Paul Hegarty

Did You Know?

• Hegarty's elder brother Kevin played for Dunfermline Athletic, as did his nephew Ryan.
• His son Chris came through the Dundee academy and had a 13-year playing career, including two spells with Montrose where he was signed by his father.

Playing career

Hegarty began his senior career as a striker with Hamilton Accies in 1972. In November 1974, Dundee United manager Jim McLean signed him for £27,500. Two years later, McLean experimented by pairing Hegarty with Dave Narey in central defence, a partnership that became integral to United's successes for over a decade. As club captain, Hegarty led United to their first major trophy, the Scottish League Cup in 1979, which they retained the following year.

In 1982–83, he was an ever-present as United won the Scottish League title; that season he temporarily played as a goalkeeper after Hamish McAlpine was injured. He featured in many European victories, though injury limited his participation in the 1987 UEFA Cup Final run. Hegarty left Dundee United on a free transfer in January 1990, briefly played for St. Johnstone and helped them to promotion. He represented Scotland between 1979 and 1983, captaining the side in his eighth and final appearance, and also played for the under-21 side as an over-age player and for the Scottish League.

Coaching career

Hegarty's first coaching role was as player/manager of Forfar Athletic; the team were relegated in 1992 and he left shortly afterwards. He then had coaching roles with Dundee United (leaving Tannadice in 1995), Hearts and Aberdeen. He saved the club from relegation, but Aberdeen elected not to continue with him long-term. Dundee United again offered him a coaching role, which became a manager role in October 2002 after chairman Eddie Thompson could not prise first-choice Ian McCall from Falkirk.

Initially caretaker, Hegarty's role was extended until the end of the season before he was sacked in January 2003 and replaced by McCall. He continued coaching at Livingston and then Dunfermline; while at Dunfermline, he was approached by Inverness CT to join the management with Maurice Malpas, though the move did not happen. He became Malpas's assistant at Motherwell on 25 May 2006, but was replaced by Scott Leitch when Malpas was sacked in June 2007.

In March 2008, Hegarty became a scout for Scotland manager George Burley. In December 2008 he was appointed manager of Livingston after Roberto Landi was sacked, but left a few months later due to severe financial problems. He left his Scotland role in November 2009. Hegarty returned to Dundee United in February 2010, and after Peter Houston resigned in January 2013, he was named caretaker manager.

A match against Motherwell was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, and Jackie McNamara was appointed before the next match; Hegarty left the club soon after.