Latest news with #Devlin
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Nicky Devlin has one word to describe wild Aberdeen season as star reveals his gutted mum missed trophy celebrations
Aberdeen won the Scottish Cup at the weekend but poor Nicky Devlin's mum missed it as she was travelling back from holiday Nicky Devlin has revealed his gutted mum missed Aberdeen 's heroic Scottish Cup success. Anne Marie has travelled the length and breadth of Scotland to watch her boy play, even taking off for Europe after the Dons embarked on continental football in Devlin's first campaign at the club. However, she missed his crowning glory as Aberdeen humbled Celtic at Hampden – because she was away on her future daughter-in-law's hen do. The right-back admits she did not even get the chance to watch it on television since she on a flight out to Tenerife when the drama was unfolding. Devlin said: 'Johnny is my wee brother, he gets married in the summer. His partner Kelsey, it was her hen weekend. 'They flew out on Saturday afternoon so she actually never knew we had won until she landed. 'She was in Tenerife so it's a four-hour flight or something like that. Even with extra-time and penalties, by the time she landed she didn't know what had happened. 'Then she looked at her phone and saw the celebrations, probably saw most of the messages and texts. 'I've spoken to her but I felt bad because she's said it as well, 'I'd love to be in Aberdeen'. 'These things don't come along very often so you have to appreciate them when they do. I tried to limit the contact because I knew the more contact she had, the worse it would be for her. 'I'm sure my dad, who was here, has probably sent her pictures.' Aberdeen's season has been a rollercoaster, which pretty much captures his own campaign – or, as Devlin describes it, 'mental'. He had the highs of a 16-game unbeaten start to claiming his first Scotland cap at home to Portugal last October. The Dons' season then collapsed and, come January, Jimmy Thelin brought in Alexander Jensen as Devlin found himself out of the team. He finally got himself back in in time for Hampden, his third start in five games, and crowned it all by lifting the trophy. Devlin said: 'It's so bizarre, the full season's just been mental. I'd admit at one point in the season, it was probably the worst I've ever felt in my career. 'In terms of not playing, it was the hardest part of my career for a couple months. But it's the same season – it's been the best part of my career so it's hard to judge. 'It's just mental, the whole season's been mad. This is how we've finished it so it's a good way to finish.' Devlin's lack of recent activity resulted in him cramped up in the showpiece and had to make way in the final minutes of normal time before he cost his team. The 31-year-old said: 'I just felt both calves screaming. 'I didn't want to almost be selfish in terms of playing on. We had someone there in Jack MacKenzie who was more than capable of coming on and probably doing better than me in that position. It was thinking about the team more than what I wanted to do.' Devlin was unselfish and it all turned out for the best as the Dons dispatched Celtic on penalties. The enormity of it all did not sink in until the following day when 100,000 descended on Aberdeen city centre for the open-top bus parade. The former Livingston man added: 'It was amazing seeing so many people here, it was incredible. 'It was weird because we were on the bus and I was happy for myself but seeing Graeme Shinnie and what it meant to him... he was there but you could see he was taking it all in. 'He saw how much it means to people. He's obviously lost a good few finals, especially against Celtic, so you could see him soak it up.' The added dimension for the Dons is they will be back in the group stage of Europe after a season out, with Devlin having got his first taste of it in 2023 against teams including Eintracht Frankfurt, HJK and PAOK. Thelin's side go into the Europa League play-off draw, set to happen on August 4, knowing that if they fail to negotiate that double-header, a six-game league phase in the Conference League beckons until December. Devlin said: 'Yes, it's mad that as well. You probably don't think about it and then it's when you go on the bus or you start talking to the boys, it's group stage now. It's equivalent of finishing third. 'That's where everyone wants to be. It makes it difficult in the league but hopefully the manager and us all will be more prepared this year. 'We'll be ready to go in the summer. The players the managers signed, most of them all have experience of playing in Europe, so it's not a new thing for anyone. 'We're in a good position because we want to go and compete. We don't want to just show up and turn up for games, we want to go and do well.'
