IVAN GOLAC seems such a laidback fellow – think Dylan from the Magic Roundabout on a particularly lackadaisical day – that it is difficult to imagine him ever indulging in physical confrontation.

The evidence, though, is there, preserved on video for posterity.

It is a Dundee derby circa 1994 and the ball bounces towards a Tannadice touchline. Golac, in no hurry to restart play, lets it roll beyond him, aware that Dundee's Dusan Vrto is desperately keen to get on with things. The pair tangle, Golac sticking out an arm and grabbing the Slovak around the neck, blocking his path. In almost comedic fashion, Vrto then falls on his backside, leaving the Dundee United manager looking down at the Slovak, shrugging his innocence while quietly smirking.

Derbies arouse passion in the most placid characters and it seems Golac, in the 20 months or so he spent in Dundee, was not immune. "There was an incident with Dusan Vrto," he said, reflecting upon a moment since immortalised in a supporters' song. "We understood each other well as we spoke similar languages. I remember it like it happened yesterday. He slipped as he went through for the ball on to the concrete . . . that was all."

Another Dundee derby has Golac back on Tayside this week, the first Scottish Cup meeting between the sides since 1991. He has been flown over by the sponsors to talk about Sunday's match at Dens Park, talking about William Hill as if Mr Hill had personally invited him, and announces he is pleased to be back in Dundee. The city, half of it at least, seems happy to see him, too. Golac is holding court in the middle of a Dundee shopping centre and it is not long before there are polite requests for autographs and photos with the first Dundee United manager to ever lift the Scottish Cup. Golac duly obliges, his legacy untarnished after all this time, most fans forgetting – or at least forgiving – that he effectively got the team relegated just one year on.

Prior to Golac's arrival, the pursuit of the Scottish Cup had become an obsession for United the way it is for the likes of Hibernian now. Six times Jim McLean took his team to Hampden and all six times they were beaten. Then along came Golac, a Yugoslavian who breezed into Scottish football and won the trophy in his first season, denying Rangers back-to-back trebles in the process. One can only imagine his predecessor celebrated through gritted teeth, unsure whether to grimace or cry.

On his return to Scotland this week, Golac could not help but taunt McLean – who, having ascended to the role of chairman, sacked him just 10 months after that glory day at Hampden – for not having achieved enough during his time in charge. It seemed something of a harsh accusation. McLean may not have had any joy in the Scottish Cup but a Premier League title, a European Cup semi-final place, a UEFA Cup final and two League Cups make for an impressive legacy.

No manager, certainly not Golac, has ever come close to matching what McLean achieved at Tannadice but, even after all these years, the Serb remains unimpressed. "It is logic," he said. "If someone spends five years in a club, he should win the minimum of three trophies. If someone stays 10 years, then it should be doubled. Twenty years? Goodness me. This is not a small club. Who did you have to beat? Rangers? In 20 years, how many times did he win the final? None.

"Let's be serious. Twenty years, goodness me. And you have an open hand, you can bring in anyone. Even smaller clubs than United used to win European titles; Steaua Bucharest won the European title [in 1986]. Alex Ferguson won three titles with Aberdeen? That is enough. He was not at Aberdeen for 20 years, was he?"

Golac wanted to stay longer at Tannadice but results and McLean decided otherwise. He has achieved little of significance in management since, but believes that, had he been allowed to stay on at United, he would have eventually delivered a raft of trophies, presumably starting with the first division championship.

"I was just talking with Dave Bowman [former United midfielder] and I told him we would have done a lot of big things," Golac said. "Sadly, one man was stronger than the whole board. This was the biggest problem. I am very difficult to handle in a sense. I was always myself, as a player and throughout my life. I respect everybody but I am responsible for my job. The board was too weak. One man wanted someone he could handle. And I was the loser. But the loser was also the supporters and the club."

Peter Houston emulated Golac's achievement by leading United to a second Scottish Cup in 2010 and now Jackie McNamara and his players have got themselves into a decent position to do so again. First, however, they need to get past their city rivals on Sunday. "William Hill invited me to come back as it's such a big occasion for the city, a big game for both clubs," said Golac. "After Sunday's game you are just one game away from the final and possibly Europe, too. It's a big opportunity for both Dundee clubs and I think one of those clubs will get to the final."