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Sean Wallace: Will Sir Alex Ferguson mentor Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin?

Aberdeen boss was spotted with legend Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford at the weekend for Manchester United's 1-1 Premier League draw with Chelsea.

Aberdeen boss Alex Ferguson is held high by his players after winning the European Cup Winners' Cup in Gothenburg. Image: SNS
Aberdeen boss Alex Ferguson is held high by his players after winning the European Cup Winners' Cup in Gothenburg. Image: SNS

It would be fantastic if Sir Alex Ferguson acts as a mentor to Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin as the Swede attempts to bring trophy success back to the club.

After a sensational start to his Aberdeen career with a 16 game unbeaten run, with 15 wins, Thelin suffered his first setback when losing 6-0 to Celtic at Hampden.

The Premier Sports Cup semi-final hammering is an early harsh lesson to Thelin on the danger of the perfect storm of the Dons having an off day when Celtic hit top form.

After such a chastening defeat it was perfect timing that less than 24 hours later Thelin was in the company of a managerial colossus.

Thein was spotted sitting alongside Gothenburg Great Sir Alex at Old Trafford on Sunday during Manchester United’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Chelsea.

Aberdeen and Manchester United legend Sir Alex also talked with Thelin after the Reds’ 2-2 draw with Celtic at Parkhead last month.

Hopefully this is the beginning of a relationship where Sir Alex can act as a mentor to Thelin as he attempts to shake up Scottish football.

Jimmy Thelin and Alex Ferguson
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin sat in the row behind Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford. Image: PA.

Sir Alex understands the benefit of a young manager being mentored.

The legendary Jock Stein, who led led Celtic to the European Cup in 1967, was a long-term mentor to Sir Alex.

To the extent that Stein was invited by Sir Alex to accompany Aberdeen to Gothenburg for the European Cup Winners’ Cup final in 1983.

Sir Alex acted on Stein’s advice to gift a bottle of whisky to Real Madrid manager Alfredo Di Stefano after a training session.

It was to make him think Aberdeen, and their manager, were a “wee team” just grateful to face the Spanish giants in a final.

Of course they were not and were there to win.

It was a psychological insight delivered from decades of experience by Stein.

And ideally Sir Alex can do the same for Thelin, if needed.

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin during the 6-0 Premier Sports Cup semi-final loss to Celtic at Hampden. Image: Shutterstock
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin during the 6-0 Premier Sports Cup semi-final loss to Celtic at Hampden. Image: Shutterstock

It would be brilliant to have one of world football’s greatest ever managers only a phone call away for Thelin if he needed any advice.

The pain of the margin and manner of the semi-final defeat will still have been raw for Thelin when he arrived at Old Trafford.

However no-one knows better than Sir Alex the formula and mindset needed to beat Celtic, and Rangers, in Glasgow.

The key to lifting trophies is beating the Old Firm in Glasgow, and Sir Alex did that regularly.

Any pointers on how to dump Celtic and Rangers would be of invaluable benefit to Thelin during what he views as a three-year plan to bring sustained success to Pittodrie.

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin during the Premier Sports Cup semi-final loss to Celtic at Hampden
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin during the Premier Sports Cup semi-final loss to Celtic at Hampden. Image: SNS

Sir Alex dominated Scotland and England with Aberdeen and Manchester United and conquered Europe with both.

However he has also endured adversity and setbacks only to emerge stronger each time.

During his first two seasons as Aberdeen boss Sir Alex lost two League Cup finals and two Scottish Cup semi-finals.

After the first three of those losses the Dons bounced back with a league win in their next match.

The only exception was after a 1-0 Scottish Cup semi-final loss to Rangers in 1980 when the Dons drew their next game 1-1 with Hibs.

However, it was the continuation of a 15-game unbeaten league run that would end in Premier Division title glory.

The challenge to Thelin is to also bounce back from a damaging cup loss at Hampden to continue the momentum of a strong league campaign.

And if Sir Alex offers advice on how to achieve that, all the better.

 

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