Press and Journal
3 days ago
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Aberdeen defender Nicky Devlin reveals why Tenerife hen weekend impacted Scottish Cup final glory
Aberdeen defender Nicky Devlin has revealed his mum missed him winning the Scottish Cup because she was at a hen weekend in Tenerife. Devoted mum Ann-Marie has attended almost every game the full-back has played from young kid to seasoned pro. However, she had already booked up for a hen weekend for Devlin's brother's fiancée before the final was confirmed. Devlin's mum was on a flight to the Canary Islands while the final against Celtic raged on at Hampden. It was only when she touched down in Tenerife and turned on her phone that the messages started arriving confirming her son was a Scottish Cup winner. For the 31-year-old lifting the trophy is reward for his parents' dedication in watching him play week in week out. The Scotland international talked to his mum via FaceTime not long after she landed. Devlin explained: 'Johnny, my wee brother, is getting married in the summer. 'His partner Kelsey, it was her hen weekend. 'They flew out on Saturday afternoon so my mum actually never knew until she landed that we had won the cup. 'She was in Tenerife and it's like a four-hour flight or something like that. 'Even with extra-time and penalties by the time she landed she didn't know what had happened. 'Then, she looked on her phone and saw the messages, texts and celebrations.' Signed by Aberdeen in summer 2023, Devlin was a regular starter forr the first 18 months of his Pittodrie career. His form led to a debut Scotland call-up and cap against Portugal in the Nations League last October. However, he struggled to get a start in recent months. The perception was that Devlin would not start the Scottish Cup final, which is why his mum went to the hen weekend. He was pitched back into the starting line-up for the final when playing on the left of a five-man defence as boss Jimmy Thelin changed formation. It was a change of position for Devlin from his normal right-back role, and he excelled. Devlin said: 'When I spoke to my mum I felt bad because she would have loved to be there (at the final). 'I don't think she thought I was going to play so that's why she went. 'If I'd been playing the last couple of months she would maybe have stayed but, it was the hen do as well. 'It was for my wee brother's partner so it's an important event. 'She's in the sun drinking wine, Aberdeen have won a cup so she'll be fine.' A decade ago, Devlin was playing for Ayr United in League One, having previously been at Dumbarton and Stenhousemuir in League Two. This season he has become a Scottish Cup winner and Scotland international. It is a journey where his parents have been there every step of the way. Devlin said: 'My parents go to every game, my mum especially. 'My dad still takes an amateur team in Glasgow from Drumchapel so he's still with them most Saturdays, 'Mum is at every game, she loves it to be fair, even the European stuff. 'They've been at everything so this (Scottish Cup) is a big reward for them as well because they spend a lot of money travelling about the same as all the supporters. 'Days like this are hopefully the reward for them. 'These things don't come along very often so you have to appreciate them when they come.' Devlin was a nailed on first team starter until the end of the January transfer window, when right-back Alexander Jensen was signed. Having started in a 2-0 loss at Hibs on January 30, Devlin had to endure two months out of the starting line-up His next start came in a 1-0 loss at St Mirren on May 3 and that extended absence was worst the defender has felt in his career. Devlin's next start would be the Scottish Cup final. He said: 'It's so bizarre as the full season's just been mental. 'I'd admit, at one point in the season, it was probably the worst I've ever felt in my career. 'In terms of not playing, it was the hardest part of my career for a couple months. 'But at the same time the Scottish Cup has been the best part of my career so it's hard to kind of judge . 'I hadn't played for a while. 'But I always thought in the back of my head, when we got through the semi-final, that the manager would probably put me in. 'Probably not in that position (left wing-back) but I always felt I might have got back in because it was the final. 'It's been a mad season which finished great.'
