Scottish Cup semi-final: Hearts v Aberdeen
Venue: Hampden Park, Glasgow Date: Saturday 19 April Time: 12:30 BST
Coverage: Watch live on BBC One Scotland, BBC iPlayer or the BBC Sport website & app; listen on BBC Sounds or BBC Radio Scotland
It is exactly a year since Aberdeen appointed Jimmy Thelin as their 25th permanent manager.
It was a move that provided clarity and optimism after a chaotic season during which Barry Robson, Neil Warnock and Peter Leven all had spells in charge.
Thelin will lead Aberdeen out at Hampden on Saturday in a Scottish Cup semi-final against Hearts – live on the BBC – in the latest chapter of what has been a rollercoaster first season.
He arrived in Scotland with a big reputation in his homeland, but how much have we learned about the Swede since he took charge at Pittodrie?
And how has he found his first 12 months in Scottish football?
“I have enjoyed it a lot,” Thelin told BBC Scotland.
“It feels like a quick year and exciting times, some really good moments, some challenging parts. But the most important thing is you feel yourself develop, you feel the team is developing and you have a good journey together.”
Thelin, 47, enjoyed huge success in his previous job at Elfsborg, guiding them to two second-place finishes in the Swedish top flight.
While he knew Aberdeen were a big club before he made the move to Scotland, he says what he has experienced since he officially took the reins in June has shown him they are even bigger than he initially thought.
“You guess before, but I think you always have to live it, feel it,” he said. “When you arrive you can feel how important it is for the people in and around Aberdeen.
“Even around the world, you meet people in airports and they talk about Aberdeen.
“You feel a responsibility, like you want to give something back. That is what we are trying to create – when we are playing they should feel like everybody is giving everything they have.”
One thing that has become clear since Thelin became part of the Scottish football furniture is his temperament.
Whether it is on the touchline or in front of the TV cameras, he is measured and calm, never getting too high or too low, irrespective of how results are going.
But is it the same story behind the closed doors of the dressing room?
“You will have to ask the players,” he said.
“I am quite calm. I think it is important you are always yourself, otherwise players can feel you are not genuine, so I try to be myself in every moment.”
Since Thelin arrived, there has been plenty of talk about there being a three-year plan at Aberdeen.
He presided over a remarkable unbeaten start to the campaign, which was followed by an even more remarkable drop in form, before results picked up again.
With the Aberdeen fifth in the Premiership, pushing for Europe, and a game away from the Scottish Cup final, does Thelin feel they are ahead, behind or on schedule?
“We are trying to take care of the short-term objectives but also trying to plan for the long term,” he said.
“I think we are where we should be, maybe a little bit ahead, maybe a little bit behind, but in general we are in a good place.
“It is a long-term process and a lot of things are already really good, but we have to always want more. That is the spirit we are trying to spread to everyone.
“We are also trying to look a bit ahead to what we think is important in the future. We try to win now but also be even better in the future.”
