long overdue cup victory merely covered up the cracks that were now appearing in the United side and the club reached an a all-time low the following season as they were relegated from the top flight. Malpas remained a regular in the United side throughout the late 90s, captaining the club to promotion via the play-offs in 1996 and to a 3rd place top flight finish in their first season back in the big time. Maurice retired from professional football in the year 2000, the only player from the famous league winning side of 83 to make it to the new millennium. Maurice Malpas is without doubt one of the all-time Dundee United greats. Making over 800 appearances and scoring 26 goals from left-back over a twenty year period of loyal service to the club, he has left a legacy that will be passed down for generations. His long service was rewarded with two testimonial matches, in 1991 and 2000. Loyal, committed and determined, Malpas was one if the greatest defenders to ever play at Tannadice, a great reader of the game and an inspiration to all those who played with him and watched him. Maurice Malpas Dundee United Career Stats Appearances - 830 Goals - 26 International Caps - 55 Honours - Scottish Premier League Winner 1982/83, Scottish Cup Winner 1993/94.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 20:30:14 +0000