This article is about the contemporary club. For its predecessor of the same name in universe from 1881 to 1903, see aberdeen F.C. ( 1881 )
Football club
Reading: Aberdeen F.C. – Wikipedia
Aberdeen Football Club is a scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen, Scotland. They compete in the scottish Premiership and have never been relegated from the top division of the Scottish football league system since they were promoted in 1905. Aberdeen have won four scots league titles, seven scots Cups and six Scottish League Cups. They are besides the only Scottish team to have won two european trophies, having won the european Cup Winners ‘ Cup and the European Super Cup in 1983. Formed in 1903 as a result of the amalgamation of three clubs from Aberdeen, they rarely challenged for honor until the stake war ten, when they won each of the major scots trophies under director Dave Halliday. This level of achiever was surpassed in the 1980s, when, under the management of Sir Alex Ferguson, they won three league titles, four scottish Cups and a scottish League Cup, alongside the two european trophies. Aberdeen were the last club outside the Old fast to win a league title, in 1984–85, and besides the last scots team to win a european trophy. The team has enjoyed less success since this golden era, though a 19-year wait for a major trophy was ended by winning the 2013–14 Scottish League Cup, followed up by multiple second-place finishes behind Celtic in the league during the 2010s. Aberdeen have played at Pittodrie Stadium since their origin. The ground presently has a capacity of 20,866 [ 1 ] and was the first all-seated and all-covered stadium in the United Kingdom. Pittodrie was besides the first football stadium to feature a dug-out, an invention of musician and coach Donald Colman. The club ‘s colours have been primarily crimson and white since 1939 ; before this, they played in black and aureate vertical stripes. In modern times, Aberdeen have about entirely played with all-red strips with white detailing. [ 2 ] Aberdeen attract support from the city and surrounding areas, as they have no geographically close rivals. Lacking a local rival, Aberdeen have alternatively developed rivalries with more distant opponents such as Dundee United ( jointly known as the “ New Firm “ in the 1980s ) and Rangers .
history [edit ]
formation and early years ( 1903–1939 ) [edit ]
League history of Aberdeen from their foremost league appearance in 1904 The current Aberdeen F.C. was formed following the amalgamation of three clubs based in the city— Aberdeen, Victoria United and Orion —in 1903. The new golf club played its foremost match on 15 August 1903 : a 1–1 draw with Stenhousemuir. [ 4 ] That first season produced a win in the Aberdeenshire Cup, but merely a third-place finish in the Northern League. The baseball club applied for membership of the Scottish League for the follow season, and were elected to the Second Division. [ 4 ] [ 5 ] In 1904, the cabaret were managed by Jimmy Philip. At the end of its inaugural season, despite having finished seventh out of twelve teams, Aberdeen were elected to the raw, expanded First Division. [ 5 ] They have remained in the top tier of scots football ever since. [ 6 ] From 1906, the club made steady progress, with a scottish Cup semi-final appearance in 1908 and another in 1911. [ 4 ] In that season of 1910–11, Aberdeen recorded their first victories over the Old firm of Celtic and Rangers, and led the league for a fourth dimension, but finished the temper in second place. [ 4 ] wartime affected the golf club arsenic much as any other ; despite spending cuts and other economies, by 1917 the situation became indefensible. Aberdeen dropped out of competitive football, along with Dundee and Raith Rovers. Senior football returned on 16 August 1919, and Aberdeen resumed with a regular against Albion Rovers. Philip was even in charge, and continued to oversee a team capable of sequester good results, but never quite able to sustain a challenge long enough to win a trophy. In 1923, Aberdeen were drawn against Peterhead in the scots Cup, and posted their record score—a 13–0 victory. [ 8 ] Philip retired a year late, and was replaced as coach by Paddy Travers. [ 9 ] He presided over the team ‘s foremost scots Cup final in 1937. [ 4 ] Travers ‘ “ flight simulator ” —first team coach in modern parlance—was erstwhile player Donald Colman. [ 10 ] Colman conceived the dug-out, a cover area set slenderly below the level of the playing coat to better aid his observations. [ 11 ] [ 12 ] Everton visited Pittodrie soon after its introduction, and exported the estimate to the English leagues, from where it spread throughout the football-playing populace. [ 13 ] Travers left to become director of Clyde in 1939 .
