The 2018–19 Aberdeen F.C. season was Aberdeen's 106th season in the top flight of Scottish football. Aberdeen also competed in the League Cup and the Scottish Cup.
Aberdeen also competed in qualifying for the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League.
Summary
May
On 14 May, Scott McKenna & Graeme Shinnie were called up to the national team. On 28 May, Gothenburg Great Neale Cooper died at the age of 54. On 29 May, Graeme Shinnie made his full Scotland debut, coming on as a substitute in a 2–0 defeat to Peru.
June
On 1 June, Lewis Ferguson officially joined the club, although the compensation fee still had to be sorted between the Dons and Hamilton Academical. On 2 June, Scott McKenna, in his fourth game for Scotland, was made team captain in a 1–0 defeat to Mexico. Graeme Shinnie also earned his first start for Scotland.
On 5 June, Chris Forrester joined the club from Peterborough United for a fee believed to be in the region of £150,000. On 12 June, the club announced that their Pre-season training camp would be taking place in Ireland and the club would play a friendly against Cobh Ramblers. On 14 June, defender Anthony O'Connor joined Bradford City on a three-year deal. After his release from Ipswich Town, Irish International Stephen Gleeson signed on a two-year deal.
On 15 June, the season league fixtures were announced by the SPFL, with the Dons starting at home to Rangers, with the game being live on TV on 5 August at 1pm. On the same day, the Dons announced a pre-season friendly at home to English Championship club West Bromwich Albion. On 20 June, the Europa League Second Qualifying Round draw was made and the Dons were drawn against English Premier League club Burnley. It was the first time the Dons played English opposition in Europe since Ipswich Town in 1981.
On 25 June, Executive Vice-Chairman George Yule announced that he would be leaving his role following major surgery, said to be "a prostate cancer scare" but he explained he was "heading towards full recovery". On 26 June, Scotland Under-21 International Daniel Harvie, who was released last season as he wanted regular football, signed for Ayr United.
July
On 3 July, the start of the construction phase began on the New Aberdeen Stadium. On 8 July, after the 2–2 draw against St Johnstone, the Dons took the decision to cancel the friendly on 11 July with Inverness Caledonian Thistle due to "a number of fitness concerns within the first team squad".https://www.facebook.com/186972367993687/posts/1962909210399985/
On 11 July, goalkeeper Danny Rogers joined St Mirren on a season long loan deal. On the same day, former Hearts defender Krystian Nowak joined on trial. After being on loan last season, Dominic Ball rejoined the club again for a second season-long loan spell.
On 15 July, the friendly match between the Dons and Cove Rangers was abandoned after 50 minutes due to a severe head injury to Cove Rangers player Jordon Brown. After sustaining an injury in the match, the Dons announced defender Mark Reynolds was ruled out until the end of the year having to undergo knee surgery.
On 19 July, striker Adam Rooney left for newly promoted National League side Salford City for a reported fee of £375,000. He scored 88 goals in 197 appearances for the club. The transfer led to Accrington Stanley owner Andy Holt accusing Salford, and most notably Gary Neville, of "buying" a place in the English Football League, with Rooney reportedly due to earn £4,000 per week at Salford. Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson also accused Neville of "lacking etiquette" after discussing his club's transfer business and "blew them away with money" to get the deal done.
On 22 July, Austrian goalkeeper Sebastian Gessl joined on trial after leaving German side Karlsruher SC. On 25 July, the Dons signed both Goalkeeper Tomáš Černý, on a one-year deal after his release from Partick Thistle, and defender Tommie Hoban, on loan from Watford with the club having the option of recalling him in January 2019.
August
On 2 August, the Dons were knocked out of UEFA Europa League at the Second qualifying round stage against Burnley. Even though with defeat, the Dons were praised by Burnley fans by creating a great atmosphere at both matches.
After his actions after the match last season against Celtic, defender Shay Logan was suspended for the first 3 matches of the league season beginning on 5 August, against Rangers, Dundee and St Mirren. On 8 August, defender Scott McKenna was ruled out for 6 weeks with an injury picked up in the 1–1 draw with Rangers. On 13 August, striker James Wilson joined from Manchester United on a season-long loan deal.
After the 4–0 win in the League Cup against St Mirren, the Dons were drawn against Hibernian in the Quarter Finals, although at the time of the draw, it was not known whether it was Hibernian or Ross County. On 20 August, compensation was agreed after a tribunal for midfielder Lewis Ferguson after signing him from Hamilton Academical with the fee being kept private and although the Dons felt they had "received a fair hearing", Hamilton wanted "The guidelines used in making the decision should be made available".
On 22 August, the Dons rejected a £3.5m bid from Celtic for defender Scott McKenna, with manager Derek McInnes stating that McKenna would not be sold in the transfer window, and that another bid would be a waste of time. Aberdeen valued the centre-half at around £10m.
On 30 August, Max Lowe joined on loan from Derby County, initially until January 2019. On 31 August, Jordan McGregor joined after being released from Airdrieonians and impressing on trial. He joined with the Development Squad.
