Why Uche Ikpeazu named Craig Levein as one of the best mangers he's worked under

Ikpeazu praised Levein’s man-management skills

Uche Ikpeazu named Craig Levein as one of the two best managers he has worked under during his career.

The Hearts striker was signed by the current director of football and former head coach in the summer of 2018.

Levein overhauled the team that summer with Ikpeazu, arriving from Cambridge United, one of 16 players to make the move to Tynecastle that transfer window.

Uche Ikpeau is full of praise for Craig Levein. Picture: SNS

Recently called up by Uganda, the 25-year-old hit the ground running in his first season and became a fans’ favourite. He hit the back of the net, set up goals and terrorised defences with his strength.

“If we are talking about man-manager, I have to put Shaun Derry and Craig Levein in the same bracket.” Ikpeazu told The Gap Academy.

“I was at a stage of my career where I almost fell out of the game. Shaun Derry gave me a lifeline, I was really down at the time I joined Cambridge put an arm around. He just encouraged me.

“I came at a time when he could see I wasn’t myself. There were certain things I was doing that wasn’t me. He just gave me a little bit of confidence and it helped.

“The improvement I made at Cambridge working with Shaun Derry helped me so much that obviously my second season, I had a very good season and went to Hearts.

“When I went to Hearts it was like a follow up. I was at the top of my game when I first joined.

“Working with Craig Levein, he didn't really say much. But one thing that no-one can take away from him is, he's a nice man, he's a good guy. He cared about the club and players, and whoever you are, he didn't treat anyone badly.

“I had my confidence from having a good season at Cambridge but he kept my feet on the ground. He was stern and he was just a good man-manager. Playing helped me, but he was a good man-manager.

"He didn't speak as much as Shaun Derry, but when he spoke you knew that it was significant. I knew what I needed to do.

"He put that sort of pressure on me without even saying much. As in, 'you need to deliver, you're going to have to deliver for us' sort of thing.

"And more often than not, particularly in the first season, I did."

This current season, Ikpeazu has found the back of the net just twice and fell out of favour prior to the league shutdown, not making Daniel Stendel’s squad for the final three league fixtures.

The striker admits it is different under the German but recognises how good a coach he is.

“My current manager I’m with at the moment Daniel Stendel,” Uche said. “He’s different to them. He’s a very good coach.

“Everyone has their different ways but he’s up there with one of the best coaches I’ve worked with.”