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Press and Journal
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Press and Journal
REVEALED: The English Premier League star Aberdeen winger Shayden Morris watches before games for inspiration
Aberdeen winger Shayden Morris has revealed he studies footage of an England international and Premier League legend in a bid to further improve his game. Morris played a pivotal role in the Dons' Scottish Cup final win against Celtic as the Reds won the trophy for the first time since 1990. The 23-year-old made an explosive impact off the bench when his cross was parried into his own net by Celtic keeper Kasper Schmeichel. In a memorable season, Scottish Cup-winning hero Morris also scooped the Aberdeen Player of the Year award – voted for by supporters. However, he is constantly striving to improve his performances and watches footage of Raheem Sterling for inspiration before matches. Sterling, 30, won four Premier League titles, an FA Cup and five League Cups with Manchester City. Currently at Chelsea, the winger – capped 82 times by England – has scored 174 career goals and spent last season on loan at Arsenal. Morris said: 'I still watch clips of Raheem Sterling from his Manchester City days to study his movement. 'Of course, at Arsenal he hasn't been the same as he was before at City, but it's him as a person I look up to. 'I want to improve so even before games sometimes I'll study Sterling online. 'He has pace, but he's also got the skill to make the most of that, so I'm trying to add stuff that he did. 'I like to think I'm slowly getting better at that so I can help the team as much as possible.' Signed from Fleetwood Town in summer 2022, Morris endured a frustrating first two seasons at Pittodrie due to injury. In his debut season, the winger suffered a hamstring tear which ruled him out for four months. There was a further injury setback in the 2023-24 season when Morris was ruled out for three months with another hamstring injury which required surgery. However, under manager Jimmy Thelin, the wing star has delivered a breakout season with five goals and 13 assists. In his constant pursuit of improvement, Morris has also sought advice from former Scotland international winger Robert Snodgrass. Former Leeds United, Aston Villa, West Ham and Norwich City star Snodgrass is now an agent. Capped 28 times, Snodgrass is with the same agency as Morris' representative. Morris hopes guidance from Snodgrass can help him develop into 'something really special'. He said: 'I've also got a good support system around me with my agent Joe Bolger, as we do a lot of analysis. 'Robert Snodgrass is also part of the agency and we do a lot of stuff together as well. 'He was a winger and quite a technical player – although he didn't have as much pace as me. 'In fact, he told me: 'I didn't have your pace, but I've got the other side of the game'. 'So if he can help me with that other side then hopefully I can merge into something really special.' Morris may have been seeking advice from Snodgrass and inspiration from Sterling on how to elevate his game to the next level. However, he has also been passing on his own knowledge to help younger players develop. Morris helped fellow Londoner Alfie Dorrington during his loan spell at Pittodrie from Tottenham Hotspur. Centre-back Dorrington started the Scottish Cup final win against Celtic at Hampden. The 20-year-old has now returned to his parent club. Prior to joining Aberdeen on loan. Dorrington signed an extended contract with Tottenham until summer 2029. Morris said: 'When Alfie first came up, I knew he hadn't played much first-team football so I really tried to help him. 'I told him how things were really different compared to London, and he settled in well. 'Alfie showed he's a really good player technically and built on that physical side. 'I think he's only going to get better and better – you can see why Spurs rate him so highly.'
