Stephen Robinson selects new Aberdeen captain as he starts his League Cup campaign.

Stephen Robinson has confirmed that he has decided who will become Aberdeen’s new captain ahead of the 2026/27 season, although the manager has chosen not to reveal the identity of the player just yet. The Dons are preparing to begin their Premier Sports Cup journey with an opening group-stage match against Brora Rangers in the Highlands, and anticipation is building ahead of Robinson’s first full campaign in charge at Pittodrie.

The Northern Irish coach arrives with fond memories of the competition after leading St Mirren to Premier Sports Cup success last season. Having experienced what it takes to lift the trophy, Robinson is eager to repeat that achievement with Aberdeen and deliver another piece of silverware to the club’s supporters.

Reflecting on last season’s triumph, Robinson admitted that winning the competition remains one of the proudest moments of his managerial career. He explained that lifting a major trophy is something every manager dreams of achieving, especially in Scotland, where the dominance of the country’s biggest clubs makes winning silverware an extremely difficult challenge.

Robinson acknowledged that success in Scottish football is never straightforward because of the strength of the competition. Nevertheless, he believes memorable achievements are what define a manager’s legacy rather than financial resources or the size of a club’s budget.

Stephen Robinson celebrates with the Premier Sports Cup(Image: SNS Group)

He pointed out that supporters ultimately judge teams by victories and trophies rather than excuses about spending power. Fans want to celebrate wins, enjoy memorable occasions, and see their club competing for honours. Robinson stressed that delivering success is exactly why he accepted the opportunity to become Aberdeen manager.

The Dons head coach also referenced his predecessor Jimmy Thelin, who guided Aberdeen to Scottish Cup success before Robinson’s arrival. According to Robinson, achievements like that are remembered for years, reinforcing the importance of competing for every available trophy throughout the season.

Aberdeen’s immediate focus now turns to the Premier Sports Cup, where Robinson hopes to begin his reign with positive momentum. He is confident that his squad is well prepared after an intensive pre-season programme and believes his players are ready for the challenges ahead.

Despite facing lower-league opposition in the opening group stages, Robinson has warned against underestimating any opponent. He recalled that last season he suffered an early defeat to Arbroath before eventually guiding St Mirren all the way to lifting the trophy, proving that difficult starts do not necessarily prevent success.

Because of that experience, Robinson insists that Aberdeen will approach every fixture with complete professionalism. He believes the trip to Brora Rangers represents another potentially tricky challenge and has reminded his players that every match in the competition demands full concentration and commitment.

The manager explained that the squad has been tested thoroughly during pre-season and has benefited from demanding preparation matches. As a result, he feels Aberdeen are entering the competition in strong physical condition and are as ready as possible to begin their competitive campaign.

Following the meeting with Brora Rangers, Aberdeen will continue their group-stage fixtures against Queen’s Park, Queen of the South, and Kelty Hearts. Robinson views those matches as valuable opportunities to establish rhythm and confidence before the league season gathers momentum.

He noted that Aberdeen did not have the chance to build early-season momentum last year because the club entered European competition immediately, presenting different challenges that affected preparation. Having previously managed teams involved in European football, Robinson understands how difficult balancing those commitments can be.

He highlighted Hearts as an example of a team that benefited from building confidence through the League Cup, pointing out that they won four consecutive matches before carrying that momentum into the rest of their campaign.

Robinson believes winning football matches, regardless of the level of opposition, creates confidence that can spread throughout the squad. In his view, Aberdeen lacked that winning feeling often enough last season, making it essential to begin this campaign positively.

He stressed that victory against Brora Rangers would provide an excellent platform for the weeks ahead but emphasised that his players must perform at their highest standards if they are to secure the desired result.

One of the biggest talking points surrounding Aberdeen ahead of the new season concerns the captaincy following the departure of long-serving skipper Graeme Shinnie.

Although Robinson confirmed he has already selected Shinnie’s successor, he has deliberately decided to keep the announcement private for the time being.

Instead of focusing entirely on one individual, Robinson explained that he wants to create a leadership group within the dressing room. He believes the strongest teams are driven by players themselves rather than relying solely on instructions from the coaching staff.

According to the Aberdeen manager, successful squads develop leaders across different areas of the team, with several experienced players helping to maintain standards on and off the pitch.

Robinson explained that while one player will officially wear the captain’s armband and perform ceremonial duties such as leading the team onto the pitch and participating in the coin toss before matches, leadership responsibilities should be shared throughout the squad.

He praised Graeme Shinnie for the outstanding leadership he provided during his time at Aberdeen, describing the former captain as someone who represented the club brilliantly both on and off the field.

Lewis Smith(Image: Aberdeen FC)

Robinson acknowledged that players with Shinnie’s qualities are rare, making it unrealistic to expect one individual to carry every leadership responsibility.

Instead, he wants multiple players to influence standards, motivate teammates, and help create a dressing-room culture capable of driving sustained success throughout the season.

During the summer transfer window, Robinson has overseen significant recruitment, bringing 10 new players to Pittodrie as he reshapes the squad.

The latest arrival is Lewis Smith, who completed a £300,000 move from Livingston before joining Aberdeen’s pre-season preparations.

Robinson expressed his delight at securing Smith’s signature, highlighting the winger’s proven experience within Scottish football. He praised Smith’s pace, direct attacking style, and overall quality, believing the new signing will provide valuable competition and creativity in wide areas.

The Aberdeen manager also credited the club’s board for supporting his recruitment strategy throughout the transfer window.

Rather than waiting until the closing weeks of the window to complete deals, Robinson wanted the majority of his business finished early to allow new signings sufficient time to settle before competitive matches began.

He revealed that he had explained this approach to the club’s hierarchy and was pleased they shared his vision, allowing Aberdeen to strengthen several key positions before pre-season reached its conclusion.

Robinson admitted that further departures remain necessary because he currently believes the squad is too large.

Several players have already moved on in recent weeks, and the manager confirmed that additional exits are expected before the transfer window closes.

Reducing squad numbers will create greater balance while allowing opportunities for further additions if required.

Robinson believes Aberdeen are steadily building a strong foundation, particularly through strengthening the spine of the team.

He also pointed out that several important players remain unavailable through injury but are expected to return later in the season, providing another boost to the squad without requiring additional transfer activity.

The manager admitted that beginning the campaign without early signings would have created significant difficulties, making the club’s proactive transfer strategy especially important.

Although satisfied with much of his recruitment, Robinson confirmed that he continues searching for another winger and remains open to strengthening other positions should more players leave Pittodrie before the deadline.

One player already departing is Marko Lazetic, who has completed a move to Armenian club FC Noah.

Robinson explained that he informed Lazetic at the end of last season that he would not feature in his future plans and believed complete honesty was the fairest approach.

According to the Aberdeen boss, both player and club agreed that seeking a fresh opportunity elsewhere represented the best solution.

Robinson believes managers should always communicate openly with players instead of avoiding difficult conversations. In his experience, honesty usually benefits everyone involved.

He added that whenever players understand their situation, they generally respond in one of two ways. Either they seek opportunities elsewhere, or they work even harder to prove the manager wrong.

Robinson concluded that both outcomes can ultimately benefit the football club, whether through successful transfers or improved performances from determined players eager to earn another chance.