Former Rangers star Joachim Bjorklund believes that Jimmy Thelin doing well for Aberdeen bodes well for other Swedish managers, but does not want the Dons to usurp the Gers.
Aberdeen appointed Thelin as their new manager at the start of the season and the Dons have made a good start to the campaign under him.
They have won all the five games they have played so far in the Scottish Premiership and trail leaders Celtic only in terms of goal difference.
Bjorklund, a former Swedish international, who got a taste of Scottish football with Aberdeen’s rivals Rangers in 1996, is happy with Thelin’s start as a manager for the Scottish club.
According to Bjorklund, it bodes well for other Swedish managers who want to leave the country.
However, for the sake of his Rangers connection, Bjorklund hopes that Thelin does not do too well for Aberdeen.
“He did a really really good job at Elfsborg where he was for six or seasons before he left for Aberdeen”, Bjorklund said on the Scottish Football Podcast.
“Especially the last couple of years, they were one game away from winning the league.
“They met Malmo in the last game of last season and probably should have won it but squandered it away probably more the second last game so he nearly won the league here.
“Then he moves to Aberdeen in the summer and he’s had great success and it’s good for Swedish coaches because there’s not too many out there,
“So if he’s doing well, it might help all the other ones who wants to try a bit of international football as well.
“We are proud of him, and hope he’s doing well, just not too well, because I don’t like to see Aberdeen too high up the table, just for the sake of old rivalries!
“He’s a good man.
“He did really, really well in Elfsborg, and I think he’ll continue to have success in Aberdeen.”
Aberdeen, who enjoy a five-point lead over Rangers at the moment, failed to make it into the top six of the Scottish Premiership last season.