Press and Journal
a day ago
- Business
- Press and Journal
Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin issues 'more steps being taken' summer transfer window vow
Boss Jimmy Thelin insists plans are in place to ensure Aberdeen deliver a bright future by building on the Scottish Cup glory. The Dons ended a 35-year Scottish Cup drought when lifting the trophy at Hampden by overcoming Celtic in the final. Thelin has wasted no time in strengthening his Scottish Cup-winning squad – with two signings already confirmed. Australians Nicolas Milanovic and Nick Suman will both join the Dons in the summer, having agreed pre-contracts. Recently-crowned A-League player of the year Milanovic was snapped up for a fee of around £400,000 from Western Sydney Wanderers. Winger Milanovic, 23, will move to Pittodrie on a three-year deal, with the Dons holding the option to extend that to a fourth year. Milanovic was recently on international duty with the Australia squad at a training camp in Abu Dhabi, having received a debut senior call-up. Keeper Suman, 25, will join the Dons upon the expiry of his current deal with Cove Rangers later this month. Aberdeen beat off interest from Hibs, Dundee United and Motherwell to land the former Australia under-23 international. Thelin will use the summer transfer window to build a squad capable of balancing European league action and domestic commitments. Aberdeen will enter the Europa League play-off stage next season. Even if the Reds lose the play-off, they have the safety net of dropping down into the Conference League. Chairman Dave Cormack has vowed to back Thelin during the summer window. Talks with multiple transfer targets are at an advanced stage. Thelin said: 'There's a lot happening now which is good for the future. 'There are a lot of good foundations here which make it possible for Aberdeen to be the big club in Scottish football that we are. 'There are more steps being taken.' As Thelin and his recruitment team work on landing new signings, there have also been departures from Pittodrie. Aberdeen recently confirmed the exit of 12 players. Leaving the club were, Jack MacKenzie, who has joined Plymouth Argyle, and Celtic-bound keeper Ross Doohan. Republic of Ireland international midfielder Jamie McGrath has signed a pre-contract with Hibernian. Loan players Kevin Nisbet (Millwall), Oday Dabbagh (Charleroi), Jeppe Okkels (Preston NE) and Alfie Dorrington (Tottenham Hotspur) all return to their parent clubs. Third-choice keeper Tom Ritchie has also left, as have youth team players Fraser Mackie, Blair McKenzie, Victor Enem and Evan Towler. Thelin is now enjoying a well-earned break after securing Aberdeen's first silverware since 2014. He is delighted with the way the squad embraced his footballing philosophy during a memorable first season. Thelin said: 'The players adapted more and more to what we want to achieve and how we work. That was shown in their intensity and how they pushed themselves more and more. 'Always, when you have a new staff, things change, and it takes time, but you could see the players have their team goals. 'There are those progressions.' Thelin is set to enter his third transfer window as Aberdeen manager. His bid to sign players will be boosted by the lure of European league football. The draw for the Europa League play-off will be made on August 4 with the ties played on August 21 and 28. Thelin was initially confirmed as Aberdeen manager on April 16 last year having agreed to sign on at the Dons from Elfsborg. However, he remained at the Allsvenskan side until the Swedish mid-season break, officially starting at Pittodrie in early June. Thelin said: 'It has been a long season, but I have to say it has gone very quickly. 'I started in Elfsborg and I did the pre-season there, then six months before coming to Aberdeen. 'So for a year-and-a-half I have been working through a lot of windows, but it has all happened so quickly it feels like yesterday. 'I have to say I am in a really good position with the opportunity I've had coming here.'
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Rangers legend Davie Cooper memorabilia to be auctioned
Three rare items from the late Davie Cooper's football career are to be sold at McTear's Auctioneers on Thursday, June 19. The memorabilia includes the winger's Rangers Hall of Fame trophy, a jersey from his selection in the club's all-time Greatest Team, and a match-worn Motherwell shirt from the 1990–91 Scottish Cup-winning campaign. Davie Cooper's greatest team jersey (Image: Supplied) Read more: Celtic and Rangers 'target' Swedish winger after semi-final run The items, consigned by Cooper's relative Ian Clark, are expected to attract strong interest from football fans and collectors. Discussing his decision to part with the items, Ian said: "I couldn't believe it when I received the shirts and the trophy. "I am an avid Rangers fan and the pieces have had pride of place in my house for a number of years now. "Uncle Davie was an incredible player and a true gentleman off the pitch. "It will be tough to part with the items but I think it is time to pass them on and let another fan get as much pleasure as I have from them." Headlining the collection is the Rangers Hall of Fame trophy, which was awarded posthumously in 2000 when Cooper was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame. The bronze bust on a slate base is inscribed with "Rangers Football Club, Hall of Fame, Davie Cooper 1977 – 1989". This unique item is expected to sell for between £2,000 and £4,000. The Greatest Team jersey, which was presented to Cooper's family in 1999 after a worldwide fan poll selected him for Rangers' all-time best eleven, is anticipated to reach between £800 and £1,200. Meanwhile, the match-worn claret and amber Motherwell jersey is expected to sell for between £500 and £1,000. This shirt was worn during the later stages of the tournament, which ended in a dramatic 4–3 final victory over Dundee United at Hampden Park. Davie Cooper's Motherwell shirt (Image: Supplied) Davie Cooper (1956–1995) is widely considered one of Scotland's greatest footballers, known for his exceptional skill, composure, and creativity on the pitch. During his illustrious career, he played for Clydebank, Rangers, and Motherwell, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame at each club. The star player earned 22 caps for Scotland, scored six international goals, and was part of the squad at the 1986 FIFA World Cup. His sudden passing in 1995 at the age of just 39 sent shockwaves through the football community. Read more: 'I wore the shirt with pride' - Rangers loanee pens farewell message Brian Clements, managing director at McTear's said: "Davie Cooper was an extraordinary talent and a beloved figure in Scottish football. "These items not only reflect his remarkable career but also the deep affection in which he is still held by fans. "We expect strong interest from collectors and supporters alike." The Davie Cooper memorabilia will be part of McTear's Sporting History Auction, which will feature a variety of historic lots including Old Firm medals, rare jerseys, early match tickets, and programmes. More information about the auction is available on the McTear's website.
