Aberdeen are on the lookout for a new manager following the departure of Jimmy Thelin, who left the club despite leading them to Scottish Cup glory last May. The Swede’s exit was first reported by Record Sport, with the club’s hierarchy—chairman Dave Cormack, CEO Alan Burrows, and sporting director Lutz Pffanenstiel—now tasked with finding his successor. Peter Leven will take charge on an interim basis.
Among the early contenders is St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson, whose reputation has grown after guiding the Buddies to a Premier Sports Cup win over Celtic and consecutive top-six finishes. Robinson previously worked with Aberdeen chief executive Alan Burrows at Motherwell, which could work in his favour. Another name in the frame is Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou, whose clear style of play has impressed this season.
Pffanenstiel may look to his German connections, with former Fortuna Dusseldorf and current VfL Bochum coach Uwe Rösler on the radar, along with 72-year-old Friedhelm Funkel, who led FC Koln back to the Bundesliga. Meanwhile, Falkirk manager John McGlynn, fresh from ending the club’s 15-year top-flight absence, could be a candidate after his side beat Aberdeen in Thelin’s final game.
Other potential targets include Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill, though his contract and wages may prove costly, and former Aberdeen defender Antoine Kombouare, who recently left Nantes and has expressed interest. The Dons may also consider Swedish coach Freddie Gustafsson, who won the Swedish Cup, or Markus Gisdol, a former colleague of Pffanenstiel at Hoffenheim.
