Key Points
- Former Club Brugge and Burnley mana”ger Nicky Hayen has been placed on a seven-man shortlist by Aberdeen to replace dismissed head coach Stephen Robinson.
- Stephen Robinson was relieved of his duties on Monday, 9 November 2026, following a 4-0 home defeat to Hibernian that left Aberdeen eleventh in the Scottish Premiership with 11 points from 12 matches.
- Aberdeen chief executive Adrian Bevington and sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel are conducting the recruitment process and aim to appoint a successor before the end of the current international break.
- Nicky Hayen, 46, is currently available after being dismissed by English Championship side Burnley on 24 October 2026, having previously been strongly linked with the Celtic manager’s position.
- Former Celtic and Scotland midfielder Gary Caldwell has publicly distanced himself from the vacancy, while Dunfermline Athletic manager Neil Lennon, former Aberdeen player Antoine Kombouaré, and Falkirk boss John McGlynn have also featured in media discussions surrounding the role.
Celtic FC (Glasgow Express) November 13, 2026 – Belgian tactician Nicky Hayen is among seven individuals selected by Pittodrie executives Adrian Bevington and Lutz Pfannenstiel to hold discussions regarding the Scottish Premiership role, as the North East club seeks to appoint a permanent successor before domestic fixtures resume after the international break.
Who is on the Aberdeen manager shortlist?
As reported by The Press and Journal, Aberdeen chief executive Adrian Bevington and sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel have compiled a seven-man shortlist of domestic and international candidates, with 46-year-old Belgian coach Nicky Hayen included among those scheduled for talks. According to Anthony Evans of the Daily Record, the recruitment drive is already underway as the Pittodrie hierarchy looks to make an appointment prior to the conclusion of the November international window.
The inclusion of Hayen represents a notable development in the search. As reported by The National, Hayen was previously linked heavily with the Celtic managerial vacancy last year before the Parkhead board opted to appoint Wilfried Nancy, and later Martin O’Neill. Hayen is currently out of work following his departure from English Championship club Burnley on 24 October 2026.
Other names have circulated prominently across Scottish and European sports outlets in relation to the Pittodrie vacancy, though several have already ruled themselves out or been discounted by sources close to the club:
- Gary Caldwell: The former Celtic and Scotland defender, currently managing EFL League One side Wigan Athletic, was named in initial speculation alongside Neil Lennon. However, as reported by Anthony Evans of the Daily Record, Caldwell moved to dismiss suggestions of a move to Pittodrie on Thursday, 12 November 2026.
- Antoine Kombouaré: The 62-year-old former Paris Saint-Germain manager, who spent two years playing for Aberdeen, expressed openness to a return to the Granite City following his departure from Paris FC last summer.
- John McGlynn and Raphael Wicky: While former Scotland manager Craig Levein urged Aberdeen to pursue Falkirk manager John McGlynn, reports from The Press and Journal indicate that neither McGlynn nor Swiss coach Raphael Wicky is involved in the club’s current interview process.
- Neil Lennon: As reported by Aodhán Ó Conchobhair of Read Celtic and Ben Banks of the Edinburgh Evening News, current Dunfermline Athletic boss and former Celtic and Hibernian manager Neil Lennon has also been discussed by bookmakers and pundits as a potential contender, though he remains under contract at East End Park.
What have candidates and club officials said about the vacancy?
Statements from Aberdeen’s board, the departing manager, and linked figures illustrate the urgency surrounding the appointment at Pittodrie.
Following the board’s decision to terminate Stephen Robinson’s contract on Monday, 9 November 2026, Aberdeen Football Club issued an official statement confirming the departures of Robinson and his backroom staff, which read:
“Following a Board meeting, Aberdeen Football Club has today taken the decision to part company with Head Coach Stephen Robinson. Stephen leaves the Club alongside Assistant Head Coach Brian Kerr and First Team Coach Stephen Craigan. The focus will be on identifying the right candidate to lead the Club forward and deliver the progress expected across all areas of the football operation. Stuart Duff will assume interim charge of first team training while the Club continues its search for a new Head Coach.”
