Craig Levein

Craig William Levein ( born October 22, 1964 in Dunfermline, Scotland ) is a former Scottish footballer and current coach.

  • 3.1 As a player
  • 3.2 As a coach

Playing career

Association

Levein attended Inverkeithing High School, where he was part of the football team at school in his youth. At the age of 15 he wanted to stop playing football, but his brother, who played for FC Lochore Welfare, convinced him mitzutrainieren at the club. Levein signed up at Lochore Welfare and finally closed in 1981, his first professional contract with FC Cowdenbeath. At that time the Scottish third division Levein remained two years and then moved to the Scottish Premier League Heart of Midlothian, where he spent the rest of his football career. Already in the 1983/84 season was one of the defenders regularly for starting the Hearts. In 1984, he broke out in a friendly against Raith Rovers his own teammate Graeme Hogg 's nose and was banned for twelve games. The following year he became the service provider. He also scored his first Erstligatreffer this season. With the Hearts he reached the final of the Scottish FA Cup, which went but lost 0-3 to FC Aberdeen in 1986. 1985 and 1986 him the award were also recognized as Scotland's Young Player of the Year. Because of injuries came Levein between 1986 and 1989 to just 42 league bets. Only at the beginning of the 1989/90 season he made the comeback to the full Player. Until 1994, he competed never less than thirty League games per season.

1997 ended Levein due to its complicated injuries at the age of 32 years, his career as a professional footballer.

National

Levein graduated between 1990 and 1994 16 games for the Scottish national team. In the home match against Argentina he made his debut in March 1990. Shortly thereafter, coach Andy Roxburgh appointed him in the squad for the World Cup. There he came in one of three group matches are used. At the only victory in the competition against Sweden Leivein was the full 90 minutes on the pitch. In the deciding match for a place in the knockout stages, he was not considered.

Coaching career

After the Scot was involuntarily retired as a player, he took over in November of 1997, his first coach of FC Cowdenbeath, where he had already played as Active. He oversaw three years the team and managed to incorporate new structures in the club environment. In 2000 he moved to his former club, Hearts of Midlothian, where he had a successful time. So it was in 2003 and 2004 League third and qualified in the years for the UEFA Cup. In 2004 he left the Hearts and hired at Leicester City as a coach. He was released in 2006. In the same year he trained for a short time the Scottish third division side Raith Rovers. But yet he was only seven games for head coach of the team and could only celebrate a victory. Since 2006, Levein manager of Dundee United. For the 2007/08 season with Dundee, he managed to rank fifth in the league. This place was defended in the following year. On the basis of goal difference but you missed a better placement and thus a place in the qualification for the UEFA Europa League. On 22 December 2009, the Scottish Football Association announced that Levein new coach of the Scottish national team should be. This was done without the consent of his previous clubs Dundee United. On November 5, 2012 Levein was released after the poor results in the World Cup qualifiers by the Scottish Football Association.

Achievements

As a player

  • Scottish Cup with Heart of Midlothian: Second 1985/86
  • Scottish PFA Young Player of the Year: (2) 1985, 1986

As a coach

  • Scottish League Cup with Dundee United: Second 2007/ 08
  • Manager of the Month in Scotland: (5) December 2001, April 2003, November 2006, March 2007, October 2007
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