Former Liverpool and Arsenal ace Jermaine Pennant believes Steve Bruce was the “best man manager” he ever labored below.
During his profession, Pennant, 40, performed below Arsene Wenger at Highbury and Rafael Benitez at Anfield, the latter of which he featured for over the course of a memorable run to the 2007 Champions League closing. But in-between these spells, Pennant had a life-changing two years below Bruce at Birmingham City.
During their time collectively, Pennant performed a number of the greatest soccer of his Premier League profession and in addition spent 30 days in jail after pleading responsible to drink driving in 2005. He additionally grew to become the one Premier League participant to compete whereas carrying an digital police tag, as Bruce threw him again into the beginning line-up when he was launched on parole. Pennant credit the previous Newcastle United boss for serving to him flip his life round.
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“He is the best man manager that I’ve worked under,” Pennant – who was talking on behalf of William Hill – mentioned in an unique interview with Daily Star Sport. “He was wonderful, for me, for my profession. I owe loads to Steve as a result of he by no means gave up on me.
“He may have given up on me a number of occasions as a result of I drove him across the bend at occasions. You know I acquired him in hassle generally, however he by no means, ever gave up on me and that may be a nice attribute to have.
“And in that I repaid him on the pitch. No matter what was occurring, I made certain that I gave 110% on that area. On the again of that, I acquired rewarded with a transfer to Liverpool, so if I did not carry out properly on the pitch Liverpool wouldn’t have an interest for that entire season.”
What is your response to Jermaine Pennant’s views on Steve Bruce? Let us know within the remark part under
(Image: Getty Images)
(Image: Birmingham Post and Mail)
Pennant contributed three targets and 6 assists over the course of 60 video games he performed below the Manchester United legend. When City had been relegated, Pennant was snapped up by Liverpool in a deal value £6.7m. It was an outstanding journey, contemplating he was behind bars, barely a 12 months earlier than.
However, regardless of being considered one of his greatest gamers, Bruce, 63, didn’t stand in his manner when the Merseysiders got here calling. Pennant added: “I feel they [Liverpool] watched me for the entire season and Steve Bruce supported that. He supported me, not solely on the pitch, however off the pitch as properly. I could not converse extra extremely of Steve.”
In recent years, Bruce has been a divisive figure for the teams he has led. At Newcastle, he was frequently derided by his own fans, despite maintaining their place in the Premier League, while the Saudi Arabian PIF led consortium was negotiating a takeover of the club with their previous owner Mike Ashley.
(Image: POOL/AFP by way of Getty Images)
(Image: BPM)
However, Pennant believes the supervisor, who has not been within the dugout since his disastrous eight-month spell with West Bromwich Albion, is harshly criticised by followers and the media alike. “He’s a fantastic man, and I perceive that generally as a supervisor, his groups, they did not get the very best or do properly,” said Pennant.
“But I feel he deserved extra from followers. He deserved extra from his workforce as a result of he is a great supervisor. I feel he may have reached greater heights and received issues throughout his managerial profession, however the groups he had weren’t at all times succesful.
“I think he’s a wonderful manager and some fans don’t see eye to eye with him. I think he’s just one of those managers, who is an easy target – like me, an easy target.”