The 45-year-old has been charged with picking up the pieces of the ill-fated George Burley reign and ending the country's decade-long wait to reach a major championship finals.

The job description would appear a tall order for even the most decorated of managers.

But, in Levein, the Scottish Football Association appear convinced they have landed a coach with the talent - if not necessarily the trophies - to achieve that aim.

The new manager's first task will be restoring the battered pride of the nation following a hugely disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign and subsequent friendly embarrassments.

Levein certainly has 'previous' in this regard, having transformed the fortunes of both Cowdenbeath and Dundee United at either end of his club management career.

In between that, he enjoyed reasonable success at Hearts - leading them into European competition - before becoming the latest Scottish manager to try his luck south of the border.

Levein's 15 months at Leicester failed to work out, however, casting doubt on his credentials as one of the brightest Scottish managers of his generation.

He has rebuilt his reputation since but there is an air of unfinished business as far as Levein and England is concerned.

But that is not of immediate concern to the SFA, who have lost both Walter Smith and Alex McLeish to club jobs in recent years.

Levein is similar in some regards to two of his more successful predecessors, who understood Scotland's strengths and weaknesses and set up their teams accordingly.

Burley's naive insistence he had a side capable of outplaying their rivals is one thing that led to his downfall.

Levein is highly unlikely to fall into the same trap.

Burley's other major problem appeared to be a lack of discipline within the squad, which arguably led to the whole 'Boozegate' saga.

Levein has not been without his own problems at Tannadice, with David Goodwillie recently warned he was on his third strike after being involved in a nightclub brawl for a second time.

But there is a sense that, as luckless as Burley was in this regard, Levein is unlikely to suffer from the same kind of misfortune.

His own self-discipline has been an issue in the past, however, and was long thought to have been a bar to him being appointed Scotland boss.

He has been fined more than once by the SFA for his outbursts and infamously had a long-running legal battle with the Scottish game's governing body after refusing to pay on one occasion.

There are also rumours he and SFA chief executive Gordon Smith have been at loggerheads for some time, although this will doubtless be played down upon Levein's unveiling.

But Levein's big advantage over Burley could be he appears to have the media on his side.

Burley's appointment was viewed with scepticism from day one but, in stark contrast, there has been something of a clamour for Levein to succeed him.

This will give him a fighting chance from the outset but, ultimately, the press and the fans will not hesitate to turn if they do not see an improvement - and fast.