Halliday to McNeill ( 1939–1978 ) [edit ]
Travers was replaced by former Yeovil Town coach Dave Halliday, one of more than a hundred applicants for the role, and the club moved from their bootleg and gold strip to red and white. [ 14 ] [ 15 ] Halliday had scantily begun his work when World War II halted competitive football in the United Kingdom. For these six years, the clubhouse was temporarily taken over by then-directors Charles B Forbes and George Anderson while Halliday served in the war. [ 14 ] [ 17 ] Halliday ‘s place in the Aberdeen Hall of Fame was secured after the war when he became the first director to bring national trophies to Pittodrie. Aberdeen won the Southern League Cup in the 1945–46 season, defeating Rangers 3–2 at Hampden. They then reached the 1947 scots Cup final examination, defeating Hibernian 2–1 with George Hamilton, signed from Halliday ‘s former baseball club Queen of the South, scoring to gain the club ‘s first major trophy. [ 14 ] [ 18 ] From this early success, Halliday ‘s side reached two more scots Cup finals, in 1953 and 1954, though they lost both. [ 14 ] Halliday ‘s team were not to be denied, however, and the take after season, 1954–55, Aberdeen won their first Scottish League title. [ 14 ] [ 18 ] Though league winners, the baseball club did not participate in the first european Cup competition—Scotland ‘s place was awarded to Hibernian, who took contribution by special invitation. [ 19 ] Halliday and Hamilton left at the end of that championship-winning season, and Halliday was replaced by Davie Shaw. [ 14 ] Aberdeen won the League Cup under his steering, beating St Mirren in 1955–56, and reached another scots Cup final in 1959. [ 18 ] however, Shaw stepped aside for another former darling player, Tommy Pearson, in 1959. Pearson ‘s time in commit coincided with a high upset of players, and yielded no trophies. [ 20 ] He retired in 1965, making way for Eddie Turnbull. [ 9 ] Turnbull led Aberdeen to the 1967 scottish Cup concluding, where the side was ultimately defeated by Celtic. [ 18 ] Despite this loss, Aberdeen qualified for the european Cup Winner ‘s Cup in the follow temper thanks to their appearance in this concluding, the beginning prison term the golf club had competed in european competition. Their first tie was a 14–1 aggregate victory over KR Reykjavik, although they lost the second round necktie with Standard Liège 3–2 on aggregate. Two years late, Derek “ Cup-tie ” McKay recorded the entirely four goals of his Aberdeen career to help his team to the 1969–70 scottish Cup, scoring the winning goals in the quarter- and semitrailer final, and two in the final itself. [ 21 ] [ 22 ] As scots Cup holders, Aberdeen once again qualified for the same rival, but were eliminated in the first round following a 4–4 aggregate tie with Honvéd. This link, level after excess meter and besides level on away goals, was decided by the first punishment shoot-out in UEFA competition history, Honvéd winning the gunfight 5–4 in Budapest. [ 23 ] [ 24 ] The Aberdeen side of the 1970s regularly challenged for domestic honours. however, they rarely won trophies, with the exception of the Drybrough Cup in 1971 under Jimmy Bonthrone and the League Cup in 1976, under Ally MacLeod. During this ten, Aberdeen had five managers : Eddie Turnbull, Jimmy Bonthrone, Ally MacLeod, Billy McNeill and Alex Ferguson. [ 9 ] They reached two more national cup finals—the scottish Cup in 1978 under Billy McNeill and the League Cup in the follow season under the fresh director Alex Ferguson. [ 18 ]
Alex Ferguson era ( 1978–1986 ) [edit ]
Under Ferguson ‘s guidance, the clubhouse won three league championships, four scots Cups, one League Cup, the european Cup Winner ‘s Cup, the European Super Cup and a Drybrough Cup—all in the space of seven years. Players such as Jim Leighton, Willie Miller, Alex McLeish and Gordon Strachan became the spine of the team. Aberdeen ‘s second League claim was won in 1979–80, and this initial success was built on, with scottish Cup wins in three consecutive seasons from 1982 to 1984, and two more league titles in 1983–84 and 1984–85. During the european Cup Winners ‘ Cup in 1983, Aberdeen beat FC Sion, Dinamo Tirana and Lech Poznań to face the german Cup winners Bayern Munich. This game was won 3–2 at Pittodrie after a scoreless draw in Germany, John Hewitt with the winning finish. [ 27 ] [ 28 ] They then faced now-defunct belgian club Waterschei in the semi-final. Aberdeen beat them 5–1 at home, and lost for the first clock in the tournament, 1–0 away, resulting in an aggregate victory which sent Aberdeen to the final examination. [ 29 ] On 11 May 1983, Aberdeen beat veridical Madrid 2–1 after extra time to win the cup and become lone the third base scottish side to win a european trophy. [ 4 ] [ 30 ] [ 31 ] The club released a song, “ european Song “, to coincide with the appearance in the final examination. [ 32 ] This was followed up with the capture of the European Super Cup in December, when Hamburger SV were beaten over two legs. [ 4 ] [ 33 ]
