Topi Keskinen has described lifting the Scottish Cup with Aberdeen as the best moment of his career so far. The Finnish winger helped the Dons defeat Celtic on penalties in the 2025 final, ending a 35-year trophy drought for the club.
Penalty Shootout Drama
Keskinen, who completed a seven-figure transfer to Danish club Odense last week, was a key figure in Aberdeen's Hampden Park triumph. The match ended in a penalty shootout, with goalkeeper Dimi Mitov saving the second spot-kick to secure victory.
“Lifting the Scottish Cup with Aberdeen has been the biggest moment so far,” Keskinen said. “Even though I believed going into that game that we were going to win, I still couldn't believe it when Dimi Mitov saved the second penalty. It was a magical moment when we knew we had won the cup. Everyone just started shouting and running towards Dimi. We were shouting like little kids running around the field. It was crazy. That feeling was so good. It felt like a dream or something. It really did.”
Underdogs No More
Aberdeen had been heavily beaten by Celtic in the league just days earlier, leading many to write them off for the final. However, Keskinen revealed the squad’s unwavering belief.
“That's true. Most people thought Celtic would win the final. As players, we genuinely believed that we were going win the game. As a professional, you have to have that belief going into every game. The atmosphere at the game was crazy with the 50/50 split and in cup finals anything can happen, especially if you get a bit of luck. We knew we had to be good and hope Celtic weren’t at their best and that is what happened. The game plan went well and I have to say that day was the best experience I've had in football.”
City-Wide Celebrations
The following day, Aberdeen was transformed into a sea of red and white as thousands lined the streets for the victory parade. Keskinen was overwhelmed by the turnout.
“I couldn’t believe how many people were out on the streets. There were people everywhere. The celebrations in the city were really special. We could see what winning that cup meant to the club, the people and the city. It was a privilege to be involved in that. To be fair, I left quite early on the Sunday after the parade. I was due to join up with the Finnish under-21 squad for the European Championships. My flight was the next morning so I wasn't really able to celebrate as much as the others. But that weekend is one I will never forget.”
Medal Kept Safe
Keskinen has entrusted his Scottish Cup medal to his parents for safekeeping, but it remains a cherished reminder of his time at Aberdeen.
“I have given it to my parents for safe-keeping. I will eventually take it back to my house. I still look at it and whenever I do it reminds me of a very special time for me at Aberdeen.”
