The 1986–87 season was the 78th year of football played by Dundee United, and covers the period from 1 July 1986 to 30 June 1987.
The season is most notable for the club's run to the UEFA Cup Final, knocking out Barcelona, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Universitatea Craiova en route.
Swedish side Gothenburg defeated United in the final of the UEFA Cup over two legs.
The club signed five players during the season with a total public cost of at least £300,000 (some figures unknown).
*Dave Bowman and Jim McInally were signed in a joint £140,000 deal Four players were sold by the club during the season with a public total of nearly £1,000,000.