Scotsman
4 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Ex-Celtic and Scotland boss Strachan will always be a Hibee at heart
Former Man United, Leeds and Aberdeen great on bus journeys and schoolboy sing-alongs Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... For a man who never wore the jersey, save for a couple of guest appearances in testimonials to honour time-served veterans, Gordon Strachan's Hibernian heart remains an important element of his character. The things he's done in football and in life can, according to the man himself, be traced back to schoolboy days riding on the upper deck of the No.16 bus, belting out Hibs songs with his pals as they made the journey from Muirhouse to Easter Road. First taken to one of Scottish football's most iconic old grounds by dad Jim, the son was able to repay the favour more than once over next few decades. Including, in a tale familiar to anyone who understands the game's ability to unite generations, a final visit just four weeks before his father's death. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad How deep is his affection for the club? Well, even when following his dream as an aspiring professional, Strachan made time to visit Tynecastle for one very special derby win back in 1973. And he still considers David Gray's Scottish Cup-winning goal at Hampden in 2016 as one of his most enjoyable moments in football. When you consider the domestic and European glories he enjoyed in a playing career that took him from Dundee to Aberdeen, Manchester United and Leeds, not to mention the triumphs he masterminded as Celtic manager, that's quite the distinction. 'I owe a lot of who I am to the people of Leith,' said the former Scotland boss, adding without hesitation: 'When I was getting brought up, whether I be younger, whether I be older, I owe where I am right now to these people. 'My first memories of Easter Road? Going with my dad. I went to see Aberdeen, Hibs against Aberdeen. I think it was a tournament, it wasn't actually a league, it was a kind of, I don't know what it was. I remember Charlie Cooke playing for Aberdeen, I think. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'So that was it. My gran used to live just round the corner from Easter Road. But I used to go there, when I was younger. 'On a Saturday, I'd make it for the end of the second half really, or just the end of the second half, where the gates would open. I used to be at Leith Links a couple of times. 'I'd play there and just run up with me and my mates and get in, because the gates would open and you'd get in for nothing. Or you'd get a lift over with some fella. 'In those days, you'd get a lift over and that was it, you'd go in for nothing. So that was my introduction.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Easter Road 'Cow Shed' antics and Tynecastle derby glory Recalling his afternoons in a covered area of the north terracing familiar to fans of a certain generation, Strachan – speaking in partnership with Esports Insider - added: 'So when I used to go there, we went to a bit called the Cow Shed. I was in the middle of it at first, opposite the main stand there. I kind of upgraded myself to the Cow Shed, doing a bit of singing. 'Not got a clue what I was singing about, no understanding what I was singing about. And you look back and go: 'What were you thinking about?' But I didn't know at the time. 'I used to get number 8 or the 16 bus to the game. That was the bus from Muirhouse. 'Did what boys did. Got on the top deck, sat at the front, started singing songs again. And made your way to the game.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad David Gray's 'emotional' Scottish Cup winner a special favourite Signed by Dundee as a schoolboy, Strachan moved from supporter to player. With the rare exception of the lucky few who get to sign for 'their' team, this usually means a severing of allegiances. Up to a point. 'When I started professional football, I kept the link,' he insisted. 'But it was more a link with Leith. I probably speak more about Leith much more than I speak about Hibs. 'But f you ask me about the history of any of the Hibs players between 1965 and 1972, I've got a great knowledge of it. But after that, when I was playing professional football, I still went to the 7-0 win at Tynecastle with my mates! 'When I got into the first team at Dundee, that was it. I took it professionally. I always hoped the Hibs did well, but the club I was working for at the time, that was the main thing. So that was it really. I kind of downed tools as Hibs fan. