Latest news with #Thelin
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Aberdeen transfer state of play as striker latest delivered and Jimmy Thelin targets 'new dynamic'
The Dons boss wants another frontman to add to the seven signings he has already made this summer Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin is confident his summer recruitment drive has brought a new dynamic and hunger to his Scottish Cup-winning squad. The Swede has already made significant changes to his team, bringing back Alfie Dorrington on-loan and signing Nicolas Milanovic, Emmanuel Gyamfi, Kusini Yengi, Nick Suman, Kjartan Mar Kjartansson and Adil Aouchiche. Thelin is still looking to add to his squad further with another striker his priority but knows he will have to play the waiting game to get the targets he wants. The Aberdeen boss confirmed: 'You always have to change a little to get a new dynamic and a new hunger. You need to keep the hunger inside the team to create a good healthy competition within a squad. 'Quality is also important but the character and as a player are the most important things. You need to have a good team spirit. Everyone needs to be clear about their role and expectations and the hard work you need as a professional player today and for Aberdeen FC.' The good thing for those who have remained at Pittodrie is that they have got over the line and know what it means to win something with Aberdeen. Thelin knows that will fuel them to even more success and with the added burden of European group stage football. He admitted: 'When you get to a final and you win it, I think the players will grow with this experience. 'They will feel they can do it and there will be more time together. 'It was my first year with the players. I was trying to understand the culture and getting to know everyone in a better way. 'I will try and use the players better with their strengths. 'The energy of the club is so important. 'Throughout the season, even in the tough times, Pittodrie was almost a full house and even in the away games. 'We tried to use that in a positive way and never stop believing. 'A lot of good clubs are trying to challenge for everything. 'This season we go to Europe and have four competitions, the more we are together the stronger we are going to be. 'We have to work hard, believe and push for it.' The go-to word for Thelin last season was 'believe' and that certainly happened as they lifted their first Scottish Cup in 35 years. It provided the fairytale to his first season at Pittodrie. He stated: 'It has been quite an exciting year. It has been a little bit up and a little bit down and, of course, the final was amazing. 'The feelings you feel that day and the days after with the players, staff, fans and people of Aberdeen was one of the best moments of my life, to get exposed to this. 'Especially when you work so hard together. The belief was there the whole season. 'There were some challenging parts but the belief was there. 'We can add and to finish the season in that way was a really happy day for everyone around the club. 'The whole week was trying to remember but sometimes it is difficult because there are so many emotions. The whole week was built-up to the final. We had a tough end to the season and it was how can we win this game? 'The build-up was really good, now you can look after the final. The players stepped forward and weren't hiding. 'They took responsibility and we also changed the system for this game. 'We worked hard in a short space of time to believe we could do it.' The Scottish Cup win is now in the history books and now for the manager it is what his Aberdeen team can do going forward. 'I haven't looked back on last season too much,' the former Elfsborg coach claimed. 'The new season starts soon. 'We are all proud of the cup win but now we plan and hopefully for an even better future. 'I hope we can be better, in some parts of the game where we can control the game a little better. 'I don't want to lose the spirit and intensity of the pressing but to be more stable, especially in the away games.'
Press and Journal
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
EXCLUSIVE: Gothenburg Great Peter Weir on Aberdeen summer signing priorities and why Ipswich friendly brings back great memories
Aberdeen must sign players with 'bottle, commitment and mental strength' during the summer transfer window, insists legend Peter Weir. French attacking midfielder Adil Aouchiche became Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin's sixth signing of the summer when arriving on a season-long loan from Sunderland. Aberdeen have an option to buy the 22-year-old next summer, understood to be for a club record fee of £1.5million. Aouchiche's capture came only days after Thelin signed Iceland midfielder Kjartan Már Kjartansson, 18, on a four-year deal from Stjarnan for an undisclosed fee. Thelin is closing in on more additions to strengthen for a campaign with guaranteed European league action. Gothenburg Great Weir reckons the qualities required to play for Aberdeen were displayed by the Scottish Cup final penalty shoot-out heroes. All four Dons players brilliantly converted their penalties to triumph 4-3 against Celtic in the shoot-out at Hampden. And he reckons Thelin needs more signings this summer. Weir said: 'If Aberdeen can sign players like those who had the battle, commitment and mental strength to take a penalty in a cup final they will be even better in the new season. 'All four players had the bottle to take the penalties, and every spot kick was a 10 out of 10. 'It takes a special player to nominate yourself to hit a penalty in a cup final shoot-out because there is so much pressure. 'And it takes an even better player to be confident enough to strike it … and score.' Weir reckons Thelin's bid to land his top summer signing targets will be boosted by guaranteed Euro league action. The Dons kick-off the continental campaign at the Europa League play-off stage with ties on August 21 and 28. Winning the play-off secures qualification for the lucrative Europa League and eight league games until mid-January. Even if Aberdeen lose the play-off they drop into the Conference League which brings six league games until late December. Weir, 67, said: 'Having European league football will definitely help Aberdeen attract new signings. 'Six signings have been secured so far but they need at least another two or three as a number have left the club. 'Aberdeen must continue to get quality players in to make sure they come out of the summer window even stronger. 'European football is mentally and physically demanding, and you need to get your mind right for that. 'After a Euro game you still have to produce in the league at the weekend for yourself, the club, the fans and your family. 