Next Aberdeen FC Manager: Odds and Considerations

After being hired until the end of the season, Neil Warnock suddenly stepped down from his position mentioning that it will be easier for the board to find a coach this way. While the list of candidates is growing ever since, Aberdeen still did not find a solution for the issue and for 4 games is under tutelage of interim managers.

Aberdeen FC Next Manager Betting List

Bookmakers kept the market on a replacement for an English specialist open for more than a month. At the moment, judging by the odds given by PaddyPower, there are several main contenders:

Neil Lennon

Neil Lennon is the favourite to take the manager position at Aberdeen. He has been out of coaching since his dismissal from Omonia Nicosia in October 2023. However, he has kept himself involved in the Scottish game through punditry work. His expertise and experience in Scottish football put him ahead of the pack. Although bookmakers have considered him the most obvious option from the beginning, the Aberdeen board has not yet made a decision and remains silent regarding his potential candidacy.

Alex Neil

Alex Neil is second on the list of potentials given his rich experience in different clubs including some achievements in English divisions. He started his managerial career at Hamilton back in 2013, taking them to the Scottish Premiership play-offs in his first season. On a more higher level, he took Norwich City to the Championship playoffs and Sunderland to the League One playoffs in 2022. However, in a more tense environment at Championship, he was sacked from Stoke City, as he could not manage to keep with the club ambitions. With the Scottish championship being way less stringent, Neil's expertise may come in handy to Aberdeen. 

Stephen Robinson

Stephen Robinson achieved relative success in English football with Oldham and Morecambe, but it was at Motherwell that the Irishman made a name for himself. He guided Motherwell to the Scottish League Cup final, beating Rangers in the semi-finals at Hampden, and is currently fourth in this successful season, in charge of St Mirren. Given his successful tenure at St Mirren, there are doubts that a change of scenery will benefit his career, while St Mirren have already made it clear that they are not eager to let Robinson go.

Derrick McInnes 

The potential great comeback of Derek McInnes, who was the Aberdeen manager between 2013 and 2021, is plagued with many rumours that indicate that it will likely not happen. McInnes won the 2014 Scottish League Cup with Aberdeen and also delivered several second placed league finishes as well as some memorable European results. At the same, given that his departure was from being perfect, the tension between him and the board is still an issue. Moreover, as McInnes indicated frequently, his current work at Kilmarnock is a place of his dreams, and it is unlikely that he is eager to move somewhere.

Michael O’Neil

Michael O’Neil would be an interesting candidate for the Scottish side but his arrival to Aberdeen will require heavy work from the board. O'Neill's contract with the IFA runs until 2028 and securing him would have required a hefty financial package. Moreover, he repeatedly mentioned that he is happy with his job at Northern Ireland national, rejecting several other offers (including Scottish National Federation). Being happy with a young national squad and unwillingness to return to club football, O'Neil will likely remain only a dream for Aberdeen's board.