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Aberdeen face Rangers in their next two games Scottish Premiership: Rangers v Aberdeen Venue: Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow Date: Tuesday, 6 January Time: 20: 00 GMT Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio Scotland Extra & Sounds, live text commentary on the BBC Sport website & app Aberdeen's players have six months to "prove themselves", says sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel as the club seek Jimmy Thelin's replacement as manager. Pfannenstiel will assist interim manager Peter Leven and lead the search for a new boss. The Swede left on Sunday, a day on from a loss at Falkirk that left the Dons eighth in the Scottish Premiership. Leven's first match in charge of his third spell as interim boss is away to Rangers on Tuesday evening. "You have now six months' time to show yourself, you have six months' time to prove you are worth wearing that badge, that you want to be an Aberdeen player, that you want to work for it, " Pfannenstiel told club media. Aberdeen inundated with manager applications - gossip Aberdeen links 'don't turn' Robinson's head Visit our Aberdeen page for all the latest news, analysis and fan views "If we are show ponying around and not really getting the effort on to the pitch and not getting the intensity up, then that tells me something that we need to change more. "It's an open door policy right now. We have a lot of players for selection. It's always a reset when you bring in a new manager. "It's always an opportunity and the chance for all the players who were here for many, many years or many months, whatever it is to start at ground zero, to prove themselves, to make themselves available and show that they want to be part of the team. "The best XI will play. Being eighth in the league is not good enough. " This video can not be played Sportscene rewind: Rangers & Aberdeen's six-goal thriller Alfie Dorrington has left Aberdeen following his second loan spell from Tottenham and Pfannenstiel hinted more players would move on, while also suggesting their would be recruits in January. "We have a very good squad when it comes to individual players but 11, 15 or 20 players who are individually good don't necessarily make a good team, " he said. "We need to have these connection players, who make the current squad better, to add that certain quality to make us into a better team. "Will there be big changes coming in the future? 100%. Our squad is too big. The big first move is that we cut our squad. We move a few players out. [We can] add one or two positions with quality with players who have an immediate impact. "Maybe six positions we need to be stronger and we need to improve. " On the hunt for a new manager, Pfannenstiel says "there is some big names, there is some surprising names, there is some terrible names, there is all nationalities". He indicated the Dons would take their time so as to not "run into the wrong decision" but that the club wanted a "high pressing, hard working, high intensity team". And Pfannenstiel said he has "full belief" in Leven, who won six out of 12 games over his previous two spells as interim manager. This video can not be played 'Thelin didn't lose dressing room' - Leven Chelsea appoint Rosenior as manager on six-year contract - reaction 'Sydney is a city of endings – this felt like another' Why Chelsea have turned to 'innovator' Rosenior A familiar fixture in film that reflects British life Daliso Chaponda and guests start 2026 with a good laugh A minute-by-minute account of the night the unsinkable ship sank Is the desire for vengeance stronger than the longing to be loved? 'Aberdeen savour the most perfect game ever played' How Mc Tominay became a Napoli icon after Man Utd exit Scotland men's internationals to be shown live on BBC Commonwealth Games: Why is it so special to be part of Team Scotland? From titles to tinpottery - rank Scotland's top 10 clubs 'Sydney is a city of endings – this felt like another' Tactics, transfers and turmoil - inside the fall of Amorim 'Nancy blunder evidence of Celtic's blurred vision' From Aronimink to Zalatoris - an A-Z of golf in 2026 'Amorim's toxic exit the latest chaotic chapter in Ratcliffe's reign' 'One of the worst dismissals I've seen' - Smith gifts wicket to Australia. Video'One of the worst dismissals I've seen' - Smith gifts wicket to Australia 'I want to dominate' - Littler takes another step towards greatness 'We need to protect players' - how can tennis avoid breaking point? 'Paul was fun': Remembering snooker's lost great 20 years on Sporting highlights to look forward to in 2026 Best images of 2025 F1 season - on and off the track The 25 best sports photos of 2025 - and the stories behind them Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.