Aberdeen

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Jimmy Thelin says he is "honoured" to be appointed Aberdeen manager and will strive to build a successful team that "captures the hearts of the supporters".

The Swede, 46, will leave Elfsborg in his homeland in early June to take the reins at Pittodrie on a contract until summer 2027, with Peter Leven remaining in caretaker charge for the remainder of this season.

“I wanted to be sure I was making the right step in my career, particularly as this will be my first time managing outside of Sweden," said Thelin.

"At Elfsborg we work hard together to compete at the top level and it is our intention to achieve the same at Aberdeen.

“The feeling I have about what I have seen at the club, the staff and the facilities was all very impressive. The vision, effort and support offered by Dave [Cormack], Alan [Burrows] and Steven [Gunn] have also convinced me it is a great opportunity for me and the club.

“I can promise the fans we will be striving to build and a develop a team that captures the hearts of the supporters and delivers success on the pitch.

“I’m looking forward to working with Peter and the players and I hope they get the win at Hampden this weekend.”

Elfsborg have called a media conference on Tuesday lunchtime to discuss their managerial position. (Elfsborg on X)

Thelin would only say "we'll see what the future holds" when asked about his future after Elfsborg were defeated by Hammarby. (Daily Record)

Aberdeen interim boss Peter Leven has warned Dons players they are fighting for their Pittodrie futures as the new manager will be watching their performances. (Press & Journal)

Read the rest of Tuesday's gossip.

Richard Foster talks to the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast about Aberdeen's lack of managerial certainty.

Pat Nevin and Richard Foster join Liam McLeod to pick over the bones of another incredible weekend of Scottish football drama.

They look back on Ross County’s historic victory over Rangers and discuss what impact it could have at both ends of the table.

They also assess the jobs done by Tony Docherty and Nick Montgomery as Dundee secure their place in the top 6 at the expense of Hibs and Motherwell.

Listen to today's episode of the Scottish Football Podcast here.

Defender Angus MacDonald believes Aberdeen can pull off a shock against Celtic in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup and turn the Dons' season around. (Press & Journal)

Read the rest of Monday's gossip.

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Interim Aberdeen manager Peter Leven will discuss his future at the club in the next few days, with an announcement on their new manager allegedly imminent.

“We’ll sit down with the club on Monday and Tuesday and go from there," Leven said, refusing to be drawn on any other speculation around the future appointment.

In the meantime, he has to prepare the Dons for a Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic next Saturday - a fixture he is expected to be in charge for.

“Any time you play the Old Firm you’ve got to keep it tight at the back," he added. "We’ll work on it this week, go through the game from today and prepare for Celtic.

“The pressure is always on us – we’re Aberdeen. We’ve got to go there and believe we’re going to win. That’s the message I’m going to give, and the players will believe in it.”

We asked for your thoughts after Aberdeen played out a goalless draw with Dundee pm Saturday.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Fred: A poor overall performance fitting of a team in the bottom six. No bite in attack but at least the defence was solid. A healthy attendance but the fans deserve more. Another major player clear-out is needed if we have any hope of top six next season. So few of the current squad are good enough.

William: Got into some good positions in the first half but the players' inability to do the basics let them down. We’ve blown a big budget on players that are incapable of reaching the levels we’re aiming for. The incoming manager has a big job just to get us into the top half next season.

Allan: The usual huffing and puffing with no end result. I am also so fed up with Shinnie. We need a new skipper who leads by example. I fear for Saturday.

Andrew: Sometimes in football, as in life, you end up exactly where you deserve to be. Yet again we failed to turn up in the second half. Such inconsistencies in our play is why we are ninth and Dundee are sixth. One-off games in the cup and Europe have been the only highlight of a long & underwhelming season. Maybe Miovski can fire us to another final.

Malmo head coach Henrik Rydstrom has revealed that Aberdeen managerial frontrunner Jimmy Thelin has been inspiring coaches for years after performing "miracles" with Elfsborg. (Sunday Mail, external)

Read the rest of Sunday's gossip here

Were you at Pittodrie, or did you watch the game from home? Did anyone impress you from Aberdeen's showing against Dundee? Or do you just want the end of the season now?

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Aberdeen interim manager Peter Leven tells BBC Sportsound: "The biggest game of two halves I've ever seen. Started really well, on the front foot. But I turned round to the bench and said 'we need to score when we're on top here'.

"Really happy with the first half, just needed to score. They went after in the second half, we couldn't get out and needed more composure. Really disappointed with the second half.

"We should be up there in the top six, challenging for Europe. We're hurting right now, but it's a good clean sheet. If you can't win, don't lose it.

[On whether he knows what his future is] "Not yet. That will be clearer early next week. I've said if they need me, I'll step up. I've loved my time here. We'll have that discussion."

Andrew Petrie, BBC Sport Scotland

Aberdeen got a glimpse of what could have been for so much of this season in the first half.

That's because Duk was back to his old self. He got three Dundee players booked as he pushed, shoved, and danced his way through the defence.

But no one else was on his wave length. Maybe that's because of his much-reduced role this season, as he's struggled with inconsistency and selection issues.

He sums Aberdeen up at the moment. A clearly impressive footballer, who looked good for 45 minutes and went missing for another 45. The end of the season can't come quick enough.

Aberdeen: Roos, Devlin, Gartenmann, MacDonald, MacKenzie, Barron, Clarkson, Shinnie, McGrath, Duk, Miovski.

Substitutes: Doohan, Jensen, McGarry, Phillips, Sokler, Polvara, Duncan, Milne, Hoilett.

