A large contingent of Dundee fans travelled to Motherwell’s Fir Park for the opening game of the 2000/01 Scottish Premier League season with nervous excitement in the air.
Ivano Bonetti was leading his side in his first competitive match as Dundee player manager. The Italian – who could count Genoa, Sampdoria and Juventus among his former clubs as a player – arrived at Dens Park to great fanfare that summer. Bonetti didn’t have any managerial experience, but a host of international signings only served to heighten the excitement and expectations of Dundee fans.
Were special times ahead for the Dark Blues? The 90 minutes at Fir Park certainly gave the travelling supporters every reason to think so, though the cannier among them would have noted the warning signs, too.
Dundee burst out of the starting blocks
The new season was only eight minutes old when Italian midfielder Patrizio Billio, who had been brough to Dundee a year earlier by Bonetti’s predecessor Jocky Scott, lashed home a loose ball from 16 yards to put the Dark Blues ahead.
Of Bonetti’s new recruits, Argentinian striker Fabián Caballero was looking very dangerous – his varied runs and turns of pace keeping the Motherwell back line busy. Caballero almost increased Dundee’s lead with a great solo effort but his finish came back off the near post. It wasn’t all Dundee though, and the home side should have drawn level through Stephen McMillan, but his close-range header could only find the far post when it looked easier to score. McMillan went close again shortly afterwards, this time a fine save from Dundee goalkeeper Robert Douglas stopped his left foot drive from restoring parity.
At the other end, Caballero continued to cause problems. This time, some great skill on the touchline released Spaniard Javier Artero. Artero’s cross found Caballero’s compatriot Juan Sara. Sara thought he had doubled the Dark Blues’ lead, but his close-range shot – albeit from a tight angle – came off the near post.
The same post denied Dundee another goal before the break. The tireless running of Caballero – whose low-slung socks would become something of a trademark – set up Artero, whose precise shot looked destined for the bottom corner only to return into play from Dundee’s nemesis, the upright.
Artero’s moment of genius; Bonetti’s moments of madness
Two minutes before half-time, Dundee’s player manager received a yellow card for a late challenge on Well’s Martyn Corrigan. Bonetti was apologetic, but the challenge was rash and would prove costly. Five minutes after the restart, Bonetti careered into Martin Wood at waist height, sending his opponent sprawling. Following the obligatory shoving match between the two sets of players, referee John Rowbotham gave the Dundee boss a second yellow card, though a straight red would have produced little argument.
Billy Davies’ side battled for an equaliser in the July sunshine but, in truth, the 10-men of Dundee didn’t look to be in serious danger of losing their lead.
The visitors sealed the points courtesy of a stunning goal from Artero. Substitute Willie Falconer expertly held up a long ball before finding Georgian midfielder Giorgi Nemsadze. Nemsadze – whose elegant midfield artistry made him one of the successes of the Bonetti era – in turn picked out Artero. Receiving the ball just inside the centre circle in the Motherwell half, Artero jinked between two opponents. Striding through the midfield, the Spaniard evaded another challenge before arriving inside the Motherwell box. With one defender to beat, Artero cut inside, his terrific close control allowing him the space and time to poke a right foot shot past goalkeeper Andy Goram and into the Motherwell net off the inside of the post.
World Cup star arrives on Tayside
Following their impressive opening day success, speculation built on just what Ivano Bonetti’s reign would bring to Dundee. Remarkably, two months into the season, former Argentina World Cup star Claudio Caniggia – one of his country’s most iconic players – signed up for Bonetti’s Dundee project. Knowing Bonetti from his playing days in Italy, Caniggia’s arrival remains, to this day, one of the greatest transfer coups in Scottish football history.
Going back to the start of the campaign, Bonetti’s side followed up their opening day victory with a 3-0 home win over Dunfermline at Dens Park. So, two wins from two and maximum points for Bonetti’s side. However, the wheels came off in spectacular fashion on week three as the Dark Blues suffered a 5-1 defeat against Hibs at Easter Road. Caballero had opened the scoring in the ninth minute but was later sent off for violent conduct. His teammate Billio was also sent off in an afternoon of ill-discipline for Dundee.
Defeat in Paisley against St Mirren the following week added to Dundee’s woes, but a series of three league draws – against Hearts, Rangers, and St Johnstone – lifted spirits at Dens before a 3-0 victory in the first Dundee derby of the season and the subsequent arrival of Caniggia.
In a season of highs and lows, Bonetti’s side eventually finished in sixth place, thanks in no small part to the brilliance of Caniggia. Unfortunately for Dundee fans, Caniggia’s performances saw him join Rangers at the end of the season. The move to Ibrox helped the striker achieve his goal of making the cut for Argentina’s 2002 World Cup squad. At the age of 35, Caniggia didn’t feature in any of his country’s matches as Argentina crashed out of the tournament at the group stage.
Bonetti’s reign in charge of Dundee lasted for two years. Further big-name signings – including Georgian Temuri Ketsbai – followed, but Dundee struggled to a ninth place finish in season 2001/02. Bonetti didn’t get the chance to take his project any further as he was sacked by Dundee’s owners, Jimmy and Peter Marr, in July 2002.
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