Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie an emotional wreck following Scottish Cup win
The Dons skipper slumped to his knees in tears of joy on the Hampden turf after finally lifting silverware with his home town club following the penalty shootout victory against Celtic.
He was joined on the Hampden pitch by his daughters Penelope and Verity for the celebrations and he was delighted to make the moment a family affair.
Shinnie said: 'I'm not really an emotional person so I got a telling off from my wife because I didn't get emotional on my wedding day.
'But when Dimi (Mitov) saved that penalty to win the Scottish Cup I couldn't stop greeting.
'It was a really, really special day.
'Ten years ago (when Shinnie won the Scottish Cup with Caley Thistle) my youngest wasn't born and my eldest was four months, so she won't remember it.
'I promised them we'd make those memories and it was wonderful.
'My youngest didn't really care all that much but my eldest took it all in and really enjoyed the day.
'She likes the attention she was getting, it was special to share it with my family.'
The captain has made no secret of his desire to lead the Dons to cup glory and as he reflected on a momentous weekend which included an open top bus parade through the city, the smile was still etched on his face.
The scenes of joy among the Dons supporters were soon followed by the post-final celebrations back in the Granite City.
For the Dons captain and his team-mates it's fair to say Saturday was a night none of them will forget – even if they are still nursing the sore heads to go with it.
A hoarse Shinnie said: 'The night was as good as expected – my voice proves that.
'I didn't have to buy a drink all night – and that keeps an Aberdonian happy.
'The scenes in the city were incredible, these were the moments I told the players we could enjoy.
'The city was bouncing, everything I thought it would be.
'The Scottish Cup hasn't been in Aberdeen for so long, it means so much to the punters and everyone who backs us.
'These are memories which will last a lifetime. We've achieved it and we're enjoying it.
'The bus journey back up from Glasgow on Saturday night was carnage, as you would expect.
'There was a lot of singing, champagne everywhere. I felt bad for the driver because he would have had to clean it.
'We came back to Pittodrie and the cup stayed there, I don't think the club would have trusted me with it. I doubt it would have been here today.'
Scottish Cup glory was the aim for the Dons and their manager Jimmy Thelin but the added reward of guaranteed group stage football in Europe next season also comes with the victory over Celtic on Saturday.
Europe had not been a motivating factor for Shinnie as the cup itself was more than enough.
But that does not mean he is not looking forward to the fruits of his side's labour at the National Stadium next season.
He said: 'What we've done will sink in, it still feels a bit surreal to say I've won the Scottish Cup with Aberdeen to be honest.
'But when it does start sinking in, we'll think about Europe because that's a massive thing or this club as well.
'European group stage football is where we want to be and we have that to look forward to now.
'The last time, we had great games like Eintracht Frankfurt away and PAOK away, which were brilliant games to be involved in.
'The fans love those trips and I'm sure they'll be ready to travel in big numbers with us again like they always do.'
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