List of Aberdeen F.C. seasons

For details of the current season, see 2024–25 Aberdeen F.C. season.

This is a list of seasons played by Aberdeen Football Club from 1903 to the present day. It details the club's achievements in major competitions, and the top league goal scorers for each season. Records of minor competitions such as the Aberdeenshire Cup and Northern League are not included.

The club has won the Scottish Football League championship 4 times, most recently in 1985. In addition, Aberdeen has won 7 Scottish Cup titles, the Scottish League Cup six times and the European Cup Winners' Cup once.

History

The club was formed in 1903 after an amalgamation of three Aberdeen-based football clubs, Orion, Aberdeen and Victoria United. An application to join the Scottish Football League in 1903 was defeated in a vote of member clubs, so the club spent its first season in the Northern League. In 1904, Aberdeen was elected to the Second Division. Despite finishing 7th, they were elected to the First Division in time for the 1905-06 season, where they have remained since, having never been relegated.[1]

Aberdeen have finished bottom of the league on two occasions, 1916–17 and 1999-2000. They were spared relegation in 1917 after having to withdraw from the league because of World War I. In 2000, they avoided a play-off against the second and third place teams in the First Division because Falkirk's ground did not comply with SPL regulations.[2]

In 1983, Aberdeen became the second Scottish club to win the European Cup Winners' Cup, defeating Real Madrid in the final. Later that year, they became the first and only Scottish club to win the UEFA Super Cup.

