Aberdeen

Glen Schreuder
Fan writer

Jimmy Thelin and his players had one game to become heroes and write themselves into Aberdeen history.

In typical fashion of this season, it wasn't easy. We needed 120 minutes, four perfect penalties and two terrific Dimitar Mitov saves to end a 35-year wait for Scottish Cup success.

However, all the nerve-shredding tension was worth it when Graeme Shinnie lifted that famous trophy.

Having no 'Plan B' has been a criticism levelled at Thelin. Yet in the biggest game of our season he switched to a back five and brought in Jack Milne, who was absolutely outstanding. As was every man in red.

We stifled Celtic, nullified their wide men, and the gameplan worked.

It took an own goal to give Celtic the lead but, similar to the stunning start of the season, Thelin's substutitions paid off.

Pape Gueye and Shayden Morris brought pace and physicality Celtic couldn't deal with. Just three minutes and three seconds separated Morris' introduction off the bench and his cross deflecting into the net to send 20,000 of us inside Hampden into delirium. Suddenly there was a real belief it could be our day.

After enduring an arduous extra 30 minutes which felt a lot longer, penalties arrived and just like 2014 the Dons ended their trophy drought with success from the spot.

Pandemonium in the stands, outpouring of emotions, the first Scottish cup victory for a generation. This squad has its place in history. Me and many others have a memory and moment to remember.

To Jimmy and the players, thank you for the perfect, unforgettable end to this season's rollercoaster ride.

European group-stage football now awaits, and a summer transfer window to build a squad to compete. It's exciting times but for now another rewatch of the cup final highlights are in order.

Glen Schreuder can be found at Red Tinted Glasses, external

Aberdeen have won the race to sign 25-year-old Australian goalkeeper Nick Suman, whose contract has expired with Scottish League 1 club Cove Rangers, with current third choice Tom Ritchie being released. (Press & Journal), external

Celtic have told third-choice goalkeeper Scott Bain that he can leave the club on a free transfer having agreed to cut short the 33-year-old's contract by a year as they prepare to bring Aberdeen free agent Ross Doohan back to the club as his replacement. (The Herald), external

Aberdeen would be keen to keep 28-year-old on-loan Millwall striker Kevin Nisbet, but the current finances, in terms of a transfer and wages, mean it is unlikely to happen. (Daily Record), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

Image source, SNS

From Albyn Place, down Union Street to the townhouse, thousands of Aberdeen fans erupted in joy as the Scottish Cup glistened in the late spring sunshine in the Granite City. The streets were a sea of red and white.

The Dons' squad, led by manager Jimmy Thelin and captain Graeme Shinnie shrugged off their late night to parade the silverware which had been won less than 24 hours before.

And what a triumph it had been, against all the odds imaginable.

There had been whispers during the week that Thelin was going to switch his tactics after suffering at the hands of Celtic in recent clashes with the champions. He needed something different and it paid spectacular dividends.

The vanquishing of more than three decades of pain in the Scottish Cup was over. Stenhousemuir, Queen of the South, Darvel. The Dons' fans had their fair share of horror stories to tell along the way which probably made this victory all the sweeter.

The fact chairman Dave Cormack compared it to the feeling of winning the Cup-Winners' Cup in 1983, on the club's greatest day, tells you all you need to know about how important it was.

Defensively they looked assured with Alfie Dorrington, Mats Knoester and the impressive academy graduate Jack Milne standing up to everything Celtic threw at them.

The headline-maker was Dimitar Mitov, the Bulgarian replicating the great Theo Snelders all those years and decades ago, first saving when one-on-one with Daizen Maeda before keeping Callum McGregor and Alastair Johnston out in the shoot-out.

Thelin's subs also made the sort of impact they were making in the early part of the season, particularly Shayden Morris, Pape Gueye and Dante Polvara.

The ultimate prize is of course the fact the Scottish Cup has returned to Pittodrie, which was its second home during the 1980s, but it also saw Aberdeen gazump Hibernian for the European spoils of guaranteed continental competition until December with a stab at the Europa League to come first. The bank balance will get a big boost as a result of that.

Aberdeen fans have had their fair share of disappointments down the years, but the scenes at Hampden and then back home the day after will have made it worth the wait.

Image source, SNS

"It's been actually a bit unbelievable. It's much bigger than I thought."

Jimmy Thelin was a little lost for words at the sight of 100,000 Dons fans filling the streets of Aberdeen for the parade of the Scottish Cup.

"We talk about why we do it, and it's for them to enjoy and be proud of the city and all people around Aberdeen and who belong to Aberdeen Football Club," Thelin said.