Dundee: McCracken, Portales, Shaughnessy, Donnelly, McGhee, Costelloe, McCowan, Sylla, Cameron, Tiffoney, Bakayoko.

Substitutes: Sharp, Dodgson, Astley, Main, Lamie, Robinson, Robertson, Boateng, Mellon.

Leighton Clarkson says Aberdeen "still have a lot to play for" as they prepare to face Dundee.

The Dons lost 1-0 last time out and Clarkson is hopeful his side can make up for that performance on Saturday.

"I know last time we played them it was probably one of our worst performances of the season," he said.

"We know we want to win and we know how we want to do it.

It's not gone well this season we can all agree on that but we have got Pete [Leven] here who is doing everything he can behind the scenes.

"We have just got to perform and get wins under our belts.

"It would mean everything, we have still got a lot to play for. We know what our targets are, we have still got the semi-final but we are all just focused on the next game."

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VAR is getting worse with every game and should be scrapped, says Aberdeen midfielder Leighton Clarkson. (Press & Journal, external, subscription required)

Read the rest of Saturday's Scottish gossip.

Aberdeen defender Slobodan Rubezic has returned to full training and could be in contention for next week’s Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic. Otherwise, Dons interim boss Peter Leven has no injury concerns.

Dundee have Curtis Main, Josh Mulligan and Ryan Howley back in contention with only Owen Beck (groin) and Diego Pineda (thigh) out.

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We asked for your thoughts on the potential appointment of Jimmy Thelin at Aberdeen, with the Dons closing in on the Elfsborg boss.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Chris: Although he's a relatively young manager, he's achieved good results in a short space of time. If he can replicate the form he's achieved with both his managerial appointments so far, we'd be back competing for third on a regular basis & would hopefully push on from there. Any new manager will need time though, especially with the squad as it is now.

Woody: Really pleased with potential of Thelin appointment. If Cormack gives Jimmy time to implement his methods, funds and - above all - takes a back seat from team affairs, I can see positive times ahead.

Eric: Hope the deal can be done asap, and we give him time and money to build the squad needed to maintain third spot and a decent European run, also allowing Leven to continue his good work in the club. After years of Cormack Park setup, we need to see some results from the youth policy and keep our youth on long term deals.

Alasdair: Who??? Is he really the man to change Aberdeen? He doesn’t have many accolades to his name. I suppose the only thing that counts is he has been at the same club since 2018, but then McInnes had been at the Dons for a while and performances began to stagnate. I suppose only time will tell. But the board must get it right

Stuart: I don’t know anything about the man but hopefully he can get the best out of the players. I don’t think a huge overhaul is needed, just fresh ideas and build up of confidence.

Fred: We need a seasoned expert in the Scottish Premiership. Bringing someone in from overseas is just buying another problem. We need a manager with relevant experience AND some players with good Scottish experience - real fighters.

Jimibib: Cannot be worse than Warnock. Time to get a decision right Cormack, or it's time for a new chairman (or better yet, fan ownership).

Dylan: Finally some ambition shown by the club when it comes to a manager. The fans need to get on board and allow him time.

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Aberdeen caretaker boss Peter Leven says he doesn't know whether Jimmy Thelin will arrive to take up the vacant Pittodrie post.

Leven, who has been filling the role since Neil Warnock's shock departure last month, will meet with club officials at the start of next week to discuss the future.

The Dons are closing in on the appointment of Elfsborg head coach Jimmy Thelin, who has guided the Swedish side to successive second-place finishes in the Allsvenskan.

“I’ve not spoken to anyone yet,” the 40-year-old said.

“I’ve got a meeting on Monday, but my focus again is just on this game on Saturday. That is the most important thing for me.

“We’ve got a meeting with the senior staff on Monday, so we’ll take it from there.”

Despite a disappointing campaign for the Dons, who currently lie in ninth-place, Leven insists the job is one that should excite any prospective manager.

“It is a great club, a huge club and it has potential to go even higher.

“Obviously you’ve seen that this season with the games in Europe, a Viaplay Cup final and Scottish Cup semi-final, so anybody coming in, it is a great club.”

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Why should Scottish football fans care about Czech side Viktoria Plzen drawing with Italian heavyweights Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League?

The result on Thursday night has serious consequences for the Premiership, with the Czech Republic now having leapfrogged Scotland in the coefficient standings.

Not only will the winners of the top flight no longer gain automatic qualification to the Champions League from 2025/26, but there's also a knock on effect for those finishing further down the table.

Here's everything you need to know.

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Aberdeen caretaker manager Peter Leven has been speaking to the media ahead of his side's meeting with Dundee at Pittodrie on Saturday.

Here are the key points:

• Asked if it was his understanding Jimmy Thelin was to become the new manager, he says no, but highlighted a meeting he has with senior staff on Monday.

• Part of the meeting will be his future at the club, including whether he’ll be managing team until the end of the season. Leven says he's keen to remain at Pittodrie.

• Would advise any new manager coming in that Aberdeen is a great club and has the potential to go even higher, saying it's a great opportunity for the prospective coach.

• Admits the uncertainty of the managerial situation might be affecting some players, but it's his job to keep everyone focussed on the task at hand.

• Believes the Dons have good momentum amid an unbeaten of three games, adding their focus is on getting three points against Dundee.

• Although he describes the Dens Park pitch debacle as "not ideal", he says he's not a groundsman and it's not his place to comment.

• No new injury concerns, while Slobodan Rubezic has now returned to full training.

Image source, BBC Sport

Aberdeen are closing in on the appointment of Elfsborg head coach Jimmy Thelin as their new manager.

Is he the right man to turn things around at Pittodrie? Have your say here.