Aberdeen have secured Lutz Pfannenstiel as their new sporting director, with the German set to begin his role next month.
The appointment comes during a turbulent period for Scottish football's traditional powerhouses.
Rangers recently hired Danny Rohl following public rejections from Steven Gerrard and Kevin Muscat.
Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers has departed Celtic whilst trailing league leaders Hearts by eight points, prompting a scathing attack from majority owner Dermot Desmond.
Lutz Pfannenstiel revealed he died three times while playing football
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Amidst this upheaval at Scotland's biggest clubs, Aberdeen have quietly recruited a figure with one of football's most extraordinary backstories.
The former goalkeeper brings substantial experience in player recruitment and development from previous roles at multiple European clubs and in Major League Soccer.
Pfannenstiel's name will resonate with Bradford Park Avenue supporters who witnessed one of football's most harrowing incidents in 2002.
During a Northern Premier League match against Harrogate Town, the goalkeeper suffered a catastrophic collision with a young Clayton Donaldson, who later enjoyed a successful Football League career including representing Bradford City.
The impact caused Pfannenstiel's lungs to collapse and his heart to cease beating.
Medical staff pronounced him clinically dead on three separate occasions whilst attempting resuscitation on the pitch.
"Basically my lungs collapsed, I had no pulse anymore, then I was declared three-times dead on the football field," Pfannenstiel later recounted. "But I woke up in hospital three hours later."
Remarkably, the German returned to action the following week, continuing what would become an exceptionally eventful career.
Pfannenstiel's playing journey saw him represent 25 clubs across 20 years, becoming the first footballer to compete in all six FIFA confederations.
His career path included spells at Nottingham Forest, Wimbledon and Huddersfield Town, alongside stints in Brazil, Malaysia, Finland and numerous other countries.
His time in Singapore proved particularly dramatic when authorities detained him for 101 days on match-fixing allegations in 2000. Despite the serious charges, he was ultimately exonerated and released.
The goalkeeper's autobiography reveals other remarkable episodes, including his work as an Armani model and an incident in New Zealand where he removed a penguin from a wildlife colony.
He housed the bird in his bathtub for two days before authorities intervened, threatening deportation unless he returned the animal.
Following retirement, Pfannenstiel transitioned into recruitment and technical roles across European football.
At Hoffenheim, he earned recognition for identifying talents including Roberto Firmino and Joelinton, both of whom later commanded significant transfer fees in moves to the Premier League.
In 2020, he joined St Louis City in the United States, where he orchestrated substantial organisational growth.
Under his guidance, the club achieved a remarkable feat in 2023, becoming the first MLS expansion team to capture a conference championship.
His departure from St Louis in August came amid scrutiny over managerial appointments.
However, within two months he secured the Aberdeen position, bringing extensive scouting networks and player development expertise to the Scottish Premiership club.
Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack expressed confidence in the appointment, highlighting Pfannenstiel's diverse expertise across coaching, scouting and youth development gained through various international positions.
"With extensive coaching, scouting, young player development and leadership expertise gained across different roles and cultures, we believe Lutz will be a catalyst in the club's quest to deliver its football aspirations over the next few years," Cormack stated.
The chairman emphasised that Pfannenstiel's technical acumen, experience in academy structures and worldwide recruitment connections proved decisive factors in the board's selection process.
Pfannenstiel himself praised Aberdeen's heritage and passionate support base. "Aberdeen FC has what many clubs around the world can only dream of – that is rich tradition, a storied history and a true football soul," he said.