32 Facts About Craig Levein

Craig William Levein was born on 22 October 1964 and is a Scottish professional football manager and former player.

Craig Levein is currently a full-time advisor to the board of directors at Highland Football League club Brechin City.

Craig Levein won 16 caps for Scotland and was part of their 1990 FIFA World Cup squad.

Craig Levein was appointed Scotland manager in 2009, but he left this position after the team failed to win any of its first four matches in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.

Craig Levein returned to Hearts in 2014 as director of football, then served as their manager from August 2017 to October 2019.

Craig Levein was born in Dunfermline and attended Inverkeithing High School, where he was in the football team alongside another future Scottish international footballer, Gordon Durie.

Craig Levein subsequently signed for Lochore and after trials with several senior clubs he finally joined Cowdenbeath in 1981.

Craig Levein quickly established himself in the first team and soon became a target for larger clubs.

Craig Levein won the SPFA Young Player of the Year award in 1985 and 1986, becoming the first player to retain the title.

Craig Levein had a recurrence of the injury in 1988 when he collapsed unchallenged in a game against Rangers and spent a second year out of the game.

Craig Levein was forced to retire from playing in 1997, due to another serious knee injury.

Cowdenbeath were promoted in 2001, but Craig Levein had left in December 2000 to take over as manager at Hearts.

Craig Levein was the first manager to take Hearts into Europe in successive seasons since the 1960s.

Craig Levein was appointed as manager of his boyhood heroes, Scottish Second Division club Raith Rovers, on 5 September 2006, on a non-contract basis.

Craig Levein was unveiled to the press on 30 October 2006.

Craig Levein guided United to four successive home victories, earning him 'Manager of the Month' for November 2006, later repeating the award in March 2007 and again in October 2007.

Craig Levein signed a new contract with United in December 2008, but he left the job in December 2009 to become Scotland national football team manager.

Craig Levein overhauled the club's youth system, which subsequently brought through players such as Ryan Gauld and John Souttar.

On 23 December 2009, Craig Levein left Dundee United to become the new Scotland manager.

Craig Levein later said that he had adopted the formation after seeing Russian club Rubin Kazan achieve a good result against FC Barcelona with that approach.

Craig Levein conceded that he perhaps should not have done this without knowing the players well, early in his tenure as manager.

Craig Levein attracted criticism for selecting Ian Black for that match, despite him playing in the fourth-tier Scottish Third Division.

Craig Levein had previously said that it would be "very difficult" for any player to go from playing in the Third Division to an international match, and had left out Lee Wallace for that reason.

Craig Levein stated his belief that Scotland were capable of winning all of their qualifying games, but the first two matches ended in home draws against Serbia and Macedonia.

Craig Levein then recalled Steven Fletcher and Kris Commons, but Scotland fell to two away defeats against Wales and Belgium, which left the Scots bottom of Group A with only 2 points from 4 games.

Craig Levein was relieved of his duties on 5 November 2012, following talks with the Scottish Football Association.

Craig Levein returned to Hearts in May 2014, as he was appointed director of football by new owner Ann Budge.

In that role, Craig Levein oversaw the appointments of Robbie Neilson and Ian Cathro as head coach of Hearts.

Four weeks after Cathro was sacked in August 2017, Craig Levein was appointed first team manager.

Craig Levein signed a three-year contract as manager, while continuing as director of football.

Craig Levein was sacked as Hearts manager and director of football on 31 October 2019, although he was retained in an advisory role until May 2020.

Craig Levein joined Brechin City as an advisor to their board of directors in June 2021, shortly after their relegation to the Highland League.