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
My mum never misses a game but she was 2,500 miles away when Aberdeen won the cup – dumping Celtic left her in tears
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ANN-MARIE DEVLIN rarely misses an Aberdeen game home, away or in Europe. But last Saturday she flew out on a hen do instead of revelling in her son Nicky's Scottish Cup triumph at Hampden. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 2 Nicky Devlin with the Scottish Cup trophy Credit: Kenny Ramsay 2 Devlin celebrates cup final win with team-mates Credit: Kenny Ramsay The Dons defender revealed his dedicated mum has racked up tens of thousands of miles watching him over the years — but couldn't make the game last week to see him win the first honour of his 15-year career. She jetted to Tenerife as part of his soon-to-be sister-in-law's hen party and was in the air during the clash with Celtic and only found out he'd become a Pittodrie legend in a tear-filled call when she landed. Devlin, 31, said: 'My mum goes to pretty much all my games, but she missed the final. 'My brother Johnny gets married in the summer and his partner Kelsey was having her hen do last weekend. 'They flew out on Saturday afternoon, so she didn't know the score until she landed. 'They were in Tenerife, which is a four and a half hour flight, so when she got there she found out we'd won. 'She was very emotional, I spoke to her after and she was in floods of tears. 'I'm not sure she thought I was going to play since I've not been in the team much lately. If I'd been playing every week she might have stayed behind. 'She was telling me she was wishing she was here, but I'm sure she enjoyed herself over there with a few wines! 'It was an important event for the family, so she had to go. I'm sure she had a good time. Aberdeen fans react to historic Scottish Cup win 'On Sunday my dad was there for the party, so he would have sent her plenty of videos, but I limited the contact a bit to make her feel a bit better. 'My dad still takes an amateur team, so my mum probably goes to more of our games. She was even at the European away games. They spend a lot of money travelling to watch me, so it's times like this which make it all worthwhile. It's a reward for them, too. 'Weekends like that one are what it's all about.' Devlin lost his place in the Dons team earlier this season after being an ever-present early on under boss Jimmy Thelin. He had only started three games since January, but the Swede pulled a shock by bringing him in to play as a left wing-back against Nicolas Kuhn then James Forrest. Devlin managed to keep them quiet in a key role in the Dons' solid rearguard action. However he admits he was dead on his feet by the time he came off with a minute of normal time left. He said: 'I haven't played for a while, but when we got through the semi I had a feeling the manager would put me back in, with the way we were going to have to play it. 'I didn't expect it to be in that position, though! How they rated Dimitar Mitov - Saves from Callum McGregor and Alistair Johnston in the shootout plus denying Daizen Maeda late in regular time wrote him a place in Aberdeen's history books. Is now a legend. 10 Alfie Dorrington - Didn't know anything about it as Arne Engels' corner kick cracked off his shoulder before sneaking in. Luckless stuff for the defender, who'd started well and had Adam Idah's card marked. 7 Jack Milne - Shock inclusion as Jimmy Thelin moved to three at the back in a bid to outfox Rodgers. Was superb as part of their back three and showed he's got a big future. 8 Mats Knoester - The most experienced of Aberdeen's back three by far so was tasked with talking them through the afternoon and keeping them organised. Led by example throughout as the Dons dug in. 9 Alexander Jensen - Up against Maeda and kept the Japanese striker as quiet as anyone has throughout the first half here. Did deliver some good balls when he got high enough up. 9 Ante Palaversa - Asked to use his physical presence and cover the ground to block off Celtic's midfield from bombing forward - which he did. Slammed a superb spot kick high into the net. 8 Graeme Shinnie - Slotted back into the middle of the park as part of Thelin's tactical tinkering and brought the grit they needed in there. Great penalty in the shootout to win the cup. 9 Nicky Devlin - Brought back into the side as left wing-back in the Dons' new formation and did his job stopping Nicolas Kuhn cutting inside. Did well until running out of gas late on. 7 Leighton Clarkson - Normally Aberdeen's' creative spark but saw far too little of the ball to make an impact with waves of attack coming the other way. Second half free kick easily saved. 6 Topi Keskinen - Tasked with injecting pace into Aberdeen's rare attacks when they sprung forward but was unable to bring enough quality to the table to hurt the Hoops. Hooked for Pape Gueye. 