The Norwegian is close to agreeing a deal that will see hi take over at Pittodrie in time for next season
Eirik Horneland(Image: Philippe Lecoeur/FEP/Icon Sport via Getty Images)
Aberdeen are in final discussions for a deal that will see Eirik Horneland become their new boss in the summer.
The Dons have been in talks with the Norwegian boss for more than a week. and Record Sport understands the deal is now at the advanced stages and is expected to be finalised in the coming days.
Horneland, however, isn’t in a position to take the Pittodrie job until the end of the season.
The Scottish Cup holders will leave interim boss Peter Leven in charge and he will bring in Tony Docherty to assist him between now and the end of the season.
Former Dundee and Ross County boss Docherty was previously a long-serving No. 2 at Aberdeen under Derek McInnes.
He will join Leven in the dugout for Sunday’s Premiership trip to Motherwell.
Leven has been in charge since Scottish Cup-winning boss Jimmy Thelin was sacked in January.
Putting Leven in charge gives Aberdeen time to finalise a deal for their top target Horneland.
Dons’ sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel has led the managerial search.
It is his first appointment at Aberdeen and he has decided Horneland is the man to take the club forward and is worth the wait.
Former Dundee boss Tony Docherty
The German previously tried unsuccessfully to appoint him as head coach of his former club St Louis City.
It now looks to be second time lucky although he and the Dons will still need to play the waiting game.
Horneland left French side Saint Etienne at the start of the month.
The Norwegian was also on Aberdeen’s radar before they appointed Thelin.
He c ame to the fore after an impressive spell at SK Brann where he took them from the second tier to second in the top-flight and to Norwegian Cup glory.
Horneland has previously managed at Haugesund and Rosenborg.
It is more of a trend on the continent where managers are reluctant to go into job mid-season and Horneland has done that twice previously with varying success.
Leven is now in his third spell as interim boss, following the previous sacking of Barry Robson and the departure of Neil Warnock.
He has steadied the ship and Pfannenstiel and chairman Dave Cormack will look for him to do the same over the coming days.
This starts with Motherwell in the league and then again on Wednesday at Pittodrie, as they look to begin the latest defence of their Scottish Cup.
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