Jimmy Calderwood will lead Aberdeen into battle for the 200th time tomorrow when an inconsistent Motherwell are the visitors to Pittodrie.

Calderwood, as effervescent and enthusiastic as when he took the reins four years ago, spoke yesterday of how he had found the Aberdeen job much bigger than expected.

He accepted that he has not been universally popular with supporters but pledged to win a trophy, after which it might then be time to depart.

"It's amazing that these games have gone so quickly," he said, "and it's a real honour to have been in charge of a great club like this for so long.

"It's not an easy job at times but it is a fabulous one to have and it's a matter of pride that I am the longest in the post since the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson. Of course, this is a different era than it was when he turned Aberdeen in to one of the best teams in Europe.

"We can't compete with the big hitters in football nowadays but this is still a club with a very high standing in the game with a lot of great people at Pittodrie."

He went on to assure Aberdeen's followers he would continue to strive for a third-place finish in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League but had set his heart on bringing the Scottish Cup to the club.

"I think it might gave some Aberdeen fans a heart attack if I talk about still being here after another two hundred games," he laughed, "but we will wait and see. There is two-and-a-half-years to go on my present deal and we will have to see what the board decide at the time.

"The aim is to just to get better and better all the time but the big carrot is a cup final appearance and ultimately winning a trophy. The hunger is there to get back in to Europe while getting third place again is very much the aim and second would be nice but you need to be realistic about that.

Losing to Queen of the South in the semi-final of last season's Scottish Cup, when a place in continental competition was within reach, was his biggest blow, he revealed.

He said he was convinved Aberdeen could have gone on to win the trophy by beating Rangers in the final.

"You still wrack your brain some nights wondering if you picked the wrong team," he said, "and what you should have done differently.

"Coming back up the road that night was torture as we kept passing supporters buses filled with fans who would have happily wrung me neck if they could have got hold of me, and rightly so."