Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin spoke with emotion and pride after guiding the Dons to their first Scottish Cup triumph since 1990, following a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Celtic at Hampden Park.
The match, which ended 1-1 after extra time, saw Aberdeen hold their nerve in the shootout, delivering a moment of euphoria for their fans and capping off an historic day for the club.
Reflecting on the occasion, Thelin praised not just the performance, but the deep sense of unity and belief that carried his squad through.
“What can I say about my feelings?” Thelin said. “I think you hear outside today with our supporters—the face of our supporters, the smile on the city, the players, the staff… All this week we have tried to visualise how we can win this game and create this belief inside the squad and how to compete.”
The Swedish manager was full of respect for his opponents but lauded the resilience and determination of his own players.
“Celtic is a really good team. Brendan (Rodgers) is a really amazing manager, but the way the players competed out there, how they defended together—they were cramped, they were tired, but they kept believing and I’m so proud.”
With Aberdeen’s long wait for silverware finally over, Thelin allowed himself a moment of personal reflection.
“I’m happy, relieved, tired—and I’m going to enjoy this evening.”
He also emphasised the long-term impact of the victory, particularly on the development and confidence of his squad.
“When you win you can take a lot, and I think so many players today grew a lot. They get the feeling that they can do it, and it’s going to help them in the future.”
For Aberdeen fans, the moment will be remembered for generations. For Jimmy Thelin, it marks the beginning of what many hope will be a new era of success at Pittodrie.
Callum McFadden 