Derek McInnes admits it will be special and significant to make an emotional return to Aberdeen - but the Kilmarnock boss insists it will be all business once it gets going.
McInnes returns to Pittodrie tomorrow for the first time since his eight-year spell as Reds gaffer came to an end in March 2021. The 51-year-old has fond memories of a spell which brought a League Cup triumph, 11 appearances in knockout semi-finals, European action and a series of excellent league campaigns.
McInnes says he’ll have strong feelings and, asked if it would be emotional, confessed: “You cannot give eight years of your life to a club and not have that attachment. “They were so good to me and I would like to think I tried to give that back. At any level being at one club for that period of time is unusual. I had almost 400 games and I’m proud of that fact. I always remember when I first went to Aberdeen people saying it is a graveyard for managers, but I’d like to think we showed what could be done and it was through a lot of good work being done by so many people.
“There was a real upturn in fortunes for Aberdeen over that period. I would have liked to have won a few more trophies, but success comes in different shapes. It was a decent period for us and that was down to a whole club working as one. That is what I am now trying to develop here at Kilmarnock.
“That’s what I’m concentrating on now. My time at Aberdeen has gone and it was always inevitable I would go back as a manager. Saturday will be special and significant, but once the whistle goes it will all be about trying to win the game for Kilmarnock.”
Talent spotter Russ Richardson also had a key role to play in McInnes’ success and the pair are now reunited with him appointed Head of Recruitment at Rugby Park.
McInnes said: “Any time we brought players up from England, Russ had a handle on that. Loan players. His connections getting Danny Ward, Michael Hector, Max Lowe, James Maddison, you can rhyme seven or eight off after that.
“Then you have signings in terms of Sam Cosgrove. £25,000 from Carlisle reserves, we sell him for over £2million. Lewis Ferguson, part of the process in that.
“Having someone with Russ’ experience, knowledge and contacts, his eye for a player. I’m delighted the club has supported me in any key role I have tried to change. I appreciate there’s a ceiling to what we can do in terms of wages and budgets, but everything within our budget, the support from the board has been clear.
“We wanted Ross in before now, but he was working at Liverpool and he was respectful of his role there and it had to be right for everybody at the time. We want to be brilliant at recruitment. We want to not just get by. We want to be as good as we can be. And hopefully we can be that.”
