2009–10 Aberdeen F.C. season

Aberdeen
2009–10 season
Chairman Stewart Milne
Manager Mark McGhee
Stadium Pittodrie Stadium
Scottish Premier League 9th
Scottish Cup Fifth Round
League Cup Third Round
Top goalscorer League:
Steve MacLean (5)
All:
Four players (5)
Highest home attendance 16,803 v Celtic (9 August)
Lowest home attendance 6,097 v Kilmarnock (5 May)
Average home league attendance 11,012

The 2009–10 season was Aberdeen's 96th successive season in the top flight of Scottish football, and their 98th season overall. Aberdeen competed in the Scottish Premier League, Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup and UEFA Europa League during the 2009–10 season.

Season overview

Aberdeen started the new season under new management. On the last day of the 2008–09 it was announced that Jimmy Calderwood and his management team would leave after five years at the club. Aberdeen negotiated with fellow SPL club Motherwell for the release of their manager, Mark McGhee. McGhee had a successful spell at the club as a player, when the Dons' won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1983. Along with his assistant Scott Leitch the pair would form Aberdeen's new management team. In the summer, Aberdeen lost their captain, Scott Severin, who left to pursue a career in England with Championship club Watford. The club also parted ways with four other players; defender Lee Mair joined fellow SPL club St Mirren. Jamie Smith joined MLS side Colorado Rapids, goalkeeper Bertrand Bossu had his contract terminated by the club and he was signed up with English club Crewe Alexandra. The club also parted ways with Faroese youngster Rogvi Holm. With the squad depleting, McGhee sought out to buy new players. McGhee tried to sign Benin international Réda Johnson, but the defender choose to move to English outfit Plymouth Argyle. McGhee did make his first signing, goalkeeper Stuart Nelson from Norwich City. Jerel Ifil, Davide Grassi and Maurice Ross joined from Swindon Town, Espanyol and Kocaelispor respectively. Aberdeen became one of the first clubs to participate in the newly re-branded Europa League. Aberdeen were drawn against Czech opposition in Sigma Olomouc. It soon proved to be a tie to forget, as the Dons were humbled 5–1 at home, and 3–0 away, which resulted in an 8–1 aggregate score. Aberdeen were also knocked out early in the League Cup as well. After falling 2–0 down, goals from Michael Paton ensure that the cup tie against Dundee would go into extra time. Aberdeen lost the game 3–2. Aberdeen started their League campaign with a 3–1 defeat to Celtic, but with wins against Hamilton, St Mirren, St Johnstone and a notable one against rivals Rangers have got Aberdeen's season back on track.

Transfers

Transfers

In Permanent

Player From Fee Contract length
Stuart Nelson Norwich City Free One year
Jerel Ifil Swindon Town Free Two year
Davide Grassi Espanyol Undisclosed One year
Maurice Ross Kocaelispor Free One year

Loans in

Player From Loan Length
Paul Marshall Manchester City End of Season
Steve MacLean Plymouth Argyle End of Season
Jim Paterson Plymouth Argyle End of Season

Loans out

Player To Loan Length
John Bateman Peterhead One year
Stuart Duff Inverness Caledonian Thistle One month
Chris Maguire Kilmarnock End of season

Out Permanent

Player To Fee Note
Lee Mair St Mirren Free End of contract
Scott Severin Watford Free End of contract
Jamie Smith Colorado Rapids Free End of Contract
Bertrand Bossu Crewe Alexandra Free End of Contract
Rogvi Holm Free Released
Sammy Stewart Free Released
Maurice Ross Beijing Guoan Free End of contract
Tommy Wright Grimsby Town Free Released
Lee Miller Middlesbrough £500,000 –

