Former assistant Tony Docherty has rejoined Aberdeen to bolster Peter Leven’s interim coaching team, despite assurances that a permanent managerial appointment will be confirmed imminently.
Docherty Back At Pittodrie
The 55-year-old returns to Pittodrie just weeks after being dismissed by Ross County in December, with his side bottom of the Championship at the time. He will assist caretaker boss Peter Leven during what sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel described as an interim period.
Docherty previously spent eight years at Aberdeen as part of Derek McInnes’ coaching staff after joining the club in 2013. He later followed McInnes to Kilmarnock before moving into management roles with Dundee and Ross County.
Pfannenstiel said Docherty’s experience and deep knowledge of the Scottish Premiership would prove valuable in the short term as the club edges closer to appointing a new head coach.
Horneland Talks Ongoing
Aberdeen’s search intensified after the sacking of Jimmy Thelin on 4 January. Former Rosenborg, Brann and Saint-Etienne boss Eirik Horneland has emerged as the leading candidate.
However, reports suggest the 50-year-old Norwegian may not be available to take up the role until the summer. Horneland departed Saint-Etienne earlier this month with the French side sitting fourth in Ligue 2.
If Aberdeen choose to wait, it would echo the six-month delay before Thelin officially arrived from Elfsborg in 2024.
Leven Welcomes Reinforcement
Leven, currently in his third spell as caretaker with Aberdeen sitting seventh in the Scottish top flight, expressed his delight at Docherty’s return. He highlighted the immediate boost the former assistant’s experience would bring during a demanding run of fixtures.
While fans await clarity over the permanent appointment, the club insists its managerial search is nearing completion — with an announcement expected soon.
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