Don’t write off ‘bloody-minded’ Craig Levein just yet

Self-belief an asset for ex-Hearts boss

Craig Levein is unlikely to think it's time for his pipe and slippers. Picture: Craig Williamson/SNS

What next for Craig Levein when he takes his leave of Hearts at the end of this month?

At 55, the former Scotland manager is unlikely to feel he is quite ready for the pipe and slippers. But there’s no doubt his latest stint at the club with which he is most readily associated has harmed Levein’s reputation.

Prospective employers may not be putting his name anywhere near the top of shortlists for either managerial or director of football roles in the near future.

Yet, if he is seen by many as damaged goods, football has a habit of giving chances even to those who have hit the kind of slump experienced by Levein. You can be sure the one person who won’t have lost any faith in Levein’s capabilities to succeed at a decent level in the game is the man himself.

While a bloody-minded sense of self belief may have been a weakness at Hearts, it could still be his biggest strength going forward.

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