AFC 1980 Commemorative Pennant Aberdeen reached the semi-finals of the 1983–84 european Cup Winners ‘ Cup, before losing to Porto 2–0 on aggregate. In the first gear round of the 1984–85 european Champion Club ‘s Cup Aberdeen lost to East Berlin side BFC Dynamo in a penalty shoot-out 4–5, following a 3–3 on aggregate in regular times. today, both clubs enjoy friendly relations. [ 35 ]
After Ferguson moved south of the margin to manage Manchester United in November 1986, Aberdeen struggled to compete with Celtic and a resurgent Rangers. [ 36 ] Aberdeen signed raw co-managers in 1989, pairing Alex Smith and Jocky Scott. [ 9 ] A number of alien players were signed, including dutch internationals Theo Snelders and Hans Gillhaus. In the 1989–90 season, the club won both the scottish Cup and the Scottish League Cup. In 1991, they lost the last game of the season, and the league title, to Rangers. [ 18 ] Former player Willie Miller took over in 1992 and presided over two seasons where Aberdeen came close to winning the claim. however, the club ended the 1994–95 temper second-bottom, and had to rely on a play-off victory over Dunfermline Athletic to retain their Premier Division condition. [ 37 ] Miller was sacked in February 1995, and replaced by Roy Aitken. [ 38 ] Despite a scots League Cup success in 1995, the club continued to struggle. [ 18 ] Alex Miller and Paul Hegarty had spells in charge in the late 1990s, [ 9 ] but with the fiscal burden of a modern stand putting the club into debt for the first clock time in its history, the directors turned to Stewart Milne, a local businessman whose firm had built the stand, hiring him as the club ‘s president. [ 40 ] [ 41 ]
Skovdahl to Brown ( 1999–2013 ) [edit ]
A display by Aberdeen fans in the Richard Donald Stand Aberdeen ‘s first and only foreign director, Ebbe Skovdahl, was appointed in 1999 and his time in charge coincided with some of the heaviest defeats in the club ‘s history. [ 4 ] [ 42 ] The humble charge of the club ‘s history came in the 1999–2000 season, where they finished bottom of the table. [ 43 ] As the Scottish Premier League ( SPL ) was being expanded to twelve teams, Aberdeen were due to take separate in a three team play-off with the teams that finished second and third in the First Division. [ 43 ] [ 44 ] The play-off never happened though, as one of those clubs ( Falkirk ) did not meet SPL stadium requirements, and Aberdeen retained their top flight status. [ 43 ] [ 4 ] [ 44 ] This was followed by an early-season defeat to Irish club Bohemians on the aside goals rule in the future season ‘s UEFA Cup. [ 45 ] Steve Paterson was appointed to replace Skovdahl following his resignation in 2002, [ 44 ] but lasted only two seasons. Paterson ‘s tenure with Aberdeen was marred by his addiction to alcohol. In March 2003 he failed to attend a home game against Dundee due to being besides hungover after a night of drinking prior to the match. [ 46 ] Jimmy Calderwood took over in 2004 and Aberdeen posted more reproducible results than in previous seasons. In the 2006–07 temper, the club finished in third place in the league and entered the final qualify round for the 2007–08 UEFA Cup. [ 47 ] Aberdeen defeated Dnipro on the away goals rule to progress ( the first time Aberdeen had won on aside goals in european football for 40 years ). [ 48 ] They went on to beat F.C. Copenhagen 4–0, which was the biggest allowance of victory and one of Pittodrie ‘s biggest crowd since the 1980s. [ 49 ] This set up a confluence with german giants Bayern Munich, [ 50 ] which they lost 7–3 on aggregate [ 51 ] after a 2–2 draw which saw Aberdeen lead doubly in the beginning leg. Calderwood was sacked by Aberdeen on 24 May 2009, hours after he took the clubhouse to a fourth-place finish and back into Europe. Poor domestic cup performances were