Aberdeen

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Aberdeen defender Mats Knoester admits the players "didn't show enough" prior to Jimmy Thelin's sacking and need to "step up".

Manager Thelin departed last weekend after just 18 months in the Pittodrie hotseat amid what has been a disappointing campaign.

The Swede was unable to build on last season's Scottish Cup win and paid the price with the Dons struggling in eighth place in the Premiership.

Dutchman Knoester said: "It is never nice to see somebody lose his job. I think Jimmy was a good guy and he won the Scottish Cup and nobody can take that from him.

"But then on the other side the results were poor and in a club like Aberdeen things can change fast.

"We cannot hide behind the manager, it is us on the pitch as well, I want to get that clear.

''It is the players' responsibility as well. It is everybody involved so in football of course you see the manager is the first one to be responsible for it but then the players are on the pitch and we didn't show enough.

"We need to step up as well."

Aberdeen lost 2-0 at Rangers in midweek, a fourth defeat in a five-game run without victory, and host the Ibrox side on Sunday.

"I cannot speak for anybody else but personally it is not a lack of confidence," added Knoester.

"Sometimes you need this little bit of luck, the goal goes in for us first or we think a set-piece out and the game goes a little bit different and you get that one win and all of a sudden it starts going.

"So for me it is not a lack of confidence."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen interim boss Peter Leven has been speaking to the media before the second game in their double-header against Rangers.

Here are the main points:

• As the club's search for a new boss continues, Leven says he is "just taking it day by day" when asked if he had received any indication of how long his interim spell will last.

• Leven insists "the boys have responded really well" despite their 2-0 defeat to Rangers on Tuesday and believes Sunday is "another opportunity to show how good they are as a team".

• He is urging his players to "take the handbrake off and have a go" while also being "better in both boxes" when Rangers visit Pittodrie.

• Leven gave support to under-fire Dimitar Mitov, saying "goalkeepers make mistakes" but stressing "he's a top, top goalkeeper" and "we're all behind him".

• On sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel joining him in the dugout at Ibrox, Leven says it is "quite refreshing" and adds: "I don't know why we are making a big deal out of it. There is absolutely no problem."

• On whether the week-long snowy conditions in the north east have disrupted his team's preparations, Leven says "it has not been ideal" but insists they have been able to train properly indoors at the Aberdeen Sports Village.

• Team news: Adil Aouchiche is back in training and in contention for Sunday's game.

Image source, Getty Images

Bochum head coach Uwe Rosler is a leading candidate for the vacant Aberdeen job, while former Hamburg and Cologne boss Markus Gisdol, who recently left Kayserisspor in Turkey, is also in the mix. (Daily Record), external

Blackpool, Gillingham, Rotherham United, Stevenage, Stockport County and Wigan Athletic are interested in unhappy Aberdeen striker Kusini Yengi, while fellow Australian Nicolas Milanovic is also attracting interest, but midfielder Leighton Clarkson could yet remain following exit of manager Jimmy Thelin. (Press & Journal), external

Aberdeen striker Ester Sokler looks set to remain on loan at Radnicki 1923 Kragujevac despite the 26-year-old's six goals in 11 starts for the Serbian top-flight club. (Press & Journal), external

We asked for your views on what business Aberdeen should do in the January transfer window.

Here's what you had to say:

Arch: There are vacancies all over the park but the most essential is a goalkeeper. Dimitar Mitov makes some great saves but he makes just as many costly blunders. We need a more complete keeper. The other essential is a striker who can score consistently. I'll never understand why they signed Kevin Nisbet when they could have had Oday Dabbagh.

Alasdair: A miracle… if not then at least a striker who can actually find the back of the net. Defenders who are less likely to spring a leak like frozen winter pipes. Oh and not on a whim, but a properly researched manager. So not too much then.

Stuart: I would like to see Craig Gordon coming in on loan from Hearts and get Ester Sokler back from his loan club.

Neil: I would not be too hasty to get rid of too many players for the sake of squad size yet. However, another goalkeeper in the squad is a must and there are a few players not getting game-time who should be moved on (Kusini Yengi, Peter Ambrose). Shoring up the defence with a decent centre-back who can marshal the backline and a stronger and more aggressive central midfielder would be my call.

David: Squad is far too big, clearout of all fringe players needed giving more chances to our great young players coming through the academy. More settled starting 11 would give a better chance for us to be more consistent going forward.

Justin: Aberdeen need a proven goalscorer, centre midfielders and centre-half at least. This is the time to get players with a good track record that are generals on the pitch.