"It's been an amazing two days and it's going to take a while to let it sink in and get all the feelings and just to summarise everything that's happened in the last two days. It's an amazing time.

"We are here to do everything we can do to put a smile on the faces and travelling around the city on the bus was actually unbelievable, how many people were here.

"I didn't expect that, so it's incredible. We have to enjoy this now.

"I am so happy for all these people, all the effort they have put in all season travelling, they have been there and now they can celebrate together."

Aberdeen goalkeeper Ross Doohan has agreed a pre-contract agreement to return to former club Celtic this summer. (Press & Journal), external

Doohan's Aberdeen teammate Jack Mackenzie will also depart Pittodrie on a free this summer having agreed to join Plymouth Argyle. (Sky Sports), external

On-loan Aberdeen defender Alfie Dorrington has revealed that several of his Tottenham Hotspur teammates tuned in to watch the Dons' Scottish Cup triumph. (Daily Record), external

I wrote Aberdeen off at Hampden Park on Saturday. Everyone did. But this was history, the year of the underdog.

Even when no-one else really did, the squad believed they would lift the Scottish Cup and that's the key to any success - belief.

Listening to the Pittodrie players post-match, they had that confidence despite their previous, and even recent, results against Celtic, which were 5-1, 5-1, 1-0 and 6-0 in their last four meetings.

This was a statement win and it really feels like a historic day, not just for Aberdeen, but the rest of Scottish football.

To see a team outside the big two do this is an amazing moment.

Read Shaun Maloney's column in full here.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

When Aberdeen last won the Scottish Cup in 1990, I was on a bus embarking on a school trip to Germany, listening to it all unfold on my pocket radio.

So being at the celebrations really hammered home how long – too long – it has been since the club last won this trophy, and what it means to the city.

The Dons fans lined the streets in their thousands - well into the tens of thousands, in fact - as the open-topped bus weaved its way through the city centre.

They were in fine voice too, with 'Shinnie, he is one of our own' and the now trademark 'Shady Mo' song being among the choruses belted out as the bus crawled through the throng which filled the granite streets.

Prior to the final, there was a mood of trepidation, and very little expectation among the Red Army.

What a difference a day can make – this was a scene of jubilation and celebration.

It was a fitting reception for the Aberdeen players and staff, who now have their names etched in to the club's history books.

As they took it in turns to hold the trophy aloft from the balcony at the Town House at the Castlegate end of Union Street, each lift was greeted with delirious joy.

Of course, the challenge will be to build on this success.

But this was about savouring the moment, one which saw a city and its football team united as one.

Image source, SNS

So Aberdeen have triumphed in a gripping Scottish Cup final and Celtic are left to rue missing out on a treble. But who stood out and who faded away at Hampden?

BBC Sport Scotland's Tyrone Smith rates how the players performed, and you can see how the audience rated them at the bottom of the page too.

Read the player ratings in full here.

Image source, SNS

Here's how BBC Scotland's cast of pundits reacted to the Dons' cup final win:

Aberdeen legend Willie Miller: "It's brilliant goalkeeping isn't it, from him. He's got a huge stretch, Mitov. He's a tall figure and if he guesses the right way and you're hitting it low then it's going to be really difficult for that to end in the back of the net.

"The penalty kicks from Aberdeen were quite sensational. Three of them were out of this world. The doubters were all out there. I tell you what, what a magnificent afternoon for my old club.

"Fantastic for the club, fantastic for Jimmy Thelin, fantastic for Dave Cormack and wonderful for these fans that are down here celebrating. This is something special, 35 years in the making. It's quite incredible.

"The underdogs, the total underdogs. Nobody including their dogs gave Aberdeen a chance of lifting this trophy, maybe apart from me, and they've done it."

Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner: "Well, well, well. What a good save, although it wasn't the best penalty to finish.

"You could see the nerves, you could see the pressure on Alistair Johnston. Dimitar Mitov comes up with the two big saves in the game.

"Brilliant penalties. You probably wouldn't expect Aberdeen to hit them so well. The last penalty was a really tired penalty. Callum McGregor's was well struck but it was a good height for the goalkeeper.

"Aberdeen deserved it from the point of view that of the way that they changed their structure, changed the way they were going to play. They defended their box well when they had to do it. They got their goal and then they hung in there.

"Celtic had the big chance with Maeda going through. That was the big one and they had the shots off the post and off the crossbar. They had the better chances, Celtic - probably - more control of the game but it just didn't click for them today."