thought to be the cause for Calderwood ‘s dismissal. [ 52 ] Mark McGhee of Motherwell was appointed as Calderwood ‘s refilling in June 2009. [ 53 ] McGhee controversially dismissed Aberdeen caption and goalkeeping coach Jim Leighton in August 2009 and replaced him with Colin Meldrum. [ 54 ] Aberdeen suffered a 9–0 frustration to Celtic on 6 November 2010, their heaviest ever defeat. McGhee and his assistants were finally sacked in December of that year. [ 55 ] Aberdeen approached Craig Brown, who was working without a contract at Motherwell, to replace McGhee. Brown initially rebuffed an offer, but after far discussions with the club Brown resigned as director at Motherwell to be announced as the next director at Aberdeen two days late. [ 56 ] The first act of the new management team of Brown and Archie Knox was to re-instate Leighton. [ 57 ] Aberdeen failed to produce better results under Craig Brown ‘s tenure, and in March 2013 he announced his retirement to take up a non-executive film director function on the club ‘s board. [ 58 ]
Aberdeen collecting their foremost trophy in 19 years in 2014
late years ( 2013–present ) [edit ]
Derek McInnes was announced as the successor to Craig Brown in March 2013. [ 59 ] In McInnes ‘ first temper as director, Aberdeen won the 2013–14 Scottish League Cup after defeating Inverness 4–2 on penalties, their first trophy in 19 years. [ 60 ] [ 61 ] Aberdeen finished third base in the scots Premiership, and began the adjacent season by coming through the early rounds of the Europa League, beating Dutch club FC Groningen before finally being eliminated by spanish english Real Sociedad. [ 62 ] [ 63 ] [ 64 ] The club ended the temper in moment place—their best league position since 1993–94 —in 2015, 2016, and 2017. In recent seasons ‘ Europa League competitions, they were defeated in the third qualifying orotund four times : In 2015–16 by FC Kairat, [ 65 ] in 2016–17 by NK Maribor, [ 66 ] in 2017–18 by Apollon Limassol, [ 67 ] and in 2019–20 by HNK Rijeka. [ 68 ] Aberdeen were league runner-up once more in 2016–17 and reached both cup finals, but were beaten 3–0 by Celtic in the League Cup [ 69 ] and 2–1 by the same opponents in the scottish Cup, [ 70 ] echoing the consequence in 1992–93 when Aberdeen had finished moment to Rangers in all competitions. [ 71 ] They were again moment the play along season, earning a first league gain against Celtic away from home for fourteen years in the final game of the season. [ 72 ] This qualified them for the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League, where they were defeated after extra time by Premier League side Burnley in the moment qualify round. [ 73 ] In November 2019, Major League Soccer side Atlanta United FC acquired a less than 10 percentage stake in Aberdeen for £2 million ( US $ 2.57 million ) as function of a strategic alliance between the two clubs. As function of this deal, vice-chairman Dave Cormack became president of the club, replacing Stewart Milne. Atlanta United president of the united states Darren Eales besides took a seat on Aberdeen ‘s board of directors. [ 74 ] [ 75 ] McInnes left the mail of coach in March 2021 after about 8 years in charge, [ 76 ] and was replaced by Atlanta United 2 coach and former Aberdeen player Stephen Glass. [ 77 ] [ 78 ]
Colours and crest [edit ]
The “ Wasps ” black and gold strip, worn until 1939 For the first season of the club ‘s being, the team played in a predominantly white undress. [ 79 ] This is variously reported as all-white, or as white shirts with blue shorts and socks. This color scheme was the directly descendant of the colours worn by the harbinger Aberdeen cabaret, but lasted only one season before being replaced. [ 79 ] [ 81 ] For the 1904–05 season, Aberdeen adopted a blacken and gold striped shirt, which led to the team being nicknamed “ the Wasps ”. [ 82 ] This strip, with entirely minor variations, was worn until just before the beginning of the Second World War. The blue sky shorts lasted until 1911, and then were replaced with white ones. Socks were black with gold trim, either as stripes or as a upstanding prevention at the nonacceptance. [ 79 ]