5 Kevin Nisbet - Defended from the front as the Dons sat in for the first part of this game. Had a good chance from Leighton Clarkson's free kick but headed over. Fed on scraps. 6 Subs: Pape Gueye (Keskinen 56) - Sparked the Dons into life with his pace and energy, turned the game. 7 Dante Polvara (Dorrington 79) - Replaced crocked Dorrington at the back. 7 Shayden Morris (Clarkson 79) - Caused Kasper Schmeichel's late OG leveller within seconds of coming on. 7 Oday Dabbagh (Nisbet 79) - Slammed his penalty in the top corner. 7 Jack MacKenzie (Devlin 89) - Will bow out a cup winner. 6 Kristers Tobers (Milne 93) - Replaced Milne in extra-time. 6 'It's difficult coming in when you've not played much, but when you're told you're playing in a final you're obviously delighted. I was shattered when I came off. I've never cramped up in my life, but both my calves were screaming. 'You can't be selfish in those situations, you don't want to make a mistake and it costs everyone. 'You have to think about the team more than yourself and I knew Jack MacKenzie was ready to come on in that position — and would probably do better than me anyway!' Devlin, who made his Scotland debut last October, admits this has been the best and worst season of his life. He said: 'It's so bizarre, the season has been mental. 'At one point it was the worst I've felt in my career because I wasn't playing. I found that really hard. 'But at the same time, it's also been the best season of my career because I've played for Scotland and now won a Scottish Cup for Aberdeen. Aberdeen end 35 years of hurt as they lift the Scottish Cup in Celtic penalty thriller 'Now we're in the group stages of Europe too, and that only really started to sink in on the bus home. 'It'll makes things difficult playing Thursdays and Sundays, but we'll be better prepared for it this time. The manager will have everyone ready to go. 'The experience of two years ago will help us and the players the manager has signed, most have experience of Europe, so it's not a new thing for anyone. 'Hopefully what happened before can put us in a good position to compete. 'We don't just want to show up. We want to go into Europe and do well.' Ex-Livingston defender Devlin was front and centre during the wild celebrations on Union Street on Sunday. He said: 'The parade was amazing, so many people were there. 'I was delighted for Graeme Shinnie, too. 'He's lost a good few finals, including against Celtic, so he wanted it more than anyone. It was great to see him enjoying things the way he did.' Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Press and Journal
4 days ago
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Aberdeen Tactics Watch: Has a Dons manager's adjusted approach ever made a BIGGER Scottish Cup final impact? All credit to Jimmy Thelin
It was a wonderful day for the Red Army on Saturday as Aberdeen lifted the Scottish Cup for the eighth time in their glorious history – and since this is a tactics-focused feature, one wonders whether in ANY of the previous seven Dons Scottish Cup successes, the manager's adjusted tactical approach has had such a big impact on the final? Jimmy Thelin's deployment of a 5-3-2 system – for the first time this season – was something very few people saw coming and surely added some confusion to Celtic's pregame preparations. Within the shape adjustment, we saw Nicky Devlin restored to the team (at left-back), Graeme Shinnie back in midfield, and young Jack Milne at the heart of the defence. The first half possession stats provide all the information on the effect Aberdeen's adjustments had on the cup final. The Dons managed 16% in the opening period. Yet, for all their time on the ball, Celtic had few clear-cut chances. High regains and quick counters weren't pursued by Aberdeen, with Topi Keskinen and Kevin Nisbet – the front two pressers – a bit deeper than in previous matches. BOTH kept an eye on Callum McGregor in the Celtic midfield, but were less likely to press the Hoops' center-backs. As a result, the Dons were more compact as a unit with less space in between the lines: In a flat midfield three, Shinnie, Leighton Clarkson and Ante Palaversa shuffled over to pick up Paulo Bernardo and Arne Engels as the ball moved, and there was less space for Celtic full-backs Alistair Johnston and Greg Taylor when they chose to invert inside. When one of those four Celtic men made runs in behind, there was always an Aberdeen man tracking him. The pass wide to the Celtic winger was still on, as in previous meetings, but Aberdeen's full-backs, Devlin and Alexander Jensen, were able to be more aggressive and get tighter with an extra centre-back and CB closer to them to provide cover. Devlin, on his weaker left side, was also