Aberdeen have already been inundated with applications for their managerial vacancy following Jimmy Thelin's sacking on Sunday. (Record), external
Interim manager Peter Leven is unsure whether sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel will be in the Aberdeen dugout with him for Tuesday's Scottish Premiership match against Rangers at Ibrox. (Record), external
Image source, SNSAberdeen legend Willie Miller says it was "inevitable" Jimmy Thelin was relieved of his duties as manager after another poor run of form.
The Dons have struggled for consistency all season and the Swede was dismissed on Sunday after defeat by Falkirk made it five games without a win.
Having made an electric start to his first campaign, Thelin was unable to maintain those levels but won the Scottish Cup in May to cement his place in Aberdeen history.
"When results and performances aren't at the level expected with the investment that's been made, the inevitable happens and the manager loses his job," Miller told BBC Scotland.
"It's OK putting forward a three-year project, but if you're at a club like Aberdeen, you're not going to get time. It's about results and performances.
"Jimmy Thelin had that at the start of his tenure. Having watched him struggle through this season, it's not surprising."
Miller does not think Aberdeen should be deterred from looking overseas for their next manager, despite Thelin's dismissal.
"The job now is to find the right candidate," he said. "The decision-making has not been great in recent years in terms of managers.
"I've watched Aberdeen be outplayed by clubs with lesser resources - Falkirk being one.
"I don't see any reason why not to look abroad. There are plenty of tools there for the club to research these things.
"I'm sure the club will have plenty of candidates and hopefully they are successful this time."
We asked for your views on Jimmy Thelin's departure from Aberdeen.
Here's what some of you said:
Angus: The issue was not Thelin, it was the higher ups at the club consistently failing to sign the players that Jimmy wanted and needed to succeed. The notion that Jimmy has been "backed" is simply false, demonstrated by the shambolic departure of Steven Gunn, showing that the club clearly failed to adequately support Jimmy in the way he needed. Questions must be asked of Dave Cormack, as that is the fifth manager in as many years that he has been sacked. If he fails again to hire a manager that can work with him and the club, he must leave.
Mark: I feel it was inevitable as in the league under Thelin we have been up and down and never knew what way we were trying to play, with a lot of the players that have been brought in being similar types. I think we need a clear-out of some of the players that have been present while a number of managers have come and gone which is no coincidence, time for the club to have a look at what is happening behind the scenes, players, recruitment and everything as it doesn't seem to be aligned. For new manager go and get the Motherwell manager now as he is working wonders on smaller budget.
Craig: Never take pleasure in seeing someone lose their job but the writing was on the wall. For the quality of players we have on the park and the budget he has access to, we should not be sitting eighth. He'll always be remembered for the Scottish Cup, just as Derek McInnes will be remembered for the League Cup, but definitely time for someone to come and shake up that squad.
Andy: Thelin looked good on paper and talked a good story but never managed to get the best out of his players. The messages were there after the Falkirk performance - they had given up on him. Let's hope the board dig deep to bring in Jens Berthel Askou.
Graeme: I think everyone wanted Jimmy to succeed and that's reflected in the time and money he was given to spend. Imagine if McInnes was given that money! Where next? This one has to be right to get the club back winning games in style. Is it too much to ask for Askou?
Finn: Aberdeen were used to finishing second or third in the league pretty much every season but we just can't seem to replace Mclnnes. Don't know what route is going to be taken next because everything has been tried. David Martindale?
Robert: It's always regretful when someone loses their job. However, for whatever reason, there has to have been something not right to have got to this stage. I would be happy for Peter Leven to be given an opportunity. If he shows he is up to the job, then brilliant. A knee-jerk reaction right now is not the answer. Aberdeen are a better club than to clutch at straws. I hope they can steer into calmer waters soon.
Evan: A bit surprised at the timing, as I feel Thelin still could have turned it around over the next few matches. Leven would be top of my list as the replacement. He deserves a chance to have full control of the team and show what he can do.
'I can't control Aberdeen links' - St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson
Manager Stephen Robinson has been speaking to the media before St Mirren's Scottish Premiership trip to Livingston on Tuesday.
Here are the key lines:
The St Mirren boss says it's "nice" to be linked with jobs, such as the vacant Aberdeen role, but his sole focus is on his team.
Robinson insists speculation about his future "doesn't turn my head", saying: "I've been linked with every job in Scotland, England, Ireland."
"What you also have to remember is somebody's lost their job, which is horrible," he adds. "It's a horrible industry. It's certainly not for me to talk about anybody else's job."
Robinson says he cannot control reports and he is "certainly not complicating the job" he has in Paisley.
"We need to do basics well here and that's my main focus," he says.
The former Motherwell boss concedes St Mirren "are in a relegation battle" but winning their two games in hand could put them "on the verge of the top six again".