A representative post-war Aberdeen strip. These colours were worn for all the trophy-winning seasons of the 1950s. In March 1939, Aberdeen changed the black and gold color to loss and white, reflecting the silver and bolshevik color of the official City of Aberdeen arms. [ 4 ] The foremost crimson strips were worn with white shorts, with either red or blank socks from 1939 until the 1965–66 season. [ 79 ] In 1966, Aberdeen adopted crimson shorts, making the official kit all-red, similar to that of Liverpool, who made a similar change at around the lapp time. [ 83 ] This placement has continued to the present day, with respective variations in design, in common with most aged clubs as the replica shirt marketplace has expanded. [ 84 ] In the late 1970s an admiral plunder featured five upright white stripes on the leave side of the shirt and shorts, and the early 1980s shirts—as wear at the 1983 european Cup Winners Cup final—featured white vertical pinstripes. Later design changes included significant amounts of amobarbital sodium, [ 79 ] and a one-season backsliding to ashen shorts, although the all-red outline returned in 1997. [ 79 ] Shirt sponsorship began in 1987, and the initial shirt patronize was JVC. [ 79 ] Since then, with the club making fewer appearances on the international stage, shirt sponsors have tended to be local to Aberdeen—they have included one of the local commercial radio stations, Northsound, [ 81 ] american samoa well as several Aberdeen-based oil service companies. [ 85 ] As of 2020, the current shirt patron is Saltire Energy. [ 86 ] away colours have tended to be either white—often with black shorts—or a combination of jaundiced and black, referring back to the black and amber strips of the pre-war era, although for a time in the 1970s, Aberdeen sported an all-blue change strip with white socks. [ 81 ] [ 87 ] For the 2007–08 season, the variety comic strip was all-white, with a third kit of chicken and black halves available if needed for european games, or in the event of a collide involving both crimson and white. [ 79 ] The baseball club did not have an official crest before 1972, but respective variations on the letters AFC had from time to time featured on the shirt, normally in some kind of cursive baptismal font. In November 1972, [ 88 ] the baseball club unveiled an official crest or logo, designed by aberdonian graphic designer Donald Addison. [ 79 ] The design represented a capital letter A as the side view of a football goal, with a ball forming the crossbar of the letter. This ball was crosshatched in such a direction as to depict it as being inside the final, signifying the seduce of a goal. The logo was completed by the letters FC in smaller type at a level with the ball element. [ 88 ] This badge was used on the shirts from around 1978, with no significant alterations until the mid-1980s when the words “ Aberdeen Football Club ” were added in a circular surround, and the date of the club ‘s initiation, 1903, was added under the goal element. [ 88 ] The current version of the crest, which retains these elements in a coordinated purpose, was introduced at the start of the 1997–98 temper. [ 88 ] Two stars signifying the acquire of the two european trophies in 1983 were introduced over the badge in the 2005–06 season. [ 89 ]
stadium [edit ]
Pittodrie Stadium ‘s granite facade viewed from outside the Merkland Road stand Aberdeen have played throughout their being at Pittodrie Stadium, the name of which comes from the Pictish for “ place of manure ”. [ 90 ] The land was first base used by the original Aberdeen F.C. in 1899, in a 7–1 succeed over Dumbarton ; [ 91 ] when they merged with two early teams in 1903, the new club took over the old Aberdeen reason. On 15 August 1903, 8,000 spectators turned up to watch the modern Aberdeen draw 1–1 against Stenhousemuir, the first game played at Pittodrie by its amalgamate tenants. [ 4 ] The club initially rented the ground, but subsequently bought it in 1920. [ 4 ] The stadium presently seats 20,866. [ 1 ] The record attendance is 45,061, during a scots Cup match between Aberdeen and Hearts on 13 March 1954. [ 91 ] The stadium consists of four stands : the Main Stand, which besides houses the golf club offices and players facilities ; the Merkland Road Family Stand ; the South Stand, which is opposite the main stall and holds the largest number of spectators ; and the Richard Donald stand to the east, which was completed in 1993, contains cordial reception suites, and is named after former chair Dick Donald. [ 92 ] A quarter of the South Stand is used to accommodate travelling supporters. [ 93 ] In 1978, Pittodrie became the first gear all covered, all-seater stadium in Britain. [ 6 ] [ 94 ]