Former Scotland forward James McFadden: "Not many people gave Aberdeen any hope of winning this cup today. But when it comes to a cup final, you just never know.

"It is a time for heroes - Mitov is the hero this afternoon. But it was a monumental effort from Aberdeen as a squad to get over the line.

"It's been such a long time coming. What a season they've had - up and down, and what an end."

Scotland captain Rachel Corsie: "Just listening to Mitov, the credit he gives to the manager. Players don't say that lightly.

"He pays a lot of testament to the fact players trusted him. He did something different today and it worked.

"The last few times they've played Celtic, they've been out of it by half time. He knew that wasn't an option today, they couldn't put themselves in that position."

Former Scotland and Celtic captain Scott Brown: "Form goes out the window in a cup final. We've all been disappointed after a cup final, it's how Celtic bounce back.

"Winning trebles isn't easy. Aberdeen needed a bit of luck, but their defensive unit was really good throughout the game and the manager got the tactics spot on.

"It wasn't pretty over the 120 minutes, but there's no pictures on the cup at the end of the day."

Former Scotland international Leanne Crichton: "It really is unbelievable stuff. Look at the fans, the players, they didn't know how to react.

"That's the beauty of football, that's what makes it so incredible on an afternoon like this."

We asked for your views on Aberdeen's Scottish Cup final victory over Celtic.

Here's what some of you said:

Ross: Aberdeen won the only way they could have and executed the plan almost perfectly. Celtic looked nervy after conceding the equaliser and found us tough to break down. Have we found a template for some success in Europe next season?

Craig: An utterly bonkers season that had a great start, a dire middle and a fairytale ending. Absolutely delighted for everyone at the club and especially for Jimmy Thelin after a lot of doubt from most people. In a single afternoon, the future suddenly seems rather bright for Aberdeen. A trophy in the cabinet and European football guaranteed until the end of the year.

Angus: YAAAAAAAAAAS.

James: Yaaaassssss.

Julie: The most nerve-wracking game I have watched this season. Where has this team been hiding? The fight was there, well done Aberdeen.

William: Terrific result, probably due that performance after the early part of the season when we played like that every week. Delighted.

Niall: Dimitar Mitov, the hero amongst a host of heroes. Thelin's tactics finally paid off as the Dons thwarted a top-quality Celtic side. The Aberdeen penalties were top drawer, and this result will be huge for the Club tactically and financially. Just a seismic result against the club that we've struggled against for years. Huge congrats to all the players, coaching staff and everyone connected to this top club.

Dave: Game plan worked to perfection. Everyone wanted Thelin to change, but didn't think he would. Absolutely buzzing, fantastic day!

Douglas: Grew into the game. Celtic were complacent, barely celebrated their goal, and seemed to expect a stroll. Dons wanted it more by the end. Shinnie & Milne towering. Brings real belief back to the club.

Alison: Wow, what a day, what a win for the Dons. Everyone wrote us off, but we Dons fans had a belief that we could win. Everyone played their part today, but Mitov, take a bow. So pleased that we have proved a lot of people wrong.

Jen: We went in as underdogs, Celtic had possession most of the game, but we defended really well. It rattled Celtic, the penalty shootout was immaculate, the fans dared to dream, and it paid off.

Les: I was worried that Thelin was too idealistic and unwilling to do what was needed to win a game. This disproved that completely. We largely cancelled Celtic out, changed the game late on and had the strength and courage to see it through. Massive for next season too with European qualification. Well done lads.

Richard: Every single player was fantastic. Major credit to all. Jimmy Thelin is the real deal!

Ian: Amazing victory, the boys deserved it, and I hope this will be the start of some good times for this great club, come on you Reds!

Andy: Unreal, unbelievable. What a day. It was written in the stars. Every player in red did their bit and worked their socks off. Mitov does what he does best, and the nerveless penalties, wow. Memories to cherish for the rest of my life.

Andrew: An unbelievable, historic day. This means so much to the fans, the city. Jimmy Thelin's tactical changes tilted a game yet again - and for the ultimate reward. Core memory locked in!

Gregor: I wore the scarf I had from 1970, flew from Canada, and was told we had no chance. Our fans and team were magnificent. The changed formation worked. Another dream day.

Aberdeen earned a sensational first Scottish Cup victory in 35 years as Dimitar Mitov's penalty shootout saves from Callum McGregor and Alistair Johnston ensured they came from behind at Hampden to deny Celtic a treble.

Dons fans, we want your views after your side's historic triumph.

Your moment of that day? Just how good were those penalties? Who was the best player in a red shirt?

Tell us your thoughts here.