Statistics

Current squad

Updated 22 April 2010 Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK SCO Jamie Langfield
2 DF SCO Charlie Mulgrew
3 DF SCO Ricky Foster
4 MF SCO Gary McDonald
5 DF SCO Zander Diamond (vice-captain)
6 DF SCO Andrew Considine
8 MF SCO Mark Kerr (captain)
9 FW SCO Steve MacLean (on loan from Plymouth Argyle)
10 FW SCO Darren Mackie
11 MF NGA Sone Aluko
14 MF SCO Derek Young
15 DF SCO Jim Paterson (on loan from Plymouth Argyle)
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 MF SCO Stuart Duff
18 DF ITA Davide Grassi
19 MF SCO Peter Pawlett
20 MF ENG Paul Marshall (on loan from Manchester City)
21 GK ENG Stuart Nelson
22 DF ENG Jerel Ifil
24 FW SCO Michael Paton
25 DF SCO Jonathan Crawford
27 DF SCO Stirling Smith
30 GK SCO Jon Bateman
32 DF SCO Scott Ross
34 MF SCO Fraser Fyvie

Player statistics

Appearances for competitive matches only

No. Pos Nat Player Total Premier League Scottish Cup League Cup Europe
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK SCO Jamie Langfield 40 0 34 0 3 0 1 0 2 0
2 DF SCO Charlie Mulgrew 41 5 36 4 2 0 1 0 2 1
3 DF SCO Ricky Foster 41 0 36 0 2 0 1 0 2 0
4 MF SCO Gary McDonald 28 4 23 3 2 1 1 0 2 0
5 DF SCO Zander Diamond 18 3 16 3 2 0 0 0 0 0
6 DF SCO Andrew Considine 19 1 16 1 0 0 1 0 2 0
7 FW SCO Chris Maguire 21 1 17 1 1 0 1 0 2 0
7 DF SCO Jim Paterson 9 0 7 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
8 MF SCO Mark Kerr 42 0 36 0 3 0 1 0 2 0
9 FW SCO Lee Miller 22 4 18 3 1 1 1 0 2 0
9 FW SCO Steven MacLean 17 5 15 5 2 0 0 0 0 0
10 FW SCO Darren Mackie 37 5 31 4 3 1 1 0 2 0
11 MF NGA Sone Aluko 26 3 22 3 2 0 0 0 2 0
14 MF SCO Derek Young 24 3 20 3 3 0 0 0 1 0
15 MF ENG Tommy Wright 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 MF SCO Stuart Duff 18 0 16 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
17 DF SCO Maurice Ross 7 0 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
18 DF ITA Davide Grassi 23 0 22 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
19 MF SCO Peter Pawlett 17 0 14 0 2 0 1 0 0 0
20 MF ENG Paul Marshall 10 0 9 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
21 GK ENG Stuart Nelson 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
22 DF ENG Jerel Ifil 30 0 26 0 3 0 1 0 0 0
24 FW SCO Michael Paton 38 5 34 3 2 0 1 2 1 0
25 DF SCO Jonathan Crawford 3 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
31 FW SCO Mitchel Megginson 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
34 MF SCO Fraser Fyvie 26 1 25 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
35 MF SCO Nicky Low 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
42 DF SCO Clark Robertson 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
45 FW SCO Dominico Gibson 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
52 MF SCO Jack Grimmer 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

As of game played 1 May 2010

Most appearances

Rank Player SPL SC LC EL Total
1. Mark Kerr 36 3 1 2 42
2. Richard Foster 36 2 1 2 41
3. Charlie Mulgrew 36 2 1 2 41
4. Jamie Langfield 34 3 1 2 40
5. Michael Paton 34 2 1 1 38

Source: above appearances and goals table

Top scorers

Rank Player SPL SC LC EL Total
1. Steve MacLean 5 0 0 0 5
2. Charlie Mulgrew 4 0 0 1 5
3. Darren Mackie 4 1 0 0 5
4. Michael Paton 3 0 2 0 5
5. Lee Miller 3 1 0 0 4
6. Gary McDonald 3 1 0 0 4
7. Zander Diamond 3 0 0 0 3
8. Derek Young 3 0 0 0 3
9. Sone Aluko 2 0 0 0 2
10. Andrew Considine 1 0 0 0 1
11. Chris Maguire 1 0 0 0 1
12. Fraser Fyvie 1 0 0 0 1
13. Mark Kerr 1 0 0 0 1

