The club had waned from the early 1950 days of Billy Steel and company, but at the start of the next decade, as manager Bob Shankly introduced youngsters Alex Hamilton, Ian Ure, Andy Penman, Alan Gilzean, and Hugh Robertson and brought in experience in the shape of Bobby Seith, Bobby Wishart and Gordon Smith, the Dark Blues became genuine contenders for the major prizes.
In 1962 they surpassed anything accomplished by a previous Dundee side, winning the Scottish League title by three points from Rangers – whom they defeated 5–1 at Ibrox en route to the big prize.
Saturday, 28 April 1962 became a date to remember for Dundee fans as Cox led his troops to the League Flag following a 3–0 win over St Johnstone at Muirton Park.
As they took their European Cup challenge to a semi-final against AC Milan, they showed that the classic Scottish passing game which they played, could work as well in Europe as in Scotland.
Sporting Lisbon and Anderlecht were also despatched before, significantly, with Cox injured and unable to play, AC Milan ended the dream in the San Siro.
That same season, Dundee reached a European semi for a second time and Cox was part of the squad which faced Leeds United in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, the forerunner of the U.E.F.A.