CRAIG LEVEIN, the Dundee United manager, yearns for a return to the European stage and hopes to edge closer to that goal by leading United to victory over fifth-placed Hibs today.
The transformation at Tannadice has been so impressive that with five matches left the team who were bottom of the table 18 months ago are now competing for third place and European football would be tangible recognition for the work undertaken on
Tayside since his arrival.
"I loved managing in Europe, absolutely loved it," said Levein. "One thing about the way the game here is, with playing each other so often, is it can get monotonous. But having something different to look forward to, something fresh, is great.
"Looking at it and trying to get past the first stage, then the next and then hopefully the groups is really exciting. Whoever gets there this season will love it, it's a great experience for the players.
In the savage world of management Levein believes there is no better way up than to begin climbing from the bottom rungs.
"I'm a great believer in serving an apprenticeship in this game. As a footballer you do it and as a manager you've got to do it as well. The better prepared you are when you step up to the top level then the more chance you have of making it. If you can start at a lower level and make your mistakes there then it's a huge benefit.
"Being a player and a manager is two completely different things. As a manager you need to learn how to manage people and that's nothing like what being a player is. Maybe if you are a captain or a senior player there is a small element of it but we all find out there's no comparison really."
The full article contains 316 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
