Malmo manager Henrik Rydstrom has praised Aberdeen managerial candidate Jimmy Thelin for his longstanding influence on coaches, citing his remarkable achievements with IF Elfsborg.

Rydstrom's side pipped Elfsborg to the 2023 Allsvenskan title on goal difference, yet he's been left in awe at what Thelin has accomplished in his career thus far. 

Since departing Jonkopings Sodra in 2018, the Swede has steered Elfsborg to two second-place finishes, most notably coming close to clinching the league crown last season.

Thelin, 46, looks set to be appointed the permanent successor to Barry Robson in the Aberdeen hot seat for next season. And the man who has fought long and hard with Thelin reckons he is now established as the most-respected Swedish manager in the game.

"Jimmy has had an interesting journey over the years. On a tactical basis, I would say Elfsborg are the most consistent team in the country," Rydstrom revealed. 

"Opponents all know how they are going to play and what way they will line-up, but it's still very difficult to stop them as can be seen by how well they have done under Jimmy.

"I always found it amazing that Jimmy's never was never really mentioned when it came to managing a really big club in Europe.

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"You hear of some so-called top coaches getting mentioned but he always seems to sneak under the radar and I think he likes that. Jimmy has been a source of inspiration for me since I became a coach. He is clearly one of Sweden's best managers.

"Perhaps most of all for what he did in Jonkoping Sodra, when he took a small club into the top league. But also the job he has done for years now at Elfsborg has been outstanding.

"Every year Elfsborg seem to lose and bring in a lot of players and they are always up there. That's down to Jimmy. It helps he is working for a good club with good infrastructure. He has his way of playing football and he always seems to bring in players that perform with Elfsborg DNA."