Seasons

Season League Scottish Cup League Cup[a] Europe[b] Top league goalscorer(s)
Division Pld W D L GF GA Pts Pos Name Goals
1904–05 Sco Div 2 22 7 7 8 36 26 21 7th R3 Tom Ruddiman 7
1905–06 Sco Div 1[c] 30 8 8 14 37 49 24 12th R2 George McNicol 9
1906–07 Sco Div 1 34 10 10 14 48 55 30 11th R1 Willie Lennie 9
1907–08 Sco Div 1 34 13 9 12 45 44 35 8th SF Thomas Murray 14
1908–09 Sco Div 1 34 15 6 13 61 53 36 7th R2 Willie Lennie 12
1909–10 Sco Div 1 34 16 8 10 44 29 40 4th R3 Bobby Simpson 10
1910–11 Sco Div 1 34 19 10 5 53 28 40 2nd SF Angus McIntosh 16
1911–12 Sco Div 1 34 14 7 13 44 44 35 9th R3 Dave Main 12
1912–13 Sco Div 1 34 14 9 11 47 40 37 8th R2 Dave Main 10
1913–14 Sco Div 1 38 10 10 18 38 55 30 14th R3 Dave Main 9
1914–15 Sco Div 1 38 11 11 16 39 52 33 14th [d] Sam Cail 9
1915–16 Sco Div 1 38 11 12 15 51 64 34 11th Dave Main 15
1916–17 Sco Div 1 38 7 7 24 36 68 21 20th Harry Ambler 9
1917–19 Aberdeen dropped out of competitive football due to World War I[e]
1919–20 Sco Div 1 42 11 13 18 46 64 35 17th QF Jacky Connon 14
1920–21 Sco Div 1 42 14 14 14 53 54 42 11th R3 Peter Fisher 14
1921–22 Sco Div 1 42 13 9 20 48 54 35 15th SF Johnny Miller 23
1922–23 Sco Div 1 38 15 12 11 46 34 42 5th QF[f] Andy Rankine 14
1923–24 Sco Div 1 38 13 10 15 37 41 36 13th SF Johnny Miller 14
1924–25 Sco Div 1 38 11 10 17 46 56 32 15th QF Wattie Jackson 13
1925–26 Sco Div 1 38 13 10 15 49 54 36 11th SF Alec Reid 10
1926–27 Sco Div 1 38 13 14 11 73 72 40 8th R2 Bobbie Bruce 20
1927–28 Sco Div 1 38 19 5 14 71 61 43 7th R1 Benny Yorston 17
1928–29 Sco Div 1 38 16 8 14 81 68 40 7th QF Benny Yorston 23
1929–30 Sco Div 1 38 23 7 8 85 61 53 3rd R3 Benny Yorston 38
1930–31 Sco Div 1 38 17 7 14 79 63 41 6th QF Benny Yorston 16
1931–32 Sco Div 1 38 16 9 13 57 49 41 7th R1 Andy Love 12
1932–33 Sco Div 1 38 18 6 14 85 58 42 6th R2 Paddy Moore 27
1933–34 Sco Div 1 38 18 8 12 90 57 44 5th QF Willie Mills 28
1934–35 Sco Div 1 38 17 10 11 68 54 44 6th SF Matt Armstrong 31
1935–36 Sco Div 1 38 26 9 3 96 50 61 3rd QF Matt Armstrong 30
1936–37 Sco Div 1 38 23 8 7 89 44 54 2nd Final[g] Matt Armstrong
Billy Strauss		 24
1937–38 Sco Div 1 38 15 9 14 74 59 39 6th R3 Matt Armstrong 19
1938–39 Sco Div 1 38 20 6 12 91[h] 61 46 3rd SF George Hamilton 17
1939–46 Competitive football cancelled due to World War II – Aberdeen won several regional competitions in the period.[3]
1946–47 Sco Div A[i] 30 16 7 7 58 41 39 3rd Winners[j] Final[k] George Hamilton 17
1947–48 Sco Div A 30 10 7 13 45 45 27 10th R3 SF Archie Kelly 10
1948–49 Sco Div A 30 7 11 12 39 48 25 13th R1 Group George Hamilton 10
1949–50 Sco Div A 30 11 4 15 48 56 26 8th QF Group Harry Yorston 10
1950–51 Sco Div A 30 15 5 10 61 50 35 5th QF QF Harry Yorston 18
1951–52 Sco Div A 30 10 7 13 65 58 27 11th QF Group Harry Yorston 19
1952–53 Sco Div A 30 11 5 14 64 68 27 11th Final Group George Hamilton /
Jack Hather		 14
1953–54 Sco Div A 30 15 3 12 66 51 33 9th Final Group Paddy Buckley 17
1954–55[l] Sco Div A 30 24 1 5 73 26 49 1st[m] SF Group Paddy Buckley 17
1955–56 Sco Div A 34 18 10 6 87 50 46 2nd R5[n] Winners[o] Graham Leggat 19
1956–57 Sco Div 1[p] 34 18 2 14 79 59 38 6th R6 Group Graham Leggat 12
1957–58 Sco Div 1 34 14 2 18 68 76 30 13th QF[q] QF Norman Davidson 17
1958–59 Sco Div 1 34 12 5 17 63 66 29 13th Final Group Billy Little 13
1959–60 Sco Div 1 34 11 6 17 54 72 28 15th R2 Group Norman Davidson 11
1960–61 Sco Div 1 34 14 8 12 72 72 36 6th R3 Group Ken Brownlee 18
1961–62 Sco Div 1 34 10 9 15 60 73 29 12th R3 Group Billy Little 17
1962–63 Sco Div 1 34 17 7 10 70 47 41 6th QF Group Bobby Cummings 18
1963–64 Sco Div 1 34 12 8 14 53 53 32 9th R3 Group Ernie Winchester 16
1964–65[r] Sco Div 1 34 12 8 14 59 75 32 12th R1 Group Don Kerrigan 14
1965–66 Sco Div 1 34 15 6 13 61 54 36 8th SF Group Ernie Winchester 16
1966–67 Sco Div 1 34 17 8 9 72 38 42 4th Final SF Jimmy Wilson 13
1967–68 Sco Div 1 34 16 5 13 63 48 37 5th R2 Group Cup Winners' Cup R2[s] Dave Johnston 14
1968–69 Sco Div 1 34 9 8 17 50 59 26 15th SF Group ICFC R2 Jim Forrest 16
1969–70 Sco Div 1 34 14 7 13 55 45 35 8th Winners QF Davie Robb 16
