Europe (UEFA)
Indonesia
Nigeria

Ross McCrorie vows to help Aberdeen become "as successful as possible"

sportsmole.co.uk, 27 July 2021, 16:25
Aberdeen return to the scene of their most famous triumph this week but Ross McCrorie is focused on creating more history rather than looking back.

The Dons will play BK Hacken on Thursday in Gothenburg, the Swedish city where they beat Real Madrid in the final of the 1983 European Cup Winners' Cup.

One of the 'Gothenburg Greats', Neil Simpson, will be on the flight over in his role mentoring the club's young players and McCrorie is looking forward to hearing the former Dons midfielder's stories.

But they will drive him on to create his own memories in a red shirt ahead of the Europa Conference League qualifier.

"I have spoken to Simmy a few times and he is buzzing to get back over there," McCrorie said.

"I've had the odd shout over to Simmy about Gothenburg but he's not quite given us the stories yet. We will maybe hear them on the plane over, we will wait and see.

"When I signed for Aberdeen, I already knew about the history of the club and I knew how big a club it was.

"The aim was to try and win trophies, that's why I came up here. I want to try and win trophies, not just the one, but a few, and try to make the club as successful as possible."

McCrorie stressed there was work to do in Sweden despite a 5-1 first-leg win which rekindled memories of the Dons in their 1980s pomp.

The performance was a major lift to a support which had seen its team net just once in a 10-game period from late January into April, but McCrorie fully expected their summer preparations under Stephen Glass to pay dividends.

"I don't think any of us were surprised in the building," he said. "We have all worked really hard throughout pre-season, we have worked on different combination plays in the final third and you could see that the other night.

"Our goals were great, either through individual quality or the team through combination play - it was terrific and we got plenty of goals.

"That's something we missed last season and we are hoping to change that and get a lot more goals. That's a good start for us."

Meanwhile, Aberdeen have appointed Darren Mowbray as their head of recruitment.

Mowbray previously worked at Middlesbrough, Leeds and, latterly, Burnley.

Mowbray said: "The club's data-driven focus to player recruitment, incorporated with targeted live scouting is crucial in modern day football and is strongly aligned with my own background, experiences and skill set.

"The aim is to bring into line recruitment throughout the academy to the first team, which will allow us to continue producing exciting homegrown players, supplemented with talent from other markets."

Top News

29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Gil Vicente vs. Famalicao (Friday, 3.30pm) Gil Vicente and Famalicao get round 27 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga underway when they go head to head at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos on Friday. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bristol City vs. Leicester (Friday, 12.30pm) Having been knocked off their Championship perch, an ailing Leicester City endeavour to reignite their title bid against Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Friday lunchtime. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Vitoria de Guimaraes will be looking to move level with Braga in the Conference League qualification spot when they go head to head with Moreirense on Saturday. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides who could do well with all three points go head to head in round 27 of the Primeira Liga as Estoril Praia play host to Porto at the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota on Saturday. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fulham boss Marco Silva has admitted he has spoken to Willian about his future with the club. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly discovered the asking price of Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes ahead of the summer transfer window. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atlanta United can maintain their 100% record at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday when they host the Chicago Fire in the final MLS encounter of the weekend. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly suffered a blow in their pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain attacker Xavi Simons, who has starred on loan at RB Leipzig this season. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to keep their faint hopes of European qualification alive, Freiburg will travel to Borussia Park to face Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga on Saturday afternoon. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England trio Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford and Cole Palmer are among a number of players who could be potential beneficiaries if UEFA agree to increase national team squad sizes from 23 to 26 for Euro 2024. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa Women will welcome fellow Midlands side Leicester Women to the Bescot Stadium for Saturday's lunchtime kickoff. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly increasingly pessimistic about their chances of hiring top managerial candidate Xabi Alonso this summer. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Orlando City will go head-to-head with the New York Red Bulls in gamweek six of the MLS regular season at the Inter&Co Stadium in Florida on Sunday morning. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to keep their European hopes alive, Eintracht Frankfurt will welcome Union Berlin to Deutsche Bank Park on Saturday afternoon in the Bundesliga. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Unbeaten in their five Major League Soccer matches so far, Los Angeles entertain the challenge of Seattle Sounders at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City Women will continue their title bid with a trip to Prenton Park for Saturday's Women's Super League meeting with Liverpool Women. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to respond following a defeat prior to the international break, Hearts will welcome Europe-chasing Kilmarnock to Tynecastle Park on Saturday afternoon in the Scottish Premiership. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fulham defender Calvin Bassey is expected to overcome an injury issue in time for Saturday's Premier League meeting with Sheffield United. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk RKC Waalwijk will be hoping to move outside of the Eredivisie's relegation zone by gaining a positive result against Heerenveen on Saturday. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Go Ahead Eagles could move up to sixth in the Eredivisie table by beating SBV Excelsior on Saturday. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to record back-to-back wins either side of the international break, Aberdeen will welcome Ross County to Pittodrie Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the Scottish Premiership. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid are reportedly prepared to be priced out of a move for Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk AZ Alkmaar will attempt to extend their unbeaten run to seven matches when they play host to Vitesse in Saturday's Eredivisie contest. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A blockbuster Premier League title showdown takes centre stage at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon as reigning champion Manchester City play host to leaders Arsenal. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City duo John Stones and Kyle Walker missed training on Thursday ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash with title rivals Arsenal. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling generated the decibel level of boos that would normally be generated from the away end of Stamford Bridge when he miscued a free kick against Leicester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals before the international break. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Champions League-chasing Aston Villa welcome fellow European hopefuls Wolverhampton Wanderers to Villa Park for a Premier League West Midlands derby on Saturday evening. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton will be looking to steer themselves away from the Premier League relegation zone when they travel to the Vitality Stadium to face Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolfsburg start life after Niko Kovac with a trip to face Werder Bremen at the Weserstadion in the Bundesliga on Saturday.