suited to handling Nicolas Kuhn, because the Hoops wideman wanted to drift inside. On the few occasions when Celtic were able to find a pass between an Aberdeen centre-back and full-back, the Dons had numbers-up inside the penalty area. Thelin had his overload in the box – just at the other end. Unfortunately, for the third consecutive match, the Dons conceded from a corner. It was a tough goal to concede, and while the Dons got their share of luck in this game, the Celtic goal was certainly some bad luck. Nisbet and Keskinen worked very hard but were rarely able to retain possession higher up the field and the Dons struggled to get out. However, the introduction of Pape Gueye on 57 minutes gave added physicality to the Aberdeen frontline and a target for goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov to hit from goal-kicks. Indecision began to creep into Celtic's play as the Dons defence maintained concentration. Hoops centre-halves Liam Scales and Cameron Carter-Vickers progressed further forward, passes were picked off, and Aberdeen were able to find the quick combinations to beat the counter-press. Confidence was growing. Then some of the connections between Celtic's midfield started to fail – with Bernardo guilty of failing to make a simple pass to McGregor as Aberdeen started to engage higher. These moments did not amount to anything concrete for Aberdeen, but gradually the Dons spent more time in the Celtic half. When the Dons then made their triple substitution on 79 minutes, it seemed like they were going to change shape, before Palaversa was pulled back from the subs bench to take his place back in midfield. As it was, sub Shayden Morris took a spot in an unfamiliar role on the right of a midfield three. With the higher press, Bernardo made another unforced error, which provided the initial opening for Gueye to deliver a cross: The Dons did a great job in retaining possession to set up the opportunity, with Gueye again doing very well to keep the ball and Morris holding his width: Of course, there was an element of luck in the equalising goal, via Celtic keeper Kasper Schmeichel's calamitous attempt to cut out the cross, but just look at the numbers in the box: Morris continued to have a major impact on the game, causing concern and creating chances from corners. He added another outlet – whether for through-balls or as a ball carrier, and regardless of whether it was Taylor or Jeffrey Schlupp up against him at left-back, Morris had the match-up advantage. Following Mitov's superb save from Daizen Maeda, the Scottish Cup final entered extra-time. As the minutes ticked by, the focus and concentration of the Aberdeen rearguard deserves special mention. No player overcommitted and left too much space in behind or left a foot in too late, they forced Celtic to break them down – and the Hoops were unable to do so, paving the way for penalty kicks: The penalty heroes were Mitov, Shinnie, Dante Polvara, Oday Dabbagh, and Palaversa, with four outstanding penalties under the weight of pressure at the Celtic end, and two (almost three) saves. But the highest of praise goes to Thelin and his backroom team for instilling the belief in their players and coming up with a plan to keep the team competitive in the final. He now has the credit and money in the bank to shape his team even further to his vision. The future is bright.
Scottish Sun
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Aberdeen 1 Celtic 1 LIVE RESULT as Dons WIN on PENALTIES with Mitov the hero as McGregor and Johnston penalty sinners
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ABERDEEN have ended THIRTY FIVE years of hurt to lift the Scottish Cup. Saves from Callum McGregor and Alistair Johnston gave the Dons their first win in this trophy since overcoming Celtic back in 1990 - also on penalties. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up Celtic led through an Alfie Dorrington own goal as they chase an historic ninth treble - but Shayden Morris fired over a wicked cross and Kasper Schmeichel could only palm the ball into his own net. Brendan Rodgers was bidding to become the first manager in green and white to win three trebles, surpassing Celtic's European Cup winning boss, Jock Stein. Aberdeen XI: Mitov, Devlin, Knoester, Milne, Dorrington, Jensen, Shinnie, Clarkson, Palaversa, Keskinen, Nisbet. Subs: Doohan, MacKenzie, Polvara, Dabbagh, Gueue, Morris, Tobers, Boyd Mitov, Devlin, Knoester, Milne, Dorrington, Jensen, Shinnie, Clarkson, Palaversa, Keskinen, Nisbet. Doohan, MacKenzie, Polvara, Dabbagh, Gueue, Morris, Tobers, Boyd Celtic XI vs Aberdeeen: Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor, McGregor, Engels, Bernardo, Kuhn, Maeda, Idah. Subs: Sinisalo, Trusty, Yang, McCowan, Schlupp, Kenny, Forest, Ralston Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
