Tannadice tests were the making of ‘Soapy’ insists his mentor
The tit-for-tat debate between Craig Levein and Dundee United, with John Souttar at its centre, has rumbled on all week.
The Hearts manager reckons being shunted between positions as a teen almost broke the defender.
United disagree – and hit back by labelling their former boss’s comments “derogatory and misleading”.
Levein’s latest line on the subject – that Souttar agreed fully with his comments – has stoked the flames even further.
But the man who coached the Hearts man through United’s ranks, Stevie Campbell, insists what he endured on Tayside helped make him the star he is today.
Souttar became a sensation on Tayside after being handed his debut by Peter Houston, aged just 16.
The Luthermuir kid defied his years to nail down a place at centre-half.
But his ability on the ball, coupled with personnel issues at Tannadice, led to Souttar frequently being deployed out of position as things turned sour for United on the park.
A rehabilitated, confident Souttar is now shining at centre-back for both Hearts and Scotland – no thanks, says Levein, to the treatment he got from the Tangerines.
Yet Campbell insists: “You always knew John was going to be a centre-half, even as a 15 and 16-year-old.
“But I’d still move him into midfield in the youth team at times when he was 15.
“It’s OK to move players about a bit like that, especially when they’re younger.
“But there’s a difference when we’re talking about getting into the first-team, and nailing down where he’s going to be playing.
“That obviously happened to ‘Soapy’ at United under Jackie and Mixu Paatelainen.
“But I think you could argue that was a compliment to him, because he was such a talented footballer and had so many attributes.
“He had difficulties, because he was so young, and at times he wasn’t comfortable.
“But, in my opinion, the experience has probably helped ‘Soapy’ in the long term. “How he has come through those tests – even getting exposed in the odd game back then – is testament to his character.” As their team began their plummet towards eventual relegation, a section of Dundee United fans, who had watched top players like Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-steven leave, began to turn on some of those that remained. Souttar was among them.
By the time Hearts scooped him up in February, 2016, his head was down and his confidence shot.
But Campbell, who left Tannadice before Souttar got his move, had faith that Levein would build the youngster back up again.
“Craig is the best defensive coach that I’ve ever seen work, or worked with,” said the man who now runs the Stevie Campbell Football Academy. while assisting Darren Dods at Brechin City. “I knew when ‘Soapy’ moved to Hearts that he would excel in that environment.
“I think I texted him to say: ‘I can’t wait until you move for £10m now.’ I’m still confident that will happen one day.
“I couldn’t believe, if I’m being totally honest, that United let him go, someone with that much potential.
“But from John’s point of view, it was time to get out because he had lost a bit of confidence.
“There were a lot of factors. And, yes, he was getting shunted about a fair bit and that played a part in it.
“But, as I’ve said, I think that’s a compliment to him, that every manager – and I include myself in that with the youth team – felt he could go and play right-back, or in defensive midfield, because he has that many attributes.
“All the while, I knew there was a top, top player in there.
“But it takes time and it takes development. He’s still only 21, but he’s working with the best defensive coach in the country and he’s proving what he’s all about.”
Souttar was one of five players Campbell has coached over the years that made it into the most-recent Scotland squad.
Stuart Armstrong, Johnny Russell, Andy Robertson and Kevin Mcdonald are also former pupils.
For Campbell, the calibre of player national boss Alex Mcleish is now able to call on means it is a hopeful time for the Tartan Army.
“When I look at the players in that squad, I’m excited by it,” he said.
“Guys Like Robertson and Tierney, obviously, are top-class. Then there’s Stuart, Kevin, Ryan Fraser and Scott Mctominay all playing in the English Premier League.
“We’ve got plenty of players playing at a high level – more than some of our neighbours, like Northern Ireland.
“That’s fantastic for us and, if they’re all on their game, it gives us a great chance of getting some decent results.”