Next Aberdeen Manager Odds – Jimmy Thelin’s Future Remains in Doubt
Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin is facing intense pressure amid a dismal start to the season, with next Aberdeen manager odds available with several UK betting sites.
The Dons have managed just seven points from their first nine league matches, leaving them second-bottom in the Scottish Premiership standings.
This poor league form – coupled with a humiliating 6-0 defeat to AEK Athens in the Europa Conference League – has fueled speculation that Thelin's days at Pittodrie may be numbered.
The Swede, who delivered Aberdeen's first trophy in over a decade by winning the Scottish Cup earlier this year, has publicly admitted recent performances are not good enough and accepted responsibility for the team's struggles.
With a crucial fortnight ahead of the next international break, the Aberdeen board will be closely monitoring results and weighing up their options.
Notably, the club has just appointed Lutz Pfannenstiel as a new sporting director – a move that could herald further changes if Thelin cannot turn things around quickly.
At Free Bets, we've assessed the top contenders who could take over at Pittodrie if the Aberdeen board opts to part ways with Thelin.
Next Aberdeen Manager Candidates
We've taken a closer look at some of the realistic contenders who could step into the Pittodrie hot seat if Thelin's tenure comes to an end.
Stephen Robinson
Robinson – the current St Mirren manager – has emerged as the bookies' favourite to replace Thelin.
It's easy to see why. Robinson has impressed in Paisley since 2022, guiding St Mirren to three consecutive top-six finishes and even securing European football for the first time since the 1980s.
The 50-year-old Northern Irishman previously made his name at Motherwell, leading the Steelmen to domestic cup finals and establishing himself as one of the most respected coaches in the Scottish Premiership.
Robinson's teams are known for their discipline, work rate and tactical adaptability, and he's shown a knack for maximising limited resources.
He is under contract at St Mirren until 2028, so Aberdeen would likely have to pay compensation, however, the Dons' stature and ambition could tempt Robinson to make the switch.
With his deep knowledge of the Premiership and proven track record, Robinson would be a credible, long-term choice to steady the ship at Pittodrie.
Steven Naismith
Former Hearts boss Steven Naismith is another name high on the shortlist at many bookmakers.
The 37-year-old is currently serving as an assistant coach to Steve Clarke with the Scotland national team, but he may be eyeing a return to club management.
Naismith's brief stint in charge of Heart of Midlothian in 2024 ended on a sour note – he was dismissed after a run of eight consecutive defeats.
However, that demanding spell arguably overshadowed the promise he'd shown earlier in his coaching career.
As a player, Naismith was a serial winner with Rangers and an influential figure for Scotland, and he has carried that leadership into his coaching style.
For Aberdeen, Naismith could represent a young, ambitious manager eager to prove himself.
He's familiar with the pressures of a big Scottish club and has experience developing players from his time with youth setup at Hearts and the national team.
If he can convince the Dons board that his difficult spell at Tynecastle was a learning experience, Naismith could be an exciting option to inject fresh ideas at Pittodrie.
Kim Hellberg
From abroad, Kim Hellberg stands out as a highly rated young coach who’s been linked to the Aberdeen job in some reports.
The 37-year-old Swede is currently managing Hammarby IF, one of Sweden's top clubs, and has earned plaudits for his work there.
Since taking charge in 2024, Hellberg has led Hammarby to back-to-back second-place finishes in the Allsvenskan, firmly establishing them as title contenders.
He first made a name for himself by achieving a remarkable 5th-place finish with underdogs IFK Varnamo – an achievement that even got him nominated for Sweden's Manager of the Year.
Hellberg's coaching philosophy is built on attractive, possession-based football with quick passing and dynamic attacking movement.
Like with Thelin, bringing Hellberg to Pittodrie would be a bold move by Aberdeen, as he has no prior experience in British football.
Yet the idea has intrigue - he offers a continental pedigree and a fresh perspective that could energise the club.
While not the most obvious candidate, Hellberg would be an adventurous appointment aimed at combining competitiveness with entertaining football.
Simon Rusk
Rusk is an English coach known for his work in youth development – he previously coached England's Under-19s and had a stint with Brighton's academy – and he briefly took the reins as interim manager at Southampton after Russell Martin's departure.
While his first-team managerial experience is limited, Rusk has a reputation as a bright, forward-thinking coach who emphasises developing young talent.
At 42, Rusk might fit the profile of an up-and-coming manager willing to implement a long-term vision.
His lack of a track record at the senior level means appointing him would be a gamble, and that lack of experience may count against him in the eyes of some.
However, Aberdeen has shown boldness in its appointments in the past, for example, hiring the Stephen Glass in 2021.
If the Dons hierarchy are impressed by Rusk's ideas and coaching pedigree, he could be a left-field choice to build something at Pittodrie.
The fact that he is being mentioned among the frontrunners shows he's on the radar.
Michael Skubala
For a more outside-the-box prospect, Michael Skubala is a name that has come up in discussions about Aberdeen's future.
Skubala is an English coach whose rise has been rapid in recent years.
After a background in youth coaching and even futsal, he grabbed headlines in 2023 when he served as caretaker manager of Leeds United in the Premier League at just 40 years old.
Later that year, he took his first full-time managerial job at Lincoln City in League One, and he has since transformed the Midlands club into genuine promotion contenders.
Under Skubala, Lincoln City are known for playing high-energy, attacking football, with tactical flexibility to adapt to different opponents.
He places a significant emphasis on player development and modern training methods, earning a reputation as one of the most progressive young managers in the English Football League.
Skubala's profile is attractive as a forward-thinking coach, but there are a couple of caveats. He lacks any experience in Scottish football, and prising him away from Lincoln – where things are going well – could be difficult.
As of now, Lincoln sit high in the League One table and Skubala may feel he has unfinished business there.
Still, if Aberdeen are willing to think globally, Skubala could be a dynamic appointment who brings fresh ideas and energy to Pittodrie.
His ambition and modern approach would align with a club looking to rejuvenate, though it would be a bold call to hand him the reins.
What Might Happen Next?
For the moment, Jimmy Thelin remains in charge at Pittodrie, but the sense of uncertainty is growing.
Aberdeen's upcoming fixtures could be make-or-break for the Swede. Chairman Dave Cormack has not issued any public vote of confidence; however, the recent hiring of a sporting director suggests the club is bolstering its football structure and planning for the future.
Insiders describe the next couple of weeks as a "decisive fortnight" for Thelin, as the Aberdeen hierarchy assesses whether he can halt the slide and reignite their season.
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