Fred: Definitely two experienced strikers, a seasoned, hard-tackling creative midfielder, an experienced centre-back and a goalkeeper. Offloading many players not good enough to get a game can provide the funds.

Niall: Mitov was hero in the cup final shootout but his form has dipped badly in recent weeks where he costs at least a goal a game. This has a huge impact on the team's confidence so he needs to be replaced urgently by an experienced keeper.

Image source, SNS

• Since Danny Rohl joined the club in October, Rangers have the most wins (10), points (32), and goals (24) of any Scottish Premiership side, while only Motherwell have conceded fewer goals (4) in the competition than the Ibrox club (8) in this time.

• Aberdeen have lost their past three league matches, all without scoring, but haven't lost four in a row without finding the net since December 2010.

• After only winning five of their opening 14 league games of the season (D8 L1), Rangers have since won six of their past seven (L1), and are looking to win five successive Premiership matches for the first time since February 2025.

• This will be the second Premiership match between Aberdeen and Rangers this week. It's the first time both sides have faced the same opponent consecutively in the league within a single season since April/May 2023, when they also faced each other twice in a row.

• Rangers have won their past two league meetings with Aberdeen by an aggregate score of 6-0, but haven't won three in a row without conceding against the Dons in the top flight since August 2011.

Recently sacked Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin is a possible candidate for Western Sydney Wanderers in Australia's A-League. (Codesports - subscription required), external

Former Hearts and Dundee United boss Csaba Lazlo has expressed his interest in the the vacancy at Aberdeen. (Press & Journal - subscription required), external

Image source, SNS

Stuart Armstrong believes Aberdeen will be driven by frustration when they face Rangers for the second time this week on Sunday.

The Ibrox side travel north having won 2-0 in Glasgow on Tuesday thanks to headers from Emmanuel Fernandez and Nicolas Raskin.

The Dons missed several chances though as Peter Leven took interim charge for the first time since Jimmy Thelin's dismissal.

When asked if Aberdeen would be fired up for a second crack at Danny Rohl's side, Armstrong said: "Yeah, especially with the feeling we came away with on Tuesday night of we can create chances, we probably should score a goal or two.

"And that hurts and that's something we'll carry into Sunday with the added belief that we should maybe take a bit more, and obviously learn from Tuesday night and where we can improve. I think there's some positives to take.

"If you look at the chances we created, we probably should come away with at least one goal, maybe two.

"So I don't want to be too negative about the performance because I think the performance overall, we knew it was going to be tough.

"I think we fixed our press in the second half, it got better. But there's definitely things to learn, obviously disappointed with the two set-pieces.

"In open play I don't think they created too much. So there's definitely some positives to take and things to learn."

Aberdeen are yet to conduct any January business, but sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel has suggested there will be incomings and outgoings.

So, which positions need strengthened at the managerless Dons?

Who would you look to see brought in - and who should be shipped out?

Send us your thoughts here.

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

There was no caretaker manager bounce for Aberdeen at Ibrox.

Following Jimmy Thelin's dismissal, Peter Leven's latest interim stint began with the Dons' fifth defeat in a six-game winless run as they fell to a meek 2-0 loss to Rangers.

It's now three defeats on the bounce in the Premiership, all without Aberdeen even registering a goal. A run of 335 scoreless minutes.

What's more, they've now failed to score in nine of their 21 league games, the poorest record in the Premiership.

Overall they've netted 20 times - a serious underperformance on their xG (expected goals) of 26.36 - while only Kilmarnock (19) and Dundee (19) have scored fewer in the same amount of league outings.

Could their strikers be the problem?

Kevin Nisbet joined Aberdeen permanently in September having spent last term on loan at Pittodrie. Marko Lazetic made the move from AC Milan in the summer while Kusini Yengi switched from Portsmouth. But none of the strikers have set the heather alight in the north east, mustering just five league goals between them.

Four of those have come from Lazetic, who has at least outperformed his xG of 2.51. The striker has had 11 shots, six on target, and five big chances, of which he's scored three.

Nisbet has netted just once in 18 Premiership appearances - but it's not down to a lack of trying. He's had 15 shots, seven on target, and three big chances - all of which he's missed. He's also managed 49 touches in opposition boxes and generated an xG of 2.02.

With Yengi looking surplus to requirements, and Nisbet and Lazetic struggling for goals, might the Dons be in the market for a striker this month?

We asked for your thoughts after Peter Leven's interim Aberdeen tenure began with a 2-0 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox.