1970–71 Sco Div 1 34 24 6 4 68 18 54 2nd QF[t] Group Cup Winners' Cup R1[u] Joe Harper 19
1971–72 Sco Div 1 34 21 8 5 80 26 50 2nd QF Group UEFA Cup R2 Joe Harper 33
1972–73 Sco Div 1 34 16 11 7 61 34 43 4th QF SF UEFA Cup R1 Drew Jarvie 15
1973–74 Sco Div 1 34 13 16 5 46 26 42 4th R3 QF UEFA Cup R2 Drew Jarvie 13
1974–75 Sco Div 1 34 16 9 9 66 43 41 5th QF Group UEFA Cup R1 Arthur Graham 11
1975–76 Prem[v] 36 11 10 15 49 50 32 7th R4 Group Jocky Scott 14
1976–77 Prem 36 16 11 9 56 42 43 3rd R4 Winners[w] Joe Harper 18
1977–78 Prem 36 22 9 5 68 29 53 2nd Final R3 Joe Harper 17
1978–79 Prem 36 13 14 9 59 36 40 4th SF Final Cup Winners' Cup R2 Joe Harper 19
1979–80 Prem 36 19 10 7 68 36 48 1st SF Final UEFA Cup R1 Steve Archibald /
Drew Jarvie		 12
1980–81 Prem 36 19 11 6 61 26 49 2nd R4 QF European Cup R2 Mark McGhee 13
1981–82 Prem 36 23 7 6 71 29 53 2nd Winners SF UEFA Cup R3 John Hewitt 11
1982–83 Prem 36 25 5 6 76 25 55 3rd Winners[x] QF Cup Winners' Cup Winners[y] Mark McGhee 16
1983–84 Prem 36 25 7 4 78 21 57 1st Winners[z] SF Cup Winners' Cup SF Mark McGhee /
Gordon Strachan		 13
Super Cup Winners[aa]
1984–85 Prem 36 27 5 4 89 26 59 1st SF R2 European Cup R1 Frank McDougall 22
1985–86 Prem 36 16 12 8 62 31 44 4th Winners Winners[ab] European Cup QF Frank McDougall 14
1986–87 Prem 44 21 16 7 63 29 58 4th R3 QF Cup Winners' Cup R1 Billy Stark 12
1987–88 Prem 44 21 17 6 56 25 59 4th SF Final UEFA Cup R2 Jim Bett 10
1988–89 Prem 36 18 14 4 51 25 50 2nd R4 Final UEFA Cup R1 Charlie Nicholas 16
1989–90 Prem 36 17 10 9 56 33 44 2nd Winners[ac] Winners UEFA Cup R1 Charlie Nicholas 11
1990–91 Prem 36 22 9 5 62 27 53 2nd R3 SF Cup Winners' Cup R2 Hans Gillhaus 14
1991–92 Prem 44 17 14 13 55 42 48 6th R3 R3 UEFA Cup R1 Eoin Jess 12
1992–93 Prem 44 27 10 7 87 36 64 2nd Final Final Duncan Shearer 22
1993–94 Prem 44 17 21 6 58 36 55 2nd SF QF Cup Winners' Cup R2 Duncan Shearer 17
1994–95 Prem 36 10 11 15 43 46 41 9th R4 SF UEFA Cup PR Billy Dodds 16
1995–96 Prem 36 16 7 13 52 45 55 3rd SF Winners Scott Booth /
Joe Miller		 9
1996–97 Prem 36 10 14 12 45 54 44 6th R3 QF UEFA Cup R2 Billy Dodds 17
1997–98 Prem 36 9 12 15 39 53 39 6th R3 SF Billy Dodds 10
1998–99 SPL[ad] 36 10 7 19 43 71 37 8th R3 R3 Eoin Jess 14
1999–2000 SPL 36 9 6 21 44 83 33 10th Final Final Arild Stavrum 9
2000–01 SPL 38 11 12 15 45 52 45 7th R4 R3 UEFA Cup QR Arild Stavrum 17
2001–02 SPL 38 16 7 15 51 49 55 4th QF R3 Robbie Winters 13
2002–03 SPL 38 13 10 15 41 54 49 8th R4 R3 UEFA Cup R1 Paul Sheerin 8
2003–04 SPL 38 9 7 22 39 63 34 11th QF QF Scott Booth 8
2004–05 SPL 38 18 7 13 44 39 61 4th QF R3 Darren Mackie 11
2005–06 SPL 38 13 15 10 46 40 54 6th R4 QF Jamie Smith /
Steve Lovell		 8
2006–07 SPL 38 19 8 11 55 38 65 3rd R3 R2 Darren Mackie 13
2007–08 SPL 38 15 8 15 50 58 53 4th SF SF UEFA Cup Last 32 Lee Miller 12
2008–09 SPL 38 14 11 13 41 40 53 4th QF R2 Lee Miller 10
2009–10 SPL 38 10 11 17 36 52 41 9th R5 R3 Europa League QR3 Steve MacLean 5
2010–11 SPL 38 11 5 22 39 59 38 9th SF SF Scott Vernon 9
2011–12 SPL 38 9 14 15 36 44 41 9th SF R3 Scott Vernon 11
2012–13 SPL 38 11 15 12 41 43 48 8th R5 R4 Niall McGinn 20
2013–14 Prem[ae] 38 20 8 10 53 38 68 3rd SF Winners Niall McGinn 14
2014–15 Prem 38 23 6 9 57 33 75 2nd R4 SF Europa League QR3 Adam Rooney 17
2015–16 Prem 38 22 5 11 62 48 71 2nd R4 R3 Europa League QR3 Adam Rooney 20
2016–17 Prem 38 24 4 10 74 35 76 2nd Final Final Europa League QR3 Adam Rooney 12
2017–18 Prem 38 22 7 9 56 37 73 2nd SF QF Europa League QR3 Adam Rooney 9
2018–19 Prem 38 20 7 11 57 44 67 4th SF Final Europa League QR2 Sam Cosgrove 17
2019–20 Prem[af] 30 12 9 9 40 36 45 4th SF QF Europa League QR3 Sam Cosgrove 11
2020–21 Prem 38 15 11 12 36 38 56 4th QF R2 Europa League QR3 Lewis Ferguson 8
2021–22 Prem 38 10 11 17 41 46 41 10th R5 R2 Europa Conference League PO Lewis Ferguson 11
2022–23 Prem 38 18 3 17 56 60 57 3rd R4 SF Duk / Bojan Miovski 16
2023–24 Prem 38 12 12 14 48 52 48 7th SF Final UEFA Europa League
UEFA Europa Conference League 		Play-Off Round
Group stage (Group G, 3rd) 		Bojan Miovski 16

