Aberdeen are now hovering to hijack a Celtic managerial target, who has recently made a significant decision about his future.
Dons considering Eirik Horneland alternative
The Dons are thought to be close to naming Eirik Horneland as their new boss. However, when asked whether he is bound for Pittodrie Stadium while on punditry duty for SK Brann vs Bologna in the Europa League, the Norwegian said: “To you? Today? Really.
“No. First I’ll have a little, short break. Then we’ll see what happens in the summer.”
Horneland has been without a job since departing Ligue 2 side Saint-Étienne at the end of January, after struggling to get momentum and losing more games than he won.
The Pittodrie side are not the only Scottish Premiership club searching for a new manager, with Celtic still yet to secure a permanent replacement for interim boss Martin O’Neill, who is due to leave Parkhead at the end of the season.
Back in January, it was reported that Ange Postecoglou was a leading target for the Hoops, but the Australian has since taken a major stance regarding his future, confirming he has no intention of returning to Parkhead on the most recent episode of The Overlap.
Ange said: “In terms of going back, I don’t go back. I just don’t think that’s, kind of, been my career.
“Whatever the next step is, it’ll be something new, something I can make an impact in, somewhere I can win things. But it doesn’t diminish the affection I have.
A switch to Aberdeen would certainly represent a fresh challenge, and according to a report from Sports Boom, the Scottish Premiership club are watching to potentially beat Celtic to the former Tottenham Hotspur manager if they fail to complete their agreement for Horneland.
With the Dons aiming to appoint a successor to Jimmy Thelin, the 60-year-old has now surfaced as a surprise candidate in what would have to be viewed as a major statement signing.
Appointing Ange would be a huge coup for Aberdeen
Although the experienced manager was dismissed by Nottingham Forest after just eight matches earlier this season, he could be an excellent hire for Aberdeen, having already shown he can challenge for trophies in Scotland.
During his spell at Parkhead, the Athens-born coach claimed five trophies, including two Scottish Premiership titles, and he has enjoyed plenty of success across his career, perhaps most notably winning the Europa League while in charge of Tottenham Hotspur in 2025.
Journalist Alex Martin believes Ange, who Dermot Desmond is particularly fond of, did a “fantastic” job at Celtic, but he would, of course, face tighter financial limits at Aberdeen given the gap in resources between the two clubs.
As a result, it appears unlikely the former Celtic manager would be prepared to make the switch to Pittodrie, and the Dons may need to roll the dice on Horneland instead, despite a disappointing period in France.