Penguin in past as Pfannenstiel focuses on Pittodrie plans

Pfannenstiel was the first professional to have played in all six Fifa confederations

"Yes I did have a penguin in my bathtub once. I didn't steal him, I just borrowed him for a night."

New Aberdeen sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel began with a nod to his colourful past as he was presented to the media for the first time.

But there was no more on his infamous brush with the seabird, with the 52-year-old German stressing: "I want to focus on Aberdeen."

Pfannenstiel insists his arrival is "good news" for under pressure manager Jimmy Thelin, rhymed off ambitious plans for youth development, spoke of "DNA" to establish a successful culture and of an unlikely affinity for the Dons growing up in Bavaria.

"I watched Aberdeen when I was a kid because I liked Jim Leighton a lot as a former goalkeeper," Pfannenstiel said after explaining he had "three or four options" after leaving Major League Soccer club St Louis City.

"I always followed Scottish football as I have friends playing here as well. I played in the academy with Andreas Mayer, who played for Aberdeen before.

"It is a club with a lot of tradition, with a lot of great things and an area where football is really important with a lot of potential."

Having played for 25 clubs in 13 countries and been assistant manager for Cuba and Namibia, Pfannenstiel should be well connected in terms of recruitment.

"For Aberdeen the most important thing is to find a strategy, a philosophy, a clear playing style," he said.

"Sometimes recruiting the best player on the market doesn't always work out. You need to have the best fitting player to your system and style."

The Dons are currently eighth in the Scottish Premiership following a disappointing start to the season.

"I think it was good news for Jimmy that I came in because he can focus more on what he wants to focus on and concentrate on the coaching," said Pfannenstiel.

"I can take away a lot of pressure from him when it comes to dealing with recruitment, finding players. The head coach should really be able to focus on what is happening on the field, what is happening in the changing room.

"I am here to support Jimmy with everything I can and then to speak about [new] players. There will be a lot of conversations. So far, whenever we spoke I have a really good feeling about that, we see football very much the same."

Three wins and a draw in their past five league games suggest Thelin has turned a corner, with Pfannenstiel saying: "I see a team with very good potential.

"I see maybe one or two little puzzle pieces missing and, if you fill those positions with the right players, I think some of the other players could really take off and go in the perfect right direction.

"Looking at the table people will get worried, but you have to trust the process, you have to also believe in what we have and then it is improving step by step.

"We are not too far away from January and getting a bit of fresh blood. Small changes, small adjustments, can have a big impact."