Craig Has A Change Of Hearts

Apr 20 2008 By Euan Mclean

CRAIG LEVEIN turned his back on a mouth-watering UEFA Cup adventure with Hearts because the fans were too disgruntled to enjoy it with him.

Now he's desperate to return to that stage for a Dundee United support who will adore him for reviving their love affair with Europe.

The Tannadice boss faces Hibs today knowing a win could be key to who tops their three-horse race wi th Motherwell for the UEFA Cup slot. He admits the prospect of European football next year is driving on everyone at the club - including the fans.

And that's the difference from 2004 when setting Hearts up for games abroad was overlooked amid a bitter civil war between the supporters and chairman Chris Robinson.

Levein said: "I loved managing European games and the highlight was the 2-2 draw with Braga in Portugal that got us into the group stage.

"Unfortunately I left to join Leicester before the section started - but it wasn't difficult to walk away because of the stuff that was happening with the fans and Robinson.

"We had a good team and were winning games but all that mattered to the support was that they had a protest at 3.30pm and another at 4.30.

"It got to the point where the job wasn't rewarding for me.

"Now it's an exciting prospect to be battling for Europe again and the United players and fans will love it if we get there.

"The Scottish league can be repetitive. So to get into Europe you suddenly have something else to look forward to.

"If you get past the qualifiers and into the UEFA Cup group stages it becomes so thrilling."

Levein is an admirer of opposite number Mixu Paatelainen for following a similar path to success as him.

The Hibs gaffer also started out managing Cowdenbeath - where Levein plied his trade before joining Hearts.

And the United boss revealed Paatelainen asked him for advice prior to accepting the Central Park job in 2005.

Craig said: "Mixu phoned me when he was offered the Cowdenbeath job and I told him to take it because it was a great place for me to start.

"And it has given him a good grounding as well.

"Players have to work their way up and as a manager that is just as important."