Lutz Pfannenstiel will join Aberdeen as sporting director, and the German is looking forward to joining a club with “true footballing soul”.
The 52-year-old German will officially arrive at Pittodrie on November 10th and brings a wealth of experience. After aiding Fortuna Düsseldorf (as Sporting Director) to an impressive 10th-place finish in the Bundesliga, he spent five years in the same role for MLS club St Louis City.
He enjoyed similar success for the MLS side, where he was instrumental in founding the youth academy and saw the team win the Western Conference in 2023.
Pfannenstiel’s appointment comes at a critical moment for the side, with manager Jimmy Thelin under pressure. The Dons sit 11th in the Scottish Premiership table, having secured two victories in their opening nine league matches.
Aberdeen Chairman Dave Cormack expressed high hopes for the new hire, citing Pfannenstiel’s technical knowledge and vast network as key factors in the selection process. “His technical knowledge, academy development experience and global recruitment network were key factors in the board selecting him for this critical role.”
Pfannenstiel brings not only extensive professional expertise but also one of the most colourful backstories in football. His dramatic life includes a stint in a Singapore jail, where he spent 101 days on match-fixing accusations before being released for lack of evidence.
Aberdeen return to Scottish Premiership action on Wednesday evening against Kilmarnock, before travelling to Cyprus to Face Larnaca in the Conference League eight days later.