'Involvement in a European league is going to be tough. 'Aberdeen will need a strong squad of 22 to 24 players so Thelin can change the team around and not weaken it. 'Because I felt two seasons ago, they changed one or two players after Euro games (in the Conference League) and they weren't good enough. 'Aberdeen are a big club and won the Scottish Cup by beating Celtic who up until the final looked invincible. 'That will also help them attract and sign better players this summer.' Aberdeen will discover their Europa League play-off opponents when the draw is made on August 4. Pittodrie chairman Dave Cormack and fellow director Tom Crotty recently confirmed a fresh £8million investment into the club. Aberdeen will also receive around £5m in Uefa prize payments for qualifying for the Euro league stage. Legendary winger Weir praised Cormack for bankrolling Thelin's bid to build on the recent Scottish Cup triumph. He said: 'The chairman has done great by providing money to get in signings. 'Aberdeen are lucky to have a chairman like Dave Cormack who is willing to invest in the signing of players. 'There is also the guaranteed money from qualifying for the Euro group stages. 'Aberdeen have to strengthen this summer because they found it hard playing two games a week when in the Conference League two seasons ago. 'They couldn't handle it and it was also the same with Hearts recently. 'It was no different in our day as we would be tired after a Euro game but mentally, we had to push ourselves to get through it. 'You can all be good players, but you have to push yourself to make sure you get the result at the weekend after a European tie. 'That is probably more important because it is the league.' As part of their pre-season preparations Aberdeen will face Ipswich Town at Pittodrie on Friday, July 25. Sir Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen famously knocked UEFA Cup holders Ipswich out of the tournament with a 3-1 win in the Granite City in September 1981. Following a 1-1 draw at Portman Road in the first leg cup holders Ipswich were sent tumbling out by the Dons. Weir was sensational in the second leg and netted two second half goals. The winger had been signed from St Mirren that summer for £330,000, a record transfer fee in Scotland at the time. He said: 'A few months after the game I met Alan Brazil (Ipswich attacker and Scotland international) and talked with him it. 'The feeling I got from Alan was that Ipswich thought 'it's only Aberdeen' and Liverpool smashed them 4-0 the previous year. 'And that Ipswich were Uefa Cup holders and as good as Liverpool so they had no doubt they would go through. 'However, after the first leg we felt there was nothing to fear. 'With the money Aberdeen paid for me I was under a lot of pressure to perform. 'Scoring two goals against a team like Ipswich was a brilliant boost for myself but more importantly the club. 'I remember cameras coming to my house in Bridge of Don at around eight in the morning the next day. 'It was crazy, I had never experienced that before. 'There was a Grampian TV crew wanting to talk to me and I had got up a bit dishevelled after a good party in my house as my family were all up. 'It was wonderful, a great, great night.' Two years after that momentous win against Ipswich the Dons would win two European trophies. Aberdeen won the European Cup Winners' Cup in May 1983 with a 2-1 win after extra-time against Real Madrid in the final. The Gothenburg Greats would secure the Super Cup in December that year by overcoming European Cup winners Hamburg. Aberdeen remains the only Scottish club to have won two European trophies. Weir said: 'The win against Ipswich was the start of something in Europe. 'The European Cup Winners' Cup was fantastic and beating Ipswich certainly gave us a boost as we were a young team. 'Although I got two goals against Ipswich it was always about the team with Ferguson and the rest of the boys. 'That was why we were successful. 'With Ferguson, Archie Knox (assistant manager) and the players it was always about the next game. 'Everything was about winning under Ferguson.'
Daily Record
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Kartan Mar Kjartansson seals Aberdeen transfer as Jimmy Thelin wins race with bigger clubs for Icelandic starlet
The Iceland Under 21 international makes the move from Starjan is his home country and Thelin admits he'll need time to adapt Aberdeen have beaten off stiff competition to land rising Iceland star Kjartan Mar Kjartansson. Dons boss Jimmy Thelin has confirmed that the club have agreed a fee to sign the midfielder on a four year contract from Starjan. The 18-year-old, who is an Icelandic under-21 international, will become the fifth summer signing for the Scottish Cup winners, subject to international clearance and visa requirements. Thelin stated: 'Kjartan is a player who our scouting department have been aware of and tracking for some time. We are pleased to have signed him given the significant interest from some big clubs. 'For a player still so young, he has played an impressive volume of minutes for the first team and the Icelandic youth international squads. 'He has a very good defensive and positional mind for the game. He has performed well for Stjarnan when winning possession back for his team, making key interceptions and protecting the team in transition – all the qualities we look for at the base of our midfield and it' s impressive when you consider his age. 'He is a very exciting talent, but we also know we need to work with him to develop further, and he will take time to adapt to a new club, a new league and a new country. We must be patient; we must nurture him and at times we must protect him to ensure we are able to realise his significant potential.' Kjartsson has played more than 50 first-team games and made his debut when he was 16 and is ready to kick on at Pittodrie after making the move to the Scottish Premiership. He said: 'It's an amazing feeling to sign for such a big club and I just can't wait to get started. 'I got a warm welcome from the guys, and I couldn't have asked for anything more. ' Aberdeen is a big club in Iceland, we know the history with the European cups, so it was an easy decision to come here. 'It's a good move for this stage in my career and I think the Scottish game will suit my style of play. 'I've heard the fans are very passionate, I saw the footage of them after the Scottish Cup win, so I am excited to play in front of them. "It gives me the drive to reach that goal and achieve big things with the club.' Aberdeen are currently in their pre-season camp in Spain. They have already signed Nick Suman, Nicolas Milanovic, Kusini Yengi and Emmanuel Gyamfi.