Here are some of your comments:

John: Something seriously wrong with our recruitment strategy. It's like our objective was to recruit as many weak-minded players as possible. The cosy culture at the club has to change quickly.

Karl: It was a terrible performance at Ibrox, one of the worst this season. The squad is simply substandard - Jimmy Thelin was outdone by poor recruitment. Where we go from here is anybody's guess.

Euan: Plenty of chances to score but confidence is clearly low up front. Dimitar Mitov needs a spell on the bench. Fantastic shot-stopper but prone to game-losing errors which has cost too many points this season.

Brucie: It wasn't great - but I'd suggest it was already an improvement. We did create chances and really should have taken some of them. Rangers' best player, though, was Dimi Mitov, unfortunately. Calling Craig Gordon!

Justin: A lack of intensity, quality and desire is plain to see. although we could have had a point if we'd taken our chances which is incredible. I think a performance of a totally different type is needed in the reverse fixture. The players need to step up.

Eric: The score didn't reflect the chances overall but we failed to take ours. Peter Leven would have learned a lot about several players and I would expect two or three changes for the next game, especially in midfield. Generally some good signs of more fight from the majority of the team. I really hope we give Peter a good run at this, he deserves the chance, and I like the way he comes across.

Watch the best of the action as Rangers ease past managerless Aberdeen to leapfrog Celtic and move up to second in the Scottish Premiership. (Available to UK users only)

Former Aberdeen captain and manager Willie Miller urges the club to abandon three-year projects with future managerial appointments. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Interim manager Peter Leven expects Aberdeen to be better when they host Rangers on Sunday. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen interim manager Peter Leven: "I saw a team that were fighting, front-footed, creating chances. But we still come away with nothing.

"That's something I told them, at this club we need to be getting at least a point at places like this or taking all three.

"We had the clearer chances. We had four or five in the second half. We'll have to sit down and see how we can get better. The boys will get confidence from that."

On sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel joining him on the dugout, he says: "It was fine, he's a football man, another voice, another opinion, someone to bounce ideas off."

Leven adds that he thinks he will be in charge for the repeat of this fixture at Pittodrie this weekend.

Rangers strolled to victory over dismal and managerless Aberdeen to move above Celtic and just three points behind leaders Hearts in the Scottish Premiership.

Have your say on Aberdeen's performance.

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen are in "safe hands" with Peter Leven, who will be keen to stake a claim for the manager's job on a permanent basis, says former Dons striker Lee Miller.

Following Scottish Cup-winning manager Jimmy Thelin's sacking on Sunday, Leven begins his latest interim tenure in tonight's trip to face Rangers.

Leven, 42, previously won six of his 12 games in caretaker charge in the first half of 2024.

"It'll be interesting to see who gets that job," Miller told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"But it'll be in safe hands just now with Peter Leven. He's done that before.

"He's steadied the ship before and done well for them. He'll probably feel he might want the job. He might feel as if he can do a job up there. So we'll see what happens with that."

Miller is impressed by the ruthlessness of Dons sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel, who joined the club in late October and will lead the search for Thelin's replacement.

Pfannenstiel has indicated the club will seek a manager who has "a connection to Scottish football".

"Thelin will always be known as the manager that won the Scottish Cup," Miller added.

"The Aberdeen fans I have spoken to are like, he's a really good guy, he's done well for us, he won the Scottish Cup, but he just wasn't good enough.

"He couldn't get the best out of that team. And they have spent money, they have got a good squad, I just don't think they're firing on all cylinders.

"Pfannenstiel, I read his comments after it [Thelin's sacking]. It was pretty interesting because he's saying they want a high-pressing, hard-working and high-intensity team and he's willing to rock the boat to get that. Suss out players this next six months, they've got six months to prove themselves.

"I thought that was quite strong because at the end of the day they need to get players out and that's what he said as well, they've got too big a squad, so they need to get players out before they get players in."

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

"We want this appointment to anchor the club for years to come to create something special at Aberdeen. That will take time, we understand that."

The words of Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack as he announced the impending arrival of Jimmy Thelin as the Pittodrie club's 25th full-time manager in April 2024.

And as Thelin departs, part of what Cormack said came to spectacular fruition as the Swede wrote himself into the club's history books with last season's Scottish Cup triumph.

Despite that, the fact it has come to an end as we move into 2026 is no real surprise despite that seminal day in May that brought so much joy to the Granite City and to a generation of Dons fans who had never experienced such elation.

