Jimmy Thelin has expressed confidence he will be afforded sufficient time to construct an exciting future for Aberdeen, despite the club’s recent chaotic managerial history.
The Swedish coach was finally unveiled at Pittodrie yesterday following a courting process that began as far back as February 2023 in the wake of Jim Goodwin’s dismissal.
The current Dundee United boss lasted no more than a year in the job - meeting a similar fate to predecessor Stephen Glass and, ultimately, Barry Robson.
Interim appointment Neil Warnock left after a month late last season while the wait for Thelin went on and Peter Leven played caretaker once again.
Thelin was unperturbed by that rapid turnover and intent on rewarding chairman Dave Cormack’s emotional and financial investment.
The 46-year-old said: “We’ve had a good talk and have good relations and it’s such a positive that he has this drive and passion about making progress.
“But, also, we talk about the timeline. We need to take it step by step. When you change things, try to add things, it can be really exciting in the beginning.
“But, still, you really have to support the journey and do it together. It’s most important that everyone sees there is progress. That it is getting better.
“There will be some bumps along the way but, hopefully, we can still get higher and higher - stronger and stronger.
“If they see that, I think the time will be there. Anything you create that’s going to be consistent over time, usually you must take the time to become robust.
“It’s not easy to build quickly; usually that breaks down quite quickly also. The idea we have now is to build from a structure, a solid base.
“Try and be a bit better in how we train, be better in every window, and help the young guys in the youth team arrive to the first team.
“To do that, we need this time. Hopefully we can get it, that’s how we see things.”
On Aberdeen’s radar for over a year, Thelin had plenty of time to consider the club and prime himself for the possible transition to Scottish football.
He only lost out on landing last year’s Swedish title to Malmo on goal difference with Elfsborg and stressed that the job he held for six seasons remained his focus.
However, more recently, many late nights were spent doing his homework on the Dons after his switch to Pittodrie had been agreed.
“I had a contract with Elfsborg and I always try to be loyal to where I am,” he explained.
“It’s important for me how you arrive at a club but also how you leave a club.
“I wanted to be direct with my chairman at Elfsborg and the players who I worked with for so many years.
“They could not say when I was leaving that I didn’t do my job. But, of course, during the night you can read a little bit and try to understand. You have some talks, of course.
“There were quite long days sometimes in the last few weeks. I was up really late some nights.
“I was then in Paris with my children and my wife for a short vacation. When the children fell asleep, the computer went up. I saw my children in Paris but not my wife. But she knows…”
Aberdeen reached the League Cup Final, losing to Rangers, and the Scottish Cup semifinals where they took eventual winners Celtic to penalties.
Yet seventh in the Premiership was ranked ‘unacceptable’ by chief executive Alan Burrows and Thelin’s immediate task will be to ensure there is no threat of a repeat.
Speaking in the Legends Lounge of the Richard Donald Stand, Thelin said: “My idea as coach is that I never look back. I don’t think about what has happened.
“The thing you can manage is what you do in the future. You can learn from the past sometimes.
“In this case, we can look at the walls here and see some amazing things. But I can’t put that pressure on the players I have now; we can’t be responsible for that.
“We need to take a little bit off the shoulders. Okay, we can be really proud that we have a job here and take responsibility for that.
“I can’t put that standard on the players from Day One. But I’ve already met fans in the city, I like Pittodrie and this history.
“I feel it. We can use it in a good way. But now we have to make our story.”
Thelin checked in with Celtic defender Gustaf Lagerbielke to draw on his experiences of the Scottish Premiership.
However, he already possessed a good feeling about Pittodrie having discussed the job before Robson was promoted from caretaker to permanent boss in the spring of 2023.
“It was more like an informal meeting to start too know each other,” he revealed.
“Also, from Elfsborg’s point of view, we had a talk, got some experience, then came back and worked.
“It was not like: ‘Now you have to get the job - we will let you go.’ That was good. I’ve come back for one year, more or less.
“Before getting this job, there were other options but I told my agent that we should go for Aberdeen as I still remembered the last time I was there.
“It was that good interaction. Can you give something to them? Can we do something together? Now we have this three-year plan.”
