Skovisms and camaraderie: Ex-Dons bid Ebbe farewell

Two common themes emerged yesterday during the sombre hours following the news of Ebbe Skovdahl’s death.

Laughter and bonding are the twin lights which had former students of Aberdeen’s only foreign manager drawing upon happy memories of years past, rather than wallowing in the sadness of now.

The Dane’s passing at the age of 75 after suffering from cancer brought an outpouring of recollections on social media.

Skovdahl ’ s period in charge of the Dons, from the summer of 1999 to November 2002, may not have had silverware cascading through the Pittodrie doors but it brought an unexpected entertainment and enjoyment.

David Preece was one of Skovdahl’s first signings, joining from Darlington in 1999. The goalkeeper went on to play in Denmark himself, a move he credits Skovdahl and another Danish Don Peter Kjaer for helping him to make.

“There were some ups and downs and some tough times under Ebbe,” said Preece, goalkeeping coach for Swedish side Ostersunds FK. “But ultimately, in the team he put together, with a lot of young lads and players he brought in like myself and David Lilley, there were a lot of close bonds being forged.

“I grateful to Ebbe for signing me. It was tough for me at the start but when he left I was sad to see him go. You feel like when somebody’s signed you, you’re indebted.

“The time I was at Aberdeen, he never really got to see the best of me.

“It was the second part of my time at the Dons where I played a lot more and was more consistent. When he left, I was glad I got to tell him how grateful I was.”

Darren Mackie was handed his debut as a teenager by Skovdahl in 1999. The faith shown in him is something he carried through his 300-plus appearances for the Dons.

“He had a huge impact on my career,” said Mackie. “He gave me my debut and for that I will be forever grateful. He said a lot of nice things about me when I was there and pushed me on to be the best I could be. He showed good faith in me and I always enjoyed working with him.

“He had a different way of working from what everyone was used to. I was younger and it was all fresh and new to me. I was just excited to be involved.”

Mackie was part of a refreshing young Dons squad, which may have struggled in the top flight at times but enjoyed some knockout success.

“Looking back, he brought a lot of young players into the team at that stage. Quite a few of us came through together.

“He was willing to take the chance and throw us into the starting line-up to see if we could handle it. A lot of us went on to have good careers and he was an important part of that.”

In Skovdahl’s first season the Dons reached the finals of both the League and Scottish cups, despite finishing bottom. The group of players he brought together forged a bond.

Derek Young was 16 when he joined the Dons in 1996.

Young said: “Footballwise under Ebbe it didn’t go great all the time, by any means. But the way that changing-room was, it was good because of the way he made it. There were probably things that he was trying to bring to our game in Scotland that we didn’t get. You realise now when you look back on some things you thought were a bit weird that were actually quite good.

“For the boys that were there under ‘ the Skov’, his quotes and sayings – there was a new one every week. He was just a big gentleman who wanted to try his best for Aberdeen.”

The japes and quotes form a common thread, bringing players together yesterday to remember their old manager.

“A lot of the memories I have of him are having a laugh,” added Preece. “He’d say things like Peter Lovenkrands was quicker than a sack of cheetahs.

“We’d have this big table in the dressing-room where all the shirts and balls that needed to be autographed would go on. Every time he said something new, we’d write it on the table. It wasn’t until he noticed one day that we were kind of making fun of him that he got rid of the table.

“We were on a tour to Denmark and played Brondby. There was a tree in the reception of the hotel in a massive pot. It took about eight of us to carry and we put it outside his room so he couldn’t get out.

“We were all hiding round the corner as he tried to ge t out. He’s swearing to himself and calling us ever y name under the sun, because he knew what’d happened.

“He never took that as disrespect. Sometimes when you’re going through a tough time, you use gallows humour.”

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