train facilities [edit ]
aberdeen discipline at Cormack Park, which was opened on 31 October 2019 by early coach Sir Alex Ferguson, who described the development as “ up there with the best ” that he had seen. [ 95 ] arsenic well as being a train concentrate for the first team, the complex is besides home to the Bobby Clark Football Academy and the AFC Community Trust, a well american samoa acting as a community sports hub. The train facilities are named after chair Dave Cormack, due to the significant fiscal investment he made to realise the completion of the project. [ 96 ] The complex is made up of a discipline pavilion, groundsman ’ south accommodation, three full-sized coach pitches, two floodlit 3G pitches and two eatage pitches. There is besides flexible outdoor and indoor distance that can be used for sporting or recreational purposes. [ 97 ] All the pitches are named after club legends, chosen by the fans via an on-line poll. [ 98 ] anterior to the open of Cormack Park, the inaugural team trained in a variety show of locations around the city, including the local Gordon Barracks, beach, Seaton Park, Aberdeen Sports Village and Countesswells, the act fields of Robert Gordon ‘s College. [ 99 ] [ 100 ] [ 101 ]
New Aberdeen Stadium [edit ]
Since 2009, Aberdeen have been examining a motion to a new stadium. Plans for a raw stadium began when the club indicated that far growth of Pittodrie Stadium was not possible due to the age of the grind and the restrictions from surrounding land. [ 102 ] [ 103 ] Aberdeen City Council approved an initial project in May 2009, to be situated near Loirston Loch in the south of the city, subjugate to planning permission. [ 104 ] In August 2010, a plan application for the modern stadium was submitted to the council, which was approved the following February. [ 105 ] [ 106 ] [ 107 ] The move was delayed by a class in May 2012 due to problems with nation possession, and suffered a serious reverse the follow August, when the council rejected a joint application by Aberdeen and Cove Rangers to build a community sports kernel at nearby Calder Park. [ 108 ] [ 109 ] Aberdeen announced in November 2014 new plans to alternatively build coach facilities at Balgownie, on farming owned by the University of Aberdeen, but the project was ultimately scrapped in the come July. [ 110 ] [ 111 ] Plans to develop a newly stadium and aim facilities near Westhill, close to the newly developed Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, were announced in May 2016. [ 112 ] [ 113 ] [ 114 ] The new stadium is expected to have a similar capacity to Pittodrie Stadium. [ 113 ] Although the project get the best legal challenges from local residents, [ 115 ] [ 116 ] advancement stalled due to the economic impingement of the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland. [ 117 ] Alternative designs at the city ‘s beachfront close to Pittodrie were released in August 2021. [ 118 ]
Supporters and nicknames [edit ]
Supporters [edit ]
Aberdeen ‘s supporters, known as the Red Army, are listed in the team police squad list as wearing the number 12 shirt. [ 119 ] In 1999, a group of supporters founded the Red Ultras group with the express target of improving the atmosphere at Pittodrie. [ 120 ] however, it was decided that this particular group was to disband at the begin of 2010. [ 121 ] Organised chants and stage dancing still take rate in ‘centre block ‘ of the top tier of the Richard Donald Stand and Aberdeen fans calm do choreographies at home and aside games. [ 122 ] Aberdeen are the only full-time team in the third base largest city in Scotland, [ 123 ] a city which is relatively outside, geographically, from early big population centres, and as a leave have a big catchment area of likely supporters. The average attendance in the 2018–19 scots Premiership was 14,924. [ 124 ] In the 1980s, a minority of the golf club ‘s supporters had a reputation as one of Britain ‘s most outstanding casuals groups, the Aberdeen Soccer Casuals. [ 125 ] The rise of the Aberdeen Casuals coincided with the most successful time period in the club ‘s history, and has been chronicled in more than one published explanation. [ 126 ] [ 127 ] Whilst numbers have steadily declined with the introduction of Football Banning Orders preventing hooligans from travelling to games, the Aberdeen Casuals still appear at big fixtures much off from home and in the UEFA Europa League. There were clashes at both fixtures against FC Groningen in 2014, a well as 13 arrests after violent clashes with Dundee United fans at a game in December 2015. [ 128 ] [ 129 ] [ 130 ]
