| Club: | Aberdeen |
| Season: | 1986–87 |
| Manager: | Alex Ferguson (until 6 November) Ian Porterfield |
| Mgrtitle: | Manager |
| Chairman: | Dick Donald |
| Chrtitle: | Chairman |
| League: | Scottish Premier Division |
| League Result: | Fourth place |
| Cup1: | Scottish Cup |
| Cup1 Result: | Third round |
| Cup2: | Scottish League Cup |
| Cup2 Result: | Quarter-final |
| Cup3: | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup |
| Cup3 Result: | First round |
| Cup4: | Tennents' Sixes |
| Cup4 Result: | Winners |
| League Topscorer: | Billy Stark (12) |
| Season Topscorer: | John Hewitt Billy Stark (14 each) |
| Highest Attendance: | 23,500 vs. Rangers, 2 May 1987 23,500 vs. Celtic, 3 September 1986 |
| Lowest Attendance: | 6,000 vs. Clydebank, 11 April 1987 |
| Average Attendance: | 12,787 |
| Prevseason: | 1985–86 |
| Nextseason: | 1987–88 |
Aberdeen competed in the Scottish Premier Division, Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup and UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in season 1986–87.
Aberdeen lost their manager Alex Ferguson to Manchester United in November 1986. He was replaced by Ian Porterfield. On the field, the club finished in a disappointing fourth place in the Premier Division, and were knocked out of both domestic cup competitions by Celtic. In Europe, they were knocked out of the Cup Winners' Cup by Swiss club FC Sion at the first round stage.
New signings included midfielder Bobby Connor from Dundee and striker Davie Dodds from Swiss club Neuchâtel Xamax.
See main article: 1986–87 Scottish Premier Division.
| Match Day | Date | Opponent | H/A | Score | Aberdeen Scorer(s) | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 August | Dundee United | A | 1–2 | Stark | 10,910 |
| 2 | 13 August | Hibernian | H | 4–0 | Stark, Gray, J. Miller, Angus | 12,983 |
| 3 | 16 August | Hamilton Academical | H | 2–0 | Stark (2) | 10,316 |
| 4 | 23 August | Celtic | A | 1–1 | J. Miller | 46,073 |
| 5 | 30 August | Dundee | H | 2–0 | J. Miller, Hewitt | 12,486 |
| 6 | 6 September | St Mirren | A | 1–1 | Stark | 4,435 |
| 7 | 13 September | Heart of Midlothian | H | 0–1 | 15,625 | |
| 8 | 20 September | Clydebank | A | 3–1 | Hewitt, Weir | 2,766 |
| 9 | 27 September | Rangers | A | 0–2 | 40,155 | |
| 10 | 4 October | Motherwell | H | 2–2 | W. Miller, Dodds | 8,751 |
| 11 | 8 October | Falkirk | A | 3–3 | Stark, McLeish, Bett | 4,800 |
| 12 | 11 October | Dundee United | H | 2–0 | Hewitt (2) | 14,922 |
| 13 | 18 October | Hibernian | A | 1–1 | Connor | 9,127 |
| 14 | 25 October | Hamilton Academical | A | 1–0 | Bett | 3,001 |
| 15 | 1 November | Dundee | A | 2–0 | Porteous, Dodds | 8,200 |
| 16 | 8 November | St Mirren | H | 0–0 | 11,366 | |
| 17 | 15 November | Heart of Midlothian | A | 1–2 | Hewitt | 17,108 |
| 18 | 19 November | Clydebank | H | 5–0 | Stark (2), Connor (2), Hewitt | 7,301 |
| 19 | 22 November | Rangers | H | 1–0 | Dodds | 21,733 |
| 20 | 26 November | Celtic | H | 1–1 | McLeish | 22,040 |
| 21 | 29 November | Motherwell | A | 1–0 | Weir | 4,479 |
| 22 | 3 December | Falkirk | H | 1–0 | Stark | 9,253 |
| 23 | 6 December | Dundee United | A | 0–0 | 10,242 | |
| 24 | 13 December | Hibernian | H | 1–0 | Stark | 11,003 |
| 25 | 20 December | Celtic | A | 1–1 | J. Miller | 32,624 |
| 26 | 27 December | Hamilton Academical | H | 0–0 | 10,500 | |
| 27 | 1 January | Dundee | H | 2–1 | Wright, Grant | 11,000 |
| 28 | 21 January | Heart of Midlothian | H | 2–1 | Grant, W. Miller | 15,030 |
| 29 | 24 January | Rangers | A | 0–0 | 44,000 | |
| 30 | 27 January | Clydebank | A | 5–0 | Hewitt, Dodds, Wright (2), Connor | 2,007 |
| 31 | 7 February | Motherwell | H | 1–0 | Wright | 10,000 |
| 32 | 21 February | Falkirk | A | 3–0 | Stark (2), McLeish | 5,000 |
| 33 | 25 February | St Mirren | A | 0–1 | 3,553 | |
| 34 | 28 February | Dundee United | H | 0–1 | 14,000 | |
| 35 | 7 March | Hibernian | A | 1–1 | Bett | 6,000 |
| 36 | 14 March | Celtic | H | 1–0 | Irvine | 20,000 |
| 37 | 21 March | Hamilton Academical | A | 2–0 | Bett, Porteous | 3,594 |
| 38 | 28 March | St Mirren | H | 0–1 | 7,000 | |
| 39 | 4 April | Dundee | A | 1–1 | Grant | 4,346 |
| 40 | 11 April | Clydebank | H | 1–1 | Irvine | 6,000 |
| 41 | 18 April | Heart of Midlothian | A | 1–1 | Hewitt | 12,539 |
| 42 | 25 April | Motherwell | A | 2–0 | Hewitt, Miller | 2,886 |
| 43 | 2 May | Rangers | H | 1–1 | Irvine | 23,500 |
| 44 | 9 May | Falkirk | H | 3–1 | Hewitt, Miller, Grant | 6,500 |
See main article: 1986–87 Scottish League Cup.
| Round | Date | Opponent | H/A | Score | Aberdeen Scorer(s) | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R2 | 20 August | Alloa Athletic | H | 4–0 | J. Miller, Hewitt (2), Connor | 7,000 |
| R3 | 27 August | Clyde | H | 3–1 | Stark (2), J. Miller | 8,081 |
| QF | 3 September | Celtic | H | 1–1 | Connor | 23,500 |
See main article: 1986–87 Scottish Cup.
| Round | Date | Opponent | H/A | Score | Aberdeen Scorer(s) | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R3 | 1 February | Celtic | H | 2–2 | Bett, Hewitt | 23,000 |
| R3 R | 4 February | Celtic | A | 0–0 | 55,405 | |
| R3 2R | 9 February | Celtic | N | 0–1 | 21,255 | |
See main article: 1986–87 European Cup Winners' Cup.
| Round | Date | Opponent | H/A | Score | Aberdeen Scorer(s) | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 L1 | 17 September | FC Sion | H | 2–1 | Bett, Wright | 12,312 |
| R1 L2 | 1 October | FC Sion | A | 0–3 | 11,800 | |
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