On what he can achieve at St Mirren after multiple top-six finishes and cup glory, he adds: "The biggest thing that has to happen in this football club is staying in this division."
"People get carried away with what we've done and how we've done it," he says. "But that doesn't change the fact that success is to stay in this division."
Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland
Club legend, but right time to go?
That's the thought process currently running through the minds of many Aberdeen fans following the news of Jimmy Thelin's departure.
For a generation of Dons supporters, the Swede was responsible for orchestrating arguably their finest day in last May's Scottish Cup triumph against Celtic.
With the Glasgow club chasing a domestic treble, Thelin formulated a plan to nullify Brendan Rodgers' men to take a nerve-shredding 1-1 game to extra time.
Penalties would follow, with goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov earning himself legendary status at Pittodrie, along with Thelin.
The 47-year-old and chairman Dave Cormack referenced that iconic day at Hampden in the club statement confirming the manager's departure.
What was also pointed out, though, was a troubling run of form stretching back many months. May's cup glory perhaps papered over those cracks.
A record-breaking start to last term had Aberdeen fans dreaming of a title charge before their form fell off a cliff, and it hasn't really picked up since.
Since the final win, Thelin managed just eight wins from 30 games across all competitions, with the Dons currently eighth in the Scottish Premiership table.
The fact there was even sight of quotes from Thelin in Aberdeen's statement highlights his class, saying he accepted the decision and took a share of responsibility.
And in years to come, that class and that day at the national stadium will be the memories that stand the test of time.
"When you're asking how will Thelin be remembered, it's for winning the Scottish Cup and giving a generation of supporters the best day of their lives," says The Times' Scottish football correspondent Michael Grant.
Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, he adds: "At the moment there's a bit of rawness and some fans have, I think, turned on him.
"I think it's divided, and there's been a reluctance to turn on him because there's such respect and affection for the guy for what he did last May.
"And that will be the prevailing memory of Jimmy Thelin at Aberdeen."
Sacked Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin was targeting Dundee defender Luke Graham, 21, before being dismissed. (Sun), external
Aberdeen legend Joe Harper says his former club had no choice but to sack Thelin. (Press and Journal), external
Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSJimmy Thelin's 18-month spell in charge of Aberdeen can be described as a real football rollercoaster - one which reached the ultimate high, last season's Scottish Cup glory, but which also plunged to some real lows.
The appointment of the Swede in the summer of 2024 was widely welcomed as a move showing the club were thinking out of the box. He arrived in Scotland with a big managerial reputation back in his homeland but he's just not been able to succeed in the Scottish Premiership.
It is hard to put your finger on exactly why - he has certainly been backed financially, more than any other Aberdeen manager.
Despite that, his teams have consistently failed to deliver – a fifth placed Premiership finish last season and their current position of eighth bearing testament to that.
He brought in a lot of players – a few, the likes of Peter Ambrose and Kusini Yengi, have seen barely any game time, while a lot of the others have, so far, failed to impress. The football that has been served up has also been a tough watch.
While fans and boards of directors can accept losing if there is a clear sign of progress, they won't accept it if there is little, or no, evidence that the team is heading in the right direction. That was the point the Red Army, and the Pittodrie powerbrokers, were at.
Has all of the above been down to coaching, tactics or recruitment? Possibly a bit of everything. The only surprise is perhaps that it has taken so long for the change to be made.
There have been a number of points during this campaign where I have walked away from post-match interviews with Thelin thinking he was a beaten man and his time was up, but he managed to soldier on – until now.
I will remember him as being a thoroughly nice man – but being nice doesn't win you football matches. Maybe he was too nice, who knows.
It will be fascinating to see the route the club now go down as they seek to bring in their 26th permanent manager. That process will be led by recently appointed sporting director Lutz Pfannensteil. The German's arrival was accompanied by a lot of talk about his global network of contacts.
Given that, will the Dons go international again – or can the solution to their managerial conundrum be found much closer to home? We will find out over the coming weeks.
Image source, SNSAberdeen chairman Dave Cormack: "In wishing Jimmy [Thelin] and [assistant coach] Christer [Persson] the very best for the future, I want to thank them for delivering our first Scottish Cup win in 35 years last May.
"These memories will last a lifetime, and Jimmy will be forever etched into Aberdeen's history for delivering such a special day for our supporters, as only one of six Aberdeen managers to win the Scottish Cup in our storied 122-year history.
"However, after significant investment in recent windows, we have not kicked on in the way we hoped or expected following that success.
"We have tried to give the situation as much time as possible, but recent performances have been significantly below the standards we expect, and we believe it is now right to take a different direction."
Image source, SNSFormer Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "Today my time as manager at Aberdeen comes to an end. It is with great respect for this historic club that I accept this decision.
"Results ultimately decide the tenure of this profession, and as such I take my share of responsibility.
"I believe wholly in the work that was done; however, football doesn't always allow time for belief to become results.
