Jimmy Thelin has been appointed as the twenty-fifth permanent manager of Aberdeen Football Club.

 The Swede, together with assistants Christer Persson and Emir Bajrami, will leave their current roles at Allsvenskan side IF Elfsborg this summer, taking up post at Pittodrie in early June.

Current interim manager Peter Leven will continue to lead the first-team squad until the end of the campaign, thereafter, bolstering Jimmy’s team as an Assistant First Team Coach.

“We are delighted to be welcoming Jimmy to Pittodrie this summer,” Chairman Dave Cormack said.

“The extensive process we ran allowed us to speak with several excellent candidates from both the UK and abroad. As the process evolved, we were determined to land Jimmy and were prepared to be patient. Elfsborg certainly didn’t make it easy for us, which tells you how highly they think of his six-year tenure.

“The Board felt that Jimmy’s style and playing philosophy, his ability to continually develop excellent players within a successful player trading model and his experience at taking a team and having them compete at the top end of the table all really matched the criteria we had set out at the start.

“He has a reputation in Sweden as a team builder; someone who will methodically construct a winning side over time. From our point of view, we want this appointment to anchor the Club for years to come, and to work with Jimmy and his coaching staff to create something special at Aberdeen. That will take time, we understand that.

“Everyone at AFC is looking forward to working with Jimmy from June and, at the same time, are very thankful to Peter Leven for agreeing to lead the team until the end of the campaign. I would ask the fans to get right behind Peter, and the team, in the remaining matches of the 23/24 campaign.”

The 46-year-old started his managerial career in 2014 with Jönköpings Södra IF, and in his debut season, led the team to their highest league finish for almost forty years.

He improved that the following year, winning the 2015 Superettan title and helping the team achieve Swedish top-flight football for the first time since 1969.

His leadership at J-Södra attracted Elfsborg, who appointed him in the winter of 2017.

His side demonstrably improved each year and by 2020, Thelin had taken the team from mid-table to competing at the top end, finishing runner-up to Malmö, and qualifying for the UEFA Europa League.

Since then, he has continued to keep Elfsborg at the top-end of Swedish football, narrowly missing out on delivering their first title in over ten years courtesy of a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat on the final day to Malmö, who themselves again pipped Di Gule to the Championship courtesy of a second-half penalty.

Commenting on his move to the Dons, Jimmy said: “I am very honoured to be the new Aberdeen manager and to be coming to this great Club and city.

“I wanted to be sure I was making the right step in my career, particularly as this will be my first time managing outside of Sweden. At Elfsborg we work hard together to compete at the top level and it is our intention to achieve the same at Aberdeen.

“The feeling I have about what I have seen at the Club, the staff and the facilities was all very impressive. The vision, effort and support offered by Dave, Alan and Steven have also convinced me it is a great opportunity for me and the Club.

“I can promise the fans we will be striving to build and a develop a team that captures the hearts of the supporters and delivers success on the pitch.

“I’m looking forward to working with Peter and the players and I hope they get the win at Hampden this weekend.”