Jimmy Thelin was taken aback by the sheer amount of Aberdeen fans who cheered the open-top bus tour of the city following Saturday’s stunning Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final win over Celtic.
There were over 20,000 Red Army inside Hampden Park to see the Dons win the dramatic penalty shootout, after a 1-1 draw in 120 minutes.
It was Aberdeen’s first Scottish Cup win in 35 years and it also guaranteed European group stage football next season, and thousands lined the streets of the Granite City to see them parade the trophy.
Thelin, in his first season as Pittodrie boss, told a number of news organisations: “It’s been actually a bit unbelievable. It’s much bigger than I thought.
“We talk about why we do it, and it’s for them to enjoy and be proud of the city and all people around Aberdeen and who belong to Aberdeen Football Club.
“It’s been an amazing two days and it’s going to take a while to let it sink in and get all the feelings and just to summarise everything that’s happened in the last two days. It’s an amazing time.
“We are here to do everything we can do to put a smile on the faces and travelling around the city on the bus was actually unbelievable, how many people were here.
“I didn’t expect that, so it’s incredible. We have to enjoy this now.
“I am so happy for all these people, all the effort they have put in all season travelling, they have been there and now they can celebrate together.”
Chief executive Alan Burrows described the last 24 hours as an “emotional” experience.
He said: “You just see from the scenes today the amount of people that’s been out in the city.
“It’s a fantastic achievement for the players to be able to go and do that.
“I don’t think many people gave us a chance but I think you see from the crowds and the joy that it’s brought, just what this club’s got and the potential that it’s got to unlock.
“So a really emotional time for everybody, but a really enjoyable time and one we are going to savour before we look to the hard job of next season and beyond.”