September
On Transfer deadline day, the Dons rejected a reported £7m bid from Aston Villa for defender Scott McKenna.
On 1 September, Mikey Devlin was sent off by referee Craig Thomson after only 5 minutes in a 2–0 home loss to Kilmarnock. The decision was appealed by the Dons but was rejected by the SFA with manager McInnes stating that he was "extremely disappointed with this outcome" and he later criticized the SFA for their "incompetency". On 4 September, Bruce Anderson signed a new deal until 2021.
After progressing through to the Semi-finals with a win against Hibernian (6–5 on penalties after a 0–0 draw after extra-time), the Dons were drawn to face Rangers. Alfredo Morelos and Kyle Lafferty were suspended for them. Oddly, the venue was not chosen until a later date due to clashes with Celtic and the Europa League, with Murrayfield Stadium being a likely option due to the demand for tickets. The following day, due to dismay expressed from the club and supporters, the match with Rangers was due to take place at noon at Hampden Park.
October
On 3 October, the League Cup semi final match with Rangers was changed to a 4:30pm kick off time after fans and clubs appeals.
On 4 October, the SPFL suspended Scott McKenna for two matches after his challenge on Odsonne Édouard in the match against Celtic. The Dons appealed however it was rejected. On 11 October, defender Scott McKenna came on a second-half substitute in a 2–1 defeat against Israel, marking his competitive debut for Scotland. Subsequently, following this match due to call-offs, Michael Devlin and Gary Mackay-Steven were called up for the friendly with Portugal.
Aberdeen reached the League Cup Final thanks to a late header from Lewis Ferguson against Rangers with manager McInnes claiming "he was born to play at Hampden."
November
On 6 November, Michael Devlin, Gary Mackay-Steven, Scott McKenna & Graeme Shinnie were all called up to the national team for the Nations League matches in Albania and at home to Israel. However Devlin was injured in training before the Albania match and subsequently missed the League Cup Final.
On 13 November, striker James Wilson was awarded Goal of the Month for October for his stunning strike against Hamilton Academical.
December
On 2 December, former Dons loanee Ryan Christie scored the only goal in a 1–0 win in the League Cup Final against the Dons. During the match, winger Gary Mackay-Steven suffered concussion in a challenge with Dedryck Boyata. He was down for 6 minutes and was taken to hospital then later released. Manager McInnes later said after the match, that he "intends to come back to another final with Aberdeen and I intend to win another trophy", with his only success with the club coming in the 2014 Final.
On 5 December, the Dons won against Rangers at Ibrox with Scott McKenna scoring the only goal and having to play for almost 60 minutes with 10 men after Sam Cosgrove was wrongfully dismissed. A few days after the match, Connor McLennan signed a new deal until 2021.
Although the Dons lost their next match to St Johnstone, after this they had back-to-back wins against newly-promoted clubs Livingston and St Mirren respectively, propelling the Dons to a season-high so far of fourth in the table. Sam Cosgrove's booking against Livingston for 'diving' was later rescinded. On 21 December, despite holding talks over an extended stay, Max Lowe returned to his parent club Derby County in January.
After the comfortable 2–0 win over Hearts, the two managers had a spat beginning with Craig Levein claiming after the match they should have had 2 penalties. McInnes responded saying they "moan about this and that" but "the best team won". Levein then claimed McInnes of "double standards" and him talking "tripe" and said he was "crying like a baby" in a phone conversation. McInnes then responded again after the 4–3 defeat to Celtic saying Levein was "irrational and childish".
The Dons completed the year with a win against Livingston, placing fourth in the table. It was also announced the club will have their winter training camp again in Dubai. Later subsequently whilst in Dubai, striker Sam Cosgrove was awarded player of the month for December and manager Derek McInnes was awarded manager of the month for December.
January
On 7 January, Sam Cosgrove signed a contract extension until 2022. On the same day, youth defender Sam Roscoe extended his loan deal with Alloa until the end of the season. On 8 January, Greg Tansey had his contract terminated with the club and later that day signed for St Mirren. There was some confusion as to whether Dean Campbell had scored against Livingston in the away win, so the SPFL awarded Campbell with the goal, his first for the club. The Dons concluded their winter training camp in Dubai with a 2–0 friendly win against Dibba Al Hisn, with Sam Cosgrove scoring both goals.
On 17 January, Max Lowe rejoined the Dons on loan from Derby County until the end of the season. On 18 January, after being on loan last season, Greg Stewart joined on loan until the end of the season from Birmingham City. The Dons returned to action in the Scottish Cup with a lackluster 1–1 draw against bottom of League One side Stenhousemuir, however they won the replay 4–1. On 22 January, summer signing Chris Forrester had his contract terminated by the club, sighting personal reasons. He returned to Ireland, his native homeland, to play for St Patrick's Athletic.
On transfer deadline day, Scott Wright joined Dundee, Bruce Anderson joined Dunfermline Athletic, and Mark Reynolds joined Dundee United all on loan respectively, until the end of the season. The Dons also rejected bids for defender Scott McKenna and winger Gary Mackay-Steven.
February