Aberdeen Eyes up Horneland: Is the Norwegian Manager Heading to Pittodrie?

Former Saint-Etienne and Brann boss Eirik Horneland is primed to become the next Aberdeen manager according to Sky Sports.

He is now the leading candidate to replace Jimmy Thelin, who was sacked last month after a 0-1 loss to Falkirk. Talks are on-going and the club are hopeful to make a deal happen. The 50-year-old has experience in Norwegian football with Rosenborg, Brann and Hauguesund. His most recent managerial spell came with French side Saint-Étienne where he was in charge for 43 games and 395 days overall. Horneland failed to save Saint-Étienne from a Ligue 2 relegation last year after joining in the middle of the season. The French side had an outstanding start to the Ligue 2 campaign under the Norwegian who was able to drive the belief back into the team. However, results started to dwindle, and the club are now sat 5th in the league. Eirik’s most successful spell came with SK Brann where he led the Norwegian to the Eliteserien title and then to the Norwegian Cup in 2022.

Eirik Horneland has already managed both the Norwegian players currently at Aberdeen, Sivert Nilsen and new goalkeeper signing Per Kristian Bratveit. Horneland played Nilsen in 108 games at his time at Brann, He also served as his captain for two seasons prior to his move to Scotland, scoring 26 goals in 198 appearances for the club. Eirik has also given Per Kristian Bratveit 68 games in his Managerial career.

Aberdeen Sporting Director Lutz Pfannenstiel is a fan of Norwegian manager and tried to secure his services for American side St. Louis City SC and Germany’s Fortuna Dusseldorf.