Awards

Clydesdale Bank Awards

Main article: Scottish Premier League monthly awards
Month Recipient Award Report
November Peter Pawlett Young Player of the Month [1]
January Fraser Fyvie Young Player of the Month AFC

Results and fixtures

Pre-season friendlies

Date Opponent H/A Score Aberdeen Scorer(s) Attendance Report
18 July 2009 1860 Munich A 0–1 1,000 AFC
22 July 2009 Peterhead A 3–2 Miller (30 pen.), Aluko (53), Paton (63) 1,954 AFC
25 July 2009 Dundee A 1–1 Aluko (1) 3,613 AFC
9 August 2009 Hull City A 1–0 Gardner (o.g.) 8,272 AFC

Scottish Premier League

Main article: 2009–10 Scottish Premier League
Match Day Date Opponent H/A Score Aberdeen Scorer(s) League
Position 		Attendance Report
1 15 August 2009 Celtic H 1–3 Aluko (61) 9 16,803 BBC Sport
2 22 August 2009 Hamilton Academical A 3–0 Mulgrew (23), Considine (29), Maguire (63) 6 3,347 BBC Sport
3 29 August 2009 Motherwell H 0–0 6 11,320 BBC Sport
4 14 September 2009 Falkirk A 0–0 6 4,724 BBC Sport
5 19 September 2009 St Mirren H 1–0 Mulgrew (88) 5 10,103 BBC Sport
6 26 September 2009 Rangers A 0–0 5 47,968 BBC Sport
7 3 October 2009 Kilmarnock A 1–1 McDonald (84) 6 4,997 BBC Sport
8 17 October 2009 Heart of Midlothian H 1–1 Miller (42) 6 11,629 BBC Sport
9 24 October 2009 Dundee United H 0–2 7 11,766 BBC Sport
10 31 October 2009 Hibernian A 0–2 7 13,885 BBC Sport
11 7 November 2009 St Johnstone H 2–1 Aluko (15), Miller (83) (pen.) 6 10,894 BBC Sport
12 21 November 2009 Motherwell A 1–1 McDonald (67) 6 4,668 BBC Sport
13 28 November 2009 Rangers H 1–0 Miller (17) 6 16,153 BBC Sport
14 5 December 2009 Celtic A 0–3 6 56,010 BBC Sport
15 12 December 2009 Hamilton Academical H 1–2 McDonald (75) 6 9,499 BBC Sport
16 19 December 2009 Hibernian H 0–2 6 9,096 BBC Sport
17 2 January 2010 Dundee United A 1–0 Mulgrew (15) 6 10,032 BBC Sport
18 12 January 2010 St Mirren A 0–1 6 3,867 BBC Sport
19 23 January 2010 Kilmarnock H 1–0 Young (49) 7 12,150 BBC Sport
20 27 January 2010 Heart of Midlothian A 3–0 Fyvie (12), Mackie (50), Young (75) 6 14,219 BBC Sport
21 30 January 2010 Motherwell H 0–3 7 9,555 BBC Sport
22 2 February 2010 Falkirk H 0–1 7 7,741 BBC Sport
23 10 February 2010 Hibernian A 2–2 Paton (25), MacLean (34) 6 10,469 BBC Sport
24 13 February 2010 Celtic H 4–4 Paton (9), Mackie (37), MacLean (75 pen), (88) 7 14,898 BBC Sport
25 20 February 2010 Falkirk A 1–3 Mulgrew (5) 7 4,643 BBC Sport
26 27 February 2010 Heart of Midlothian H 0–1 7 8,316 BBC Sport
27 6 March 2010 Hamilton Academical A 1–1 Diamond (76) 7 2,030 BBC Sport
28 16 March 2010 St Johnstone A 0–1 8 3,826 BBC Sport
29 20 March 2010 Dundee United H 2–2 Diamond (32), Paton (45) (pen.) 8 9,316 BBC Sport
30 27 March 2010 St Mirren H 2–1 Diamond (37), Aluko (56) 8 8,764 BBC Sport
31 4 April 2010 Kilmarnock A 0–2 8 4,825 BBC Sport
32 7 April 2010 Rangers A 1–3 Mackie (68) 8 47,061 BBC Sport
33 11 April 2010 St Johnstone H 1–3 Mackie (17) 9 7,568 BBC Sport
34 17 April 2010 Falkirk H 1–0 MacLean (11) 9 10,461 BBC Sport
35 24 April 2010 St Johnstone A 1–1 MacLean (16) 9 3,295 BBC Sport
36 1 May 2010 Hamilton Academical H 1–3 Young (85) 9 7,099 BBC Sport
37 5 May 2010 Kilmarnock H 1–2 Kerr (26) 9 6,097 BBC Sport
38 8 May 2010 St Mirren A 1–0 Mair (27) (o.g.) 9 4,022 BBC Sport

