GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — Craig Levein’s turbulent three-year spell as Scotland coach ended Monday when he was fired following the team’s poor start to qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.
The Scots (0-2-2) are last in Group A with two points. They have not reached a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup.
Levein, hired in December 2009 as the country’s fourth manager since 2007, had a contract running until the summer of 2014. Scotland won just three of 12 competitive matches under Levein and is 56th in the FIFA rankings — 10 places lower than when he took the job.
Under-21 coach Billy Stark became interim coach ahead of next week’s exhibition game at Luxembourg. Scotland’s next qualifier is against Wales on March 22.
