Next Aberdeen manager: 50y/o sacked just days ago emerges as chief candidate to take over at Pittodrie
Norwegian was recently in charge of Saint-Etienne in France
Erik Horneland has emerged as the chief candidate to become the next manager of Aberdeen.
The Dons have been searching for a new boss since parting company with Jimmy Thelin last month, with caretaker boss Peter Leven holding the fort in the interim.
Sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel, who arrived at Pittodrie last autumn, has been leading the hunt for Thelin’s successor and it is understood that Norwegian coach Horneland sits top of the German’s wishlist.
Horneland, 50, was sacked by Saint-Etienne at the end of last month. Tasked with earning the French giants’ promotion back to Ligue 1, the Norwegian lost his job following a 1-0 home defeat by Boulogne last weekend, with Les Verts sitting fifth in Ligue 2.
A defender in his playing days, Horneland started his managerial career in his homeland with Haugesund, where he was in charge between 2016 and 2019. He then moved to Rosenborg for a season and then moved to SK Brann, where he stayed for three years and won the second division and the Norwegian Cup.
His exploits in Bergen won him a move to Saint-Etienne in December 2024, but he was unable to save the club from relegation and lost his job following a poor run of form this winter.
However, Horneland now appears set to be offered a quick return to the dugout, with reports claiming that he is the man Pfannenstiel and Aberdeen owner Dave Cormack want to revive their fortunes.
The Dons have endured a challenging season and sit seventh in the Premiership, eight points off the top six. They remain in the Scottish Cup - a tournament they won last season - and face Motherwell in the last 16 on Saturday evening.
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