The club have reluctantly made this decision. They were desperate for Thelin to work, but there was a feeling things were drifting and, crucially, that the manager was given as much time as he could possibly have been to turn around what has been a pretty dreadful campaign so far.

The 47-year old won just 22 of his 58 league matches in charge, with 10 of those victories crammed into his first 11 amid that spectacular start to his Pittodrie career.

The writing appeared to be on the wall after Saturday's defeat at Falkirk that left Aberdeen eighth in the league with Thelin's post-match comments about egos in the team alluding to troubles in the camp.

When his predecessor Barry Robson was sacked, the club cited their league position at the time, also eighth, as one of the reasons for the decision. Faced with the same lowly standing, they acted.

Had the board felt there was scope for improvement they would have stuck with him, but it had become untenable given, not just results, but also insipid, lacklustre and frankly boring performances.

So, what now? The Dons are hoping to move swiftly for a successor but will not be rushed into a decision as Peter Leven prepares for yet another interim stint in charge, starting with the game against Rangers in Glasgow tonight.

While a style of play will be at the top of their wishlist, personality alongside management style will also be heavily considered before they move for what will be their sixth full-time boss in five years.

Despite the sackings of their two foreign managers, Ebbe Skovdahl in 2002 and Thelin now, the club will not rule out looking beyond these shores again.

Another immediate concern is the expensively-assembled squad Thelin leaves behind, which has underperformed and contributed to the underwhelming nature of a season that has cost another Pittodrie incumbent his job.

With the transfer window open and the club without a manager, the strategic management will have to be on point this month if something is to be salvaged from the latest season of disequilibrium.

Glen Schreuder
Fan writer

Perhaps Jimmy Thelin's final comments about egos was a parting shot at a talented group of players whose quality has been found wanting.

It's never nice to see a manager lose their job, but making this change at the start of the January window as opposed to the end - as we have seen previously - makes sense.

Now it's over to sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel to find a replacement. It will be interesting to see whether it's another manager brought in to meet the board's requirement to play attractive attacking football.

It's not often you see a manager comment on their sacking, but Jimmy's classy comments sum him up.

I'll always be thankful for that day in May last year. The club's first Scottish Cup success in 35 years is a memory that will live long and cements Jimmy's place in Dons history.

I wish it could have worked out, but thank you for the memories, Jimmy. You'll always have a special place in our history.

To Dave Cormack, Pfannenstiel and co - it's time to get this appointment correct.

Glen Schreuder can be found at Red Tinted Glasses, external

Andrew Southwick
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel has been speaking to club media following manager Jimmy Thelin's departure on Sunday.

Here's a flavour of what Pfannenstiel had to say...

• Performances over the past four games were pivotal in deciding to sack Thelin.

• The personality of the next manager needs to "reflect a certain emotion and a certain fire, which I think is extremely important to get this team going and get the players behind you".

• Pfannenstiel won't put a timescale on appointing a new manager, saying: "It could be six days, it could be six weeks, it could be six months."

• The sporting director has told the players they have six months to "prove themselves", alluding to the squad having good individuals but not "necessarily" being a good team.

• And he says "don't be surprised if we are looking for more Scottish players in the transfer market".

• Among the names who have already applied for the managerial vacancy, Pfannenstiel says "there is some big names, there is some surprising names, there is some terrible names, there is all nationalities".

• Defender Alfie Dorrington has returned to Tottenham following his second loan spell and Pfannenstiel suggests "a few more players will leave in the next few days".

Image source, SNS

• Rangers have only lost their first home league game in one of the past 40 calendar years (W33 D6), going down 2-0 to Celtic in 2011. The Ibrox club have won the past five occasions their first such match of a year has been against Aberdeen, each without conceding.

• Rangers have won seven of their past eight home games against Aberdeen in all competitions, including their latest four in a row since a 3-1 reverse in September 2023.

• Aberdeen have only won one of their past six league meetings with Rangers (D2 L3), and could lose back-to-back Scottish Premiership clashes with them for the first time since December 2022 (three in a row).

• After only winning two of their first seven home league games of this season (D4 L1), Rangers have since won their past three at Ibrox.

• Aberdeen have only won one of their last 11 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games (D2 L8), a 1-0 victory away to Kilmarnock in October.

Image source, SNS

Rangers defender Nasser Djiga is at the Africa Cup of Nations. Derek Cornelius, Nedim Bajrami and Oliver Antman remain out with muscle injuries.

Aberdeen have a fitness doubt over Adil Aouchiche and are still missing defenders Gavin Molloy and Kristers Tobers with knee injuries.