Daily Record
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Jimmy Thelin on what is next for Aberdeen after 'best moment of my life' Scottish Cup win
The Dons boss has taken inspiration from the historic victory at Hampden Jimmy Thelin has admitted lifting the Scottish Cup win as Aberdeen manager was one of the best days of his life. It is also a major inspiration for him and his players to build on that and try to bring further success to Pittodrie this season. The Swede currently has his new-look squad in Portugal for their pre-season camp, as the Cup holders kick-off preparations for the 2025-26 season. It is just over five weeks since the Dons beat Celtic at Hampden to lift their first trophy in 11 years. It was also Thelin's first major success in management. He has seen what it has meant to everyone connected with the Dons and believes it will be a driver for his team to try to bring even more success going into this campaign, which will also offer European group stage football. Thelin emotionally said: 'I think it was one of the best moments in my life. When you see all these happy faces, not only the players but staff and everybody around. 'The emotions, the chairman, Dave Cormack, Alan Burrows and Steven Gunn, all the people who are working around the club. 'Sharing this together was one of the best moments of my life. 'When you think about it, it is always there in a really good spirit. 'I also know we need to keep working and improving. 'Now we need to look ahead and prepare for a new season. That inspires everyone to try again. 'We know it will be really difficult but we need to try and believe to be the best we can be.' Aberdeen go into the play-off round of the Europa League and regardless of the result will get European group stage football in that or the Conference League. Thelin knows the key is to get the balance right because Aberdeen needs to be competitive on all fronts. The last time the Dons reached the group stages, under Barry Robson, they struggled and that is something Thelin is keen to avoid a repeat of. He can also lean into his experiences with Elfsborg. He said: 'Our away support is incredible. You see how many people come and support us and now we are going to add one more competition. We are going to need them more than ever. 'There are so many competitions to fight for and this extra they give is like a 12th player and is so important. 'I'm so excited for the games in Europe. It is about being as good as we can be so we can be that team that copes with all the competitions and still be competitive in the league every year.' The good thing for Aberdeen is that they will get the chance to get a couple of league games under their belt before they step into the European arena. They kick-off away to Hearts on the opening day. 'It is an exciting start,' Thelin told RedTV. 'It is coming quickly now. Everyday is coming closer. 'Right now we need to focus on the game. It is a good game to start with away. I can imagine some of our fans will be there and it will be a good game.'
Local Sweden
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Local Sweden
Swedish inquiry rejects government calls for begging ban as unnecessary
A government-appointed inquiry has concluded that there is no need for a national begging ban, despite demands from the Moderates and Sweden Democrats to introduce one. Advertisement Krister Thelin, the former judge leading the inquiry, had nine months to investigate whether or not a national begging ban should be introduced. He concluded that such a ban would be unnecessary, partly due to the fact that there are far fewer beggars on Swedish streets than there have been previously. This, he believes, is due to the fact that Swedes use less cash, which means that it's harder for beggars to earn as much money ‒ figures quoted in previous years were as high as 150 kronor per day. That all makes Sweden a less attractive destination for beggars from elsewhere in Europe looking to earn a living. Another reason against introducing a national ban, Thelin said, is the fact that municipalities already have the right to introduce local begging bans ‒ and around 20 have already done so. The ruling Moderates and their allies the Sweden Democrats have already stated that they intend to introduce a begging ban, with the Sweden Democrats previously saying that they hope to introduce one before the next election in September 2026. The Liberals, who are in coalition with the Moderates and the Christian Democrats, are against a begging ban, but agreed as part of the Tidö Agreement with the other coalition parties and the Sweden Democrats that an inquiry into introducing a ban should be launched. In a comment to the TT newswire, the Liberals' parliamentary group leader Lina Nordquist said that the inquiry's recommendations were in line with Liberal policy. "We want to fight poverty, exclusion and mental illness, not put a ban on people asking for help," she said. Advertisement As part of the inquiry, Thelin was told to "no matter the conclusions of the inquiry" to put forward a proposal for how begging could be banned. Because of this, the inquiry has listed two possible legal ways in which a ban could be introduced, either by changing the Swedish Criminal Code or the Public Order Act. The government's next step is to send the inquiry out for consultation, with Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer stating that the government would look into the issue in more detail at a later date. If the parties do decide to move forward with a ban, Strömmer said that it could "purely technically" be introduced before the 2026 election.