Key

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The League Cup competition did not start until the 1946–47 season.
  2. ^ European club competitions did not begin until the 1955–56 season.
  3. ^ Despite only finishing 7th, Aberdeen were promoted due to a reordering of the league system.
  4. ^ The Scottish Cup was not held between 1914 and 1920 because of the first World War.
  5. ^ Scottish football was still held through the war, but due to a disastrous financial situation, the team (along with Dundee and Raith Rovers) had no choice but to drop out.
  6. ^ In this cup, Aberdeen scored a record 13 goals in one game against Peterhead.
  7. ^ This was Aberdeen's first Scottish Cup final. They lost out to league champions Celtic 2-1 away from home.
  8. ^ This is the most goals Aberdeen have ever scored in one season.
  9. ^ The League was renamed as Division A.
  10. ^ Aberdeen won the cup for the first time that season; Hibernian were the runners up losing 2–1 at Hampden.
  11. ^ In the first ever Scottish League Cup final, Aberdeen were comfortably beaten 4–0 at Ibrox Stadium by Rangers.
  12. ^ This season saw Aberdeen's highest attendance - 45,061 against Hearts in March 1955.
  13. ^ This was Aberdeen's first ever league title, ahead of runners-up Celtic by three points. The European competitions began the following season, but Aberdeen were not given Scotland's place in the tournament, which went to Hibernian by special invitation.
  14. ^ In 1955, the Scottish Cup was expanded to include amateur football teams as well as professional, expanding the competition to nine rounds.
  15. ^ First League Cup win.
  16. ^ The league was again renamed, this time back to Division One.
  17. ^ The Cup system was again reorganised, this time to include only professional teams, and containing six rounds.
  18. ^ During this season, Aberdeen recorded a record 8–0 loss to Celtic in January.
  19. ^ In Aberdeen's first ever European game, they beat Icelandic club KR Reykjavík 14–1 on aggregate, only to lose to Belgian Standard Liège 3–2, also on aggregate, in the next round.
  20. ^ The cup was again expanded, this time to seven rounds.
  21. ^ Aberdeen's first fixture of the tournament - against Hungarians Honvéd - resulted in the first ever penalty shootout in the cups history, which Honvéd won 5–4 in Budapest.
  22. ^ The league was renamed to the Premier Division and reduced to ten teams. They played each other four times in a season for the first time.
  23. ^ The cup format was changed to a straight knock-out competition because of criticism over the length of the original.
  24. ^ First double, of Scottish Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup
  25. ^ This was Aberdeen's first European trophy, and the most well known. In the final, they beat Real Madrid 2–1 to take the title.
  26. ^ First and only treble, of Scottish League, Scottish Cup and European Super Cup.
  27. ^ Aberdeen's first UEFA Super Cup final resulted in a 2–0 home win over Hamburg SV after a goalless draw in Germany.
  28. ^ First double of Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup.
  29. ^ Second double of Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup
  30. ^ The league was renamed the Scottish Premier League.
  31. ^ The league was renamed the Scottish Premiership.
  32. ^ 2019–20 Scottish Premiership suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland; season curtailed and standings at time of postponement declared final on 18 May 2020.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Aberdeen Football Club Team Profile & History". Scottish Premier League. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  2. ^ "Falkirk FC History". Talkfootball.co.uk. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  3. ^ 1940 | When The Football Stopped, Aberdeen FC, 18 March 2020
  4. ^ "Celtic champions & Hearts relegated after SPFL ends season". BBC Sport. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.