New Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin says 'being strong together' is key to success

By Ewan Harvey

New Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin is excited to get started at Pittodrie after leaving Allsvenskan side Elfsborg for the Premiership club.

The Dons ended a largely disappointing season in seventh place after going through three different managers starting with Barry Robson and ending with Peter Leven as caretaker following a short stint by veteran Englishman Neil Warnock.

But Thelin, who officially started in his new role on Monday, has belief in the players and staff at the club and insists they can do “good things together”.

The 46-year-old took Elfsborg to second place in the Swedish top-flight and a place in next season’s Europa League qualifiers.

And he is hopeful of bringing European football back to Aberdeen and says the key to success is “being strong together”.

He said: “I am really looking forward to starting work there, I feel like the culture and passion at the club is really strong and I am looking towards a really nice future with the people of Aberdeen.

“I believe in Aberdeen and the staff and the players, that we are going to do good things together, but we have to have a direction and put together step by step and piece by piece.

“Monday is the first day of the contract and we have some things to do together, it’s going to be fine.

“It’s not all about me, it’s the things we do together, we are going to use everyone and do it together.

“That is the key to success, to be strong together and I am looking forward to that.”

He also spoke about how impressed he is with the city and believes the infamously dreich weather won’t be an issue.

He said: “I am from Sweden, we also have a different kind of weather here also so that part of it is going to be quite easy and I think it is an amazing city, so I am going to enjoy it.”