Prior to his dismissal, speaking immediately after the 4-0 defeat to Hibernian on Saturday, 7 November 2026, Stephen Robinson addressed the supporters’ reaction and his position, stating:
“It was an unacceptable performance and an unacceptable result, but I will keep fighting until told otherwise.”
Regarding potential candidates, Wigan Athletic manager Gary Caldwell addressed the rumours linking him with Aberdeen during a press briefing on Thursday, 12 November 2026. As reported by Anthony Evans of the Daily Record, Caldwell stated:
“Nothing from my side. Aberdeen are a fantastic football club with an incredible history. But as far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing in it. I’m at the very beginning of that, I’m really enjoying it, and I think you can see the progress we’ve already made in a short space of time. But this is a very long-term project that I want to see out.”
Conversely, former Aberdeen defender Antoine Kombouaré welcomed the prospect of managing his former club. As quoted by Anthony Evans of the Daily Record, Kombouaré stated:
“Why not? Of course. I’ve done everything in France. I’ve managed nine clubs in France, and I was one year in Saudi Arabia. Why not for the experience? Especially for a club I played for before – I know this is a great place of football, the fans are unbelievable. So why not?”
Why did Aberdeen sack Stephen Robinson and what is Nicky Hayen’s background?
The managerial vacancy at Pittodrie arose after a sustained period of poor domestic form under Stephen Robinson, who was appointed eight months prior with a remit from chairman Dave Cormack to “re-establish a clear identity for our club, to become harder to play against and restore competitiveness.” Despite reaching the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals and recording a 4-0 away victory against Motherwell earlier in the campaign, Aberdeen suffered four consecutive defeats across all competitions and lost seven of their opening 12 Scottish Premiership fixtures. Sitting eleventh in the 12-team division—occupying the relegation play-off spot with 11 points—Aberdeen’s board acted following the 4-0 home loss to Hibernian, marking the sixth full-time managerial dismissal during Dave Cormack’s tenure as chairman.
Nicky Hayen’s candidacy brings a contrasting recent track record from continental Europe and the English second tier. During an 18-month spell in charge of Belgian side Club Brugge, Hayen won the Belgian Pro League title in 2024, secured two domestic cup trophies—including the Belgian Cup—and guided the club to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 during the 2024–25 season, which included a 5–2 knockout victory over Atalanta and a group-stage fixture against Celtic in Glasgow. Hayen resigned from Club Brugge in December 2025 following a dispute with the club’s hierarchy, subsequently spending seven months at KRC Genk before being appointed by Burnley in the summer of 2026. His spell at Turf Moor ended last month after he recorded one league victory in 12 Championship matches—and one win in 14 games across all competitions—culminating in a 4–1 defeat to Lincoln City.
How could this managerial appointment affect Aberdeen supporters and the club’s season?
The outcome of the talks between Aberdeen’s executive team and Nicky Hayen, alongside the other six shortlisted candidates, carries direct implications for Aberdeen supporters, the first-team squad, and the club’s standing in the 2026–27 Scottish Premiership.
For Aberdeen supporters, who voiced dissatisfaction during the defeat to Hibernian and have witnessed six permanent managerial changes in under six years, the appointment of a coach with UEFA Champions League knockout experience and a Belgian Pro League title would signal an ambition by chief executive Adrian Bevington and sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel to look beyond the traditional Scottish managerial market. However, supporters may also weigh Hayen’s domestic success in Belgium against his brief, unsuccessful tenure in the English Championship with Burnley when assessing his suitability for a relegation battle.
For the Aberdeen playing squad and interim coach Stuart Duff, concluding the recruitment process before the end of the November international break will determine how much preparation time the incoming head coach receives before competitive fixtures resume. With Aberdeen sitting eleventh in the Scottish Premiership on 11 points from 12 matches, the new appointment will immediately face the task of halting a four-match losing streak, improving defensive organisation, and lifting the club clear of the relegation play-off position toward the top six and European qualification places.
