interview Theo Snelders says Aberdeen can emulate 1990 side
THEO SNELDERS represents an altogether different era at Aberdeen. The 1980s and early 1990s was a time of success and vitality for the Pittodrie club, a period when they would regularly descend on Glasgow and produce swashbuckling performances to leave with silverware.
Sir Alex Ferguson had departed by the time Snelders joined in 1988, but he was indirectly responsible for his arrival. When Jim Leighton was lured to Manchester United by his former mentor, Aberdeen replaced him with an unknown Dutchman. Legend has it Ferguson was the man who recommended Snelders.
The goalkeeper never got to work with Ferguson, yet talks openly of the legacy he left at Aberdeen. Four years after he departed, with Snelders in goal, Aberdeen completed the cup double in 1989/90 with wins over Rangers in the League Cup and Celtic in the Scottish Cup. Jocky Scott and Alex Smith were in joint control, but Ferguson’s influence remained evident.
“Ferguson’s winning mentality was drilled so deep into the club that we always felt we had a chance of winning in Glasgow,” said Snelders, now FC Twente’s goalkeeping coach. “He had gone by the time I arrived but the foundations had been put in place. In that 1989/90 season we had a great team but we also had the belief and that was so important.
“There was a real siege mentality when we played in Glasgow – Ferguson had drilled that in to everyone. When we went to Hampden, Celtic Park or Ibrox, we expected everything to be against us – the crowds, the refs, everyone.
“It made us even more determined to get a result and in those days we often managed to do that. I know the current side have had a difficult season but they can get a result against Celtic this weekend if they show the belief that we did.”
Snelders classes the 1990 final as the proudest moment of his career. After a 0-0 draw, he made a crucial penalty save from Anton Rogan, the Celtic defender, to let Brian Irvine seal an epic 9-8 shoot-out win. The Dutch internationalist, who later had a spell with Rangers, expected Aberdeen to build on that success. However, they have only won one trophy – the 1995/96 Coca-Cola Cup – since then.
“Winning that Scottish Cup was incredible – arguably the best moment of my career,” he said. “It was the final game of the season and my last save helped us win the cup. We had a fantastic team with so many top-class players. We played a European style and it was fantastic to be part of. If you had asked me that day, would Aberdeen fail to win the cup again for over 20 years, I would not have believed you.
“I am proud to be part of the last Aberdeen team to win the Scottish Cup but I am sad the club has not had a lot of success. Hopefully that can change this season.”
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