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'But I still look back at 2016 and one of the best occasions I've ever been involved in. When they won the Cup, I was there as a pundit and it was emotional, to say the least. 'My father had passed away recently, and I thought: 'What a time to go dad, you could have seen a cup win at last!' So it was quite emotional. 'I took my father to his last game four weeks before he died, a Hibs and Hearts game just before he died. So he took me to my first game, and I took him to his last game. It was quite ironic that. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I think of myself as from Leith. I'm proud of Edinburgh, but I think of myself from Leith. So anything that's happened in Leith, I still go to the community centre there with my cousin, Pauline, who runs the Leith community centre. 'I still go there. Me and my wife kind of help out now and then. My mum still helps out with stuff. 'I still go to Silverknowes Golf Club, I was there last week talking to the old guys and having a chat. So it's still a big part of my life, really.'
Scotsman
6 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Gordon Strachan names Hibs boss David Gray's top quality
Lifelong Hibee 'proud' of former Scottish Cup-winning captain Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Former Celtic and Scotland boss Gordon Strachan has identified the most important quality that gave poker-faced David Gray the nerve to turn Hibernian's fortunes around in his first year as Easter Road gaffer. And the lifelong Hibee insists he spotted the first signs of a comeback just as his childhood favourites hit their lowest point in a season of extremes. Strachan, now technical director at Dundee, was at Dens Park as Hibs slumped to a 4-1 defeat in late November. That was a seventh league defeat of the season for Gray's men, who won just one of their opening 14 Scottish Premiership games. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Off the back of that loss, which saw Jordan Obita sent off early after Hibs had taken the lead, many feared that first-year head coach Gray was on the brink of being sacked by the club he'd captained to Scottish Cup glory. But the entire campaign was turned on its head courtesy of a dramatic 3-3 draw with Aberdeen just three days later, Hibs eventually putting together a 17-game unbeaten run in the league – and clinching third place in the top flight with a game to spare. Strachan, speaking in partnership with Esports Insider , admitted he was hugely impressed with the even keel maintained by Gray amid a storm of criticism and concern, the experienced manager saying: 'I know how he must have been feeling when it wasn't that great. But he didn't show it to anybody, no matter what was going on. 'It looked like his heart rate was the same. You know, they got beat 4-1 against us, or they beat whoever. 'Beating Hearts, it didn't show. It's a great asset for a manager, that. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'You have to be who you are, and I don't think that's an act with David, I just think that is him. I've never met him; I'd love to meet him. I've said hello a couple of times, but I've never met him. 'I'm really proud of what he's doing, that's for sure. I always like my old teams to do well, but the team that affects most of my family is Hibs.' Former Man United and Aberdeen star never feared worst Strachan confesses that he didn't see Hibs finishing Best of the Rest behind Scottish football's big two in the table back when they were scuffling along in the relegation zone. But he's adamant that, even in defeat at Dens, he saw signs of hope. 'Well, the funny thing is, I remember they played Dundee - and they scored first, they played well,' said the former Aberdeen, Manchester United and Scotland star. 'And then the left back got sent off. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Dundee ended up winning 4-1. But after the game, I said to anybody who asked, because there was moaning and groaning from everybody about the result, and I said: 'Listen, they were all right. They were a good side until they got a man sent off.' 'So I knew they were better than what that result was. A lot better. 'Did I see them making that sort of climb up the league? No, but as I said, from that first 15 minutes, I thought they were the better team than Dundee. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It's amazing how Dundee think: 'Oh, we're no bad.' It looks like the world is ending for Hibs. The graph's gone a different way after that. 'It was good to see. I'm always happy when they're doing well, because of the number of people I know in the Leith area, it affects them. So if it makes all my friends and family happy, then I'm delighted for that as well.'