"I would like to thank the players for their commitment and effort during my time as their coach, and the staff who worked every day with loyalty and pride.
"I would also like to thank the supporters. Your passion for your team never waivers, even in disappointment.
"Aberdeen will forever be a part of my journey, and it has been an honour to lead this great club and share that memorable day together at Hampden.
"I leave wishing success to everyone involved both on and off the pitch."
Highlights: Falkirk 1-0 Aberdeen
Watch highlights of the game that ended Jimmy Thelin's Aberdeen tenure.
The Dons were consigned to a ninth Scottish Premiership defeat of the season by Falkirk on Saturday.
Failing to register a single shot on target, Filip Lissah's header was enough to inflict another loss on Thelin's side.
The Swede leaves Pittodrie with the team sitting eighth in the top-flight table.
Available in UK only
Seven months after leading Aberdeen to a historic Scottish Cup triumph, manager Jimmy Thelin has departed the club.
A ninth league defeat of the season at Falkirk on Saturday proved to be the Swede's final match in charge of the Pittodrie side.
Dons fans, where do you go from here? Who do you want next? And how will you remember Thelin's time in charge?
We asked for your thoughts after Aberdeen's 1-0 defeat to Falkirk.
Here's a taste of what you had to say:
Ian: It's time for this useless manager to call it a day. The players don't know each other, he never plays the same team twice. The stats against Falkirk are an absolute disgrace. The wages we pay should make us at least be able to compete with them. This could be Aberdeen's first relegation from the top flight, they are the worst team in the league. One final moan, why doesn't Leighton Clarkson get a game? He's the most talented player there.
Chris: The mentality of Jimmy Thelin was summed up by the introduction of Sivert Heltne Nilsen, we won't win so don't lose. No clear plan of how to beat a much better Falkirk team and we were lucky to get off with a 1-0 defeat. Excluding Graeme Shinnie and Stuart Armstrong we offered so little and no threat at all. I have had enough of this manager and with Rangers to come twice there are no points coming any time soon. Even Dave Cormack must have had enough of this toothless team.
Mike: Thelin out and get Peter Leven back before he leaves for another manager's job.
Paul: Thelin making sure Aberdeen are so bad in the first half so he can claim that his substitutes were the reason for a much-improved second half - genius!
Paul: Thirteen new players brought in four months ago with millions spent and we can't even get a shot on target? Thelin thinks the answer is to sign more players, no thanks, new manager needed ASAP.
Falkirk charged back into the Scottish Premiership top six with a narrow win over Aberdeen that doomed the visitors to a fifth game without a win.
Image source, SNSAberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "I won't talk much about the game, but more about ourselves. The desire, there's too many individual decisions.
"Football is more than technique and systems. It's how you act on the football pitch. It's about responsibility. We've been here before, we've bounced back, but now we're back some steps again.
"Even if you don't have the perfect game, it should always feel like we give the fans everything, and right now we aren't doing that. That's not good enough.
"I'm the manager, I'm responsible, but sometimes the players have to look in the mirror and know what football is about.
"We had some good crosses today but we weren't close to using these opportunities. We have to drop our egos and play much better as a team.
"The second half, we start okay but in these small situations, the opponents win. We get beat, and down in these moments. We have to change this mentality."
Midfielder Leighton Clarkson and striker Kusini Yengi are both open to a move away from Aberdeen in January, having struggled to secure regular game time this season. (Press & Journal), external
Former Dundee manager Neil McCann is being considered for the vacancy at Kilmarnock along with Aberdeen coach Peter Leven and former Dundee United and Heart of Midlothian boss Robbie Neilson. (Scottish Sun), external
Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.
Image source, SNSFalkirk have striker Barney Stewart in their squad after a prolific loan spell with Dunfermline while Coll Donaldson is pushing for a comeback.
Gary Oliver (hamstring), Ross MacIver (ankle), Lewis Neilson (ankle) and Tom Lang (foot) are all due to return in January.
Aberdeen defenders Gavin Molloy and Kristers Tobers are still out with knee injuries.
Image source, SNSFalkirk have won four and lost just one of their past six league meetings with Aberdeen (D1), winning their first clash this season 1-0 in August.
This will be Aberdeen's first league visit to Falkirk since February 2010, losing 3-1 under Mark McGhee despite taking a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute.
Falkirk haven't lost their first January match in any of their last four years as a top-flight side (W2 D2), most recently drawing 1-1 with Celtic in 2010. Their last such defeat was in 2006 (1-2 v Dundee United).
Aberdeen lost their opening league game of 2025 2-1 to Ross County; they haven't lost their league opener in back-to-back calendar years since doing so in 1999 (v St Johnstone) and 2000 (v Rangers).
Only Alexandros Kyziridis (28) and Reo Hatate (27) have created more chances from open play than Aberdeen's Stuart Armstrong (25) in the Scottish Premiership this season.
