Aberdeen Exploring Managerial Options Including Sandro Schwarz
Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack has confirmed that Sandro Schwarz, former manager of Mainz, Hertha Berlin, Dinamo Moscow, and New York Red Bulls, is currently in the city for discussions regarding the club's vacant managerial position. However, Schwarz is only one of multiple candidates under consideration.
The Scottish Premiership club dismissed Jimmy Thelin on 4 January. Peter Leven was appointed as interim manager while sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel initiated the search for a permanent replacement.
Since then, Aberdeen has strengthened Leven's coaching team by adding Tony Docherty and Ian Burchnall, despite previously indicating an intention to announce a permanent manager "imminently."
Eirik Horneland, who recently left Saint-Etienne, was widely linked with the role but stated in an interview with Norwegian television that he is not interested in assuming a new position until the summer.
Chairman Comments on Managerial Search and Candidate Availability
In an interview with RedTV, Cormack emphasized the club's commitment to making the right decision and acknowledged the existence of a shortlist. He also noted that an immediate appointment might not be feasible for the preferred candidate.
"The preponderance of coaches coming forward want, for health reasons or otherwise, a fresh start in the summer," the chairman said. "They want a full pre-season to get their methodology instilled."
"What I would say is that we had a shortlist of about four candidates and we narrowed that and some of these guys aren't necessarily available to come and look at Aberdeen and look at what we have here."
"It's important that we keep confidentiality because if candidates don't want you to talk about them then we have to respect that."
"The situation with one of the candidates is that there's a personal challenge, family-wise, that we have to respect."
"One I can talk about because he said it was okay to mention it is that visiting from yesterday through to the Celtic game is Sandro Schwarz. He's here to check us out and vice versa. But he's a candidate."
Potential Appointment Timeline and Club Stability
When asked if Schwarz could be appointed quickly if talks proceed positively, Cormack responded:
"That's got to be determined.
We could have hired a coach and put someone in place within two weeks. But would he have been a 10/10 fit?
For me, it's embarrassing that we're having to go through my sixth permanent appointment and some in the Premiership have been through seven, eight or nine in that time. The average tenure is 1.2 years.
We will take our time to get the right manager in place."