UEFA Europa League

Main article: 2009–10 UEFA Europa League
Round Date Opponent H/A Score Aberdeen Scorer(s) Attendance Report
TQR 30 July 2009 Sigma Olomouc H 1–5 Mulgrew (23) 13,973 BBC Sport
TQR 6 August 2009 Sigma Olomouc A 0–3 7,405 BBC Sport

Scottish League Cup

Main article: 2009–10 Scottish League Cup
Round Date Opponent H/A Score Aberdeen Scorer(s) Attendance Report
Third Round 22 September 2009 Dundee A 2–3 (a.e.t.) Paton (63, 88) 6,131 BBC Sport

Scottish Cup

Main article: 2009–10 Scottish Cup
Round Date Opponent H/A Score Aberdeen Scorer(s) Attendance Report
Fourth Round 9 January 2010 Hearts H 2–0 Mackie (60), Miller (76) 8,226 BBC Sport
Fifth Round 6 February 2010 Raith Rovers A 1–1 McDonald (90) 7,045 BBC Sport
Fifth Round Replay 16 February 2010 Raith Rovers H 0–1 8,153 BBC Sport

Competitions

Overall

Competition Started round Current
position / round 		Final
position / round 		First match Last match
Scottish Premier League — — 9th 15 August 2009 8 May 2010
League Cup 3rd Round — 3rd Round 22 September 2009 22 September 2009
Scottish Cup 4th Round — 5th Round 9 January 2010 16 February 2010
UEFA Europa League Third qualifying round — Third qualifying round 30 July 2009 6 August 2009

Source: Competitions

SPL

Main article: 2009–10 Scottish Premier League

Classification

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
7 Hamilton Academical 38 13 10 15 39 46 −7 49
8 St Johnstone 38 12 11 15 57 61 −4 47
9 Aberdeen 38 10 11 17 36 52 −16 41
10 St Mirren 38 7 13 18 36 49 −13 34
11 Kilmarnock 38 8 9 21 29 51 −22 33
Source: SPFL Archive
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

Results summary

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
38 10 11 17 36 52  −16 41 6 4 10 20 31  −11 4 7 7 16 21  −5

Source: BBC Sport

Results by round

Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38
Ground H A H A H A A H H A H A H A H H A A H A H H A H A H A A H H A A H H A H H A
Result L W D D W D D D L L W D W L L L W L W W L L D D L L D L D W L L L W D L L W
Position 9 6 6 6 5 5 6 6 7 7 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 7 7 6 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 9
Source: BBC Sport
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

League Positions

Results by opponent

Team Results Points
1 2 3 4
Celtic 1–3 0–3 4–4 1
Dundee United 0–2 1–0 2–2 4
Falkirk 0–0 0–1 1–3 1–0 4
Hamilton Academical 3–0 1–2 1–1 1–3 4
Heart of Midlothian 1–1 3–0 0–1 4
Hibernian 0–2 0–2 2–2 1
Kilmarnock 1–1 1–0 0–2 1–2 4
Motherwell 0–0 1–1 0–3 2
Rangers 0–0 1–0 1–3 4
St Johnstone 2–1 0–1 1–3 1–1 4
St Mirren 1–0 0–1 2–1 1–0 9

Source: 2009–10 Scottish Premier League article

Club

See also