Rivalries [edit ]
Aberdeen have rarely played in the same division as their geographically closest neighbours ( Cove Rangers, Peterhead, Brechin City, Montrose, Arbroath, Elgin City, and Forfar Athletic ), so rivalries have tended to come from farther afield. Cove Rangers from the lapp city entered the professional leagues for the beginning time in 2019, although the Aberdeen bowler hat is even to occur in a league meet. In the early 1980s, owing to the success both domestically and in Europe of Aberdeen and Dundee United, the couple were known as the New Firm. however, Dundee United have their city neighbor Dundee as close rivals, and the antagonism was not constantly reciprocated to the lapp degree. [ 131 ] The lapp situation applies to Aberdeen ‘s competition with Rangers, in that Rangers have their own much older and long-familiar Old Firm competition with Celtic. [ 132 ] Aberdeen ‘s competition with Rangers arose after a number of incidents in matches between the two clubs in the 1980s, namely Willie Johnston ‘s seal on John McMaster ‘s neck in the Scottish League Cup and Neil Simpson ‘s fishing gear on Ian Durrant in 1988, equally well as Aberdeen ‘s dominance in scottish football throughout the decade. [ 133 ] [ 134 ] [ 135 ] [ 136 ] There are inactive frequently violent clashes between both sets of supporters within and outwith the stadium to this day. [ 137 ] [ 138 ] [ 139 ] Aberdeen developed a minor competition with Inverness Caledonian Thistle since Inverness were first promoted to the SPL in 2004. [ 140 ] It is known as the North derby ascribable to the fact that Aberdeen and Inverness are the two largest settlements in the north of Scotland. Aberdeen ‘s reappear as one of the top teams in Scotland during the 2010s, which increased the competition with Celtic both competitively and between supporters. There have been minor incidents at games, [ 141 ] chiefly relating to political disturbances by celtic supporters at games between the clubs, including the disruption of minute ‘s silences and the display of banners showing patronize for the 1981 Irish hunger strike. [ 142 ]
Nicknames [edit ]
Aberdeen are known as “ The Dons ”, a name that has been in use since at least 1913. The lineage of this nickname is ill-defined. [ 143 ] One hypothesis is that it derives from the password “ don “ meaning “ teacher ”, given Aberdeen ‘s history as a university township. [ 144 ] It may besides be a reference to the nearby River Don, or a contraction of “ Aberdonians ”. [ 143 ] [ 145 ] Before the popular adoption of “ The Dons ”, the team were variously known as “ The Wasps ” or “ The Black and Golds ”, both names a reference to the yellow and black striped shirts of the time. As with many teams that play in loss, Aberdeen may besides be called “ The Reds ”, and are referred to by some supporters as “ The Dandy Dons ” or “ The Dandies ”. [ 147 ] rival clubs occasionally refer to Aberdeen as “ The Sheep ” and their supporters as “ The Sheep Shaggers “. The term was finally accepted by the club ‘s supporters, and fans began chanting “ the sheep are on fire “ at games. [ 148 ] The song was in the first place sung by away fans poking fun at an Aberdeen fan set on fire on a train while wearing a homemade sheep costume. [ 149 ] [ 150 ] This in plow led to specialised merchandise being sold by the club and local businesses. [ 151 ]
Songs [edit ]
Chants and songs include The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen, a interpretation of which was recorded and performed by local performer Iona Fyfe. Dons fans besides sing their club song ‘Stand Free ‘ which is set to the tune of Lord of the Dance .
Honours [edit ]
domestic [edit ]
european [edit ]
UEFA rankings [edit ]
- As of 4 March 2021[153]
- ^[153] Clubs ‘ coefficients are determined by either the sum of all points won in the former five years or the National Association Contribution over the same period, whichever is higher ( under a newly system introduced for season 2018–19 onwards ) .
early Awards [edit ]
- France Football European Team of the Year: 1
-
- 1983
club officials [edit ]
Players [edit ]
stream police squad [edit ]
- As of 16 September 2021[158][159]
note : Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality .
On lend [edit ]
note : Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality .
noteworthy players [edit ]
- Hall of Fame
Aberdeen inaugurated a Hall of Fame as part of the cabaret ‘s centennial celebrations in 2003. Six players were inducted following the initial dinner in March 2004, and a farther six were included in November 2004. [ 160 ] Ex-manager Alex Ferguson was inducted at a re-launch event in November 2015. [ 161 ] In 2017, Neale Cooper, Archie Knox, John McMaster and Graham Leggat were inducted into the Hall of Fame. [ 162 ] In 2018, Eoin Jess, Peter Weir, Bobby Clark and Donald Colman were inducted. [ 163 ]
- Greatest ever team
In November 2015, supporters cast votes to determine the greatest always Aberdeen team. [ 164 ]
Records [edit ]
individual [edit ]
All players are from Scotland unless otherwise stated. Competitive, professional matches merely, up to the end of the 2020–21 season .
- Top goalscorers
- Most appearances
[ speed of light ]
- ^ source has 164 goals/232 games, but 8 goals/13 games were from unofficial wartime league fixtures in 1945/46 .
- ^ reference has 159 goals/292 games, but 4 goals/8 games were from unofficial wartime league fixtures in 1945/46 .
- ^ source has Willie Cooper 394 games/3 goals, but 17 games/0 goals were from unofficial wartime league fixtures in 1945/46 .
Managers [edit ]
List of full-time managers, as of 23 March 2021. Only competitive matches are counted. Caretaker managers are not listed.
| From | To | Name | P | W | D | L | Win%[165] | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1903 | 1924 | 
|
644 | 221 | 172 | 251 | 0 34.32 | |
| 1924 | 1937 |
|
474 | 214 | 106 | 154 | 0 45.15 | |
| 1937 | 1955 |
|
371 | 165 | 71 | 135 | 0 44.47 | |
| 1955 | 1959 |
|
148 | 66 | 20 | 62 | 0 44.59 | |
| 1959 | 1965 |
|
180 | 66 | 42 | 72 | 0 36.67 | |
| 1965 | 1971 |
|
216 | 101 | 43 | 72 | 0 46.76 | |
| 1971 | 1975 |
|
143 | 67 | 46 | 30 | 0 46.85 | |
| 1975 | 1977 |
|
61 | 24 | 19 | 18 | 0 39.34 | |
| 1977 | 1978 |
|
36
Read more: David Prowse |
22 | 9 | 5 | 0 61.11 | |
| 1978 | 1986 |
|
288 | 167 | 71 | 50 | 0 57.99 | |
| 1986 | 1986 |
|
15 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 0 46.67 | |
| 1986 | 1988 |
|
71 | 35 | 27 | 9 | 0 49.30 | |
| 1988 | 1991 |
|
117 | 63 | 35 | 19 | 0 53.85 | |
| 1991 | 1992 |
|
23 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 0 30.43 | |
| 1992 | 1995 |
|
124 | 53 | 45 | 26 | 0 42.74 | |
| 1995 | 1997 |
|
124 | 50 | 31 | 43 | 0 40.32 | [167] |
| 1997 | 1998 |
|
43 | 11 | 13 | 19 | 0 25.58 | [168] |
| 1999 | 2002 | 
|
159 | 54 | 37 | 68 | 0 33.96 | [169] |
| 2002 | 2004 |
|
68 | 23 | 13 | 32 | 0 33.82 | [170] |
| 2004 | 2009 |
|
227 | 94 | 60 | 73 | 0 41.41 | [171] |
| 2009 | 2010 |
|
62 | 17 | 13 | 32 | 0 27.42 | [172] |
| 2010 | 2013 |
|
113 | 37 | 33 | 43 | 0 32.74 | [173] |
| 2013 | 2021 |
|
377 | 198 | 78 | 101 | 0 52.52 | [174] |
| 2021 | — |
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | !— |
References [edit ]
- Bibliography
- Ferguson, Alex (2000). Managing My Life. Coronet. ISBN 0-340-72856-6.
- Grant, Michael (2014). Fergie Rises: How Britain’s Greatest Football Manager Was Made At Aberdeen. Aurum Press. ISBN 978-1-781-31093-9.
- Miller, Willie (2011). Willie Miller’s Aberdeen Dream Team. Black & White Publishing. ISBN 9781845024031.
- Smith, Paul (2007). The Legends of Aberdeen. Breedon Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-575-3.
- Stirling, Kevin (2008). Aberdeen FC On This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year. Pitch Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-905411-24-5.
- Webster, Jack (2003). The First 100 years of The Dons: The official history of Aberdeen Football Club 1903–2003. Hodder & Stoughton, London. ISBN 0-340-82344-5.
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