By his own admission, football is all Steve Bruce has ever known.
From humble beginnings at Gillingham where he learnt his craft as a respected defender, to dazzling for Manchester United in the Premier League, the proud Geordie has been a big name on the professional scene of the national sport for close to half a century.
But in October 2022, after eight “tough” months, Bruce was sacked by West Brom and decided it was time to “force” himself to take a welcome break from the game.
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And who could blame him having dedicated 22 years of his life to being a model professional – and the following 26 years where he worked tirelessly to establish himself as a respected manager to be reckoned with?
Job offers were on the table during that prolonged break, but the former Newcastle United, Sunderland, Hull City and Birmingham boss – to name a few of the 12 clubs he has managed – turned them all down.
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(Image: Mirrorpix)
Bruce, though, had an “itch to scratch” and a phone call from Blackpool owner Simon Sadler before the start of this season changed everything.
Retirement has now been firmly put on the back-burner with the 63-year-old hungry to make his vast experience count as the ambitious Seasiders look to win promotion back to the Championship.
“It was weird having so much time off, it’s a funny feeling for any man or woman coming to retirement,” admits Bruce. “I thought, ‘Maybe it’s time’. Some people love every minute of it and, I have to say, for 12 months I thoroughly enjoyed it.
(Image: Getty Images)
“But I was properly active because I was building a house along the way. It’s a difficult time when you have to contemplate retirement, however, I wasn’t quite ready.
“Football’s in your blood. Is it a drug? Is that the wrong word? But whatever it is, football is a great game and I thoroughly enjoy watching and playing football. I’ve missed the every-day drive of something to get me out of bed in the morning.”
Bruce won the Premier League three times as a player with United in a golden era, racking up 12 pieces of silverware in a stellar career at Old Trafford in a team littered with star players including Eric Cantona, Bryan Robson, David Beckham, Roy Keane and Peter Schmeichel.
(Image: PA)
And as a manager he toasted famous promotions to the Premier League, twice with Birmingham (2002-2003 and 2006-2007) and Hull (2012-13), as well as coming close to guiding the Tigers to victory over Arsenal in the 2014 FA Cup at Wembley.
“I should have taken my break when I left Newcastle, but the opportunity to go to West Brom came along,” reflected Bruce. “I believe we were close (to getting somewhere), although other people won’t.
“We drew eight out of our first 11 games, but we could have quite easily won five of those and I might not be sitting here. They wanted to make the change, but I thought it was very, very early. But that’s football and you have to deal with it.
(Image: Getty Images)
“It was then that I said I was going to force myself into taking a break, but it was tough because I had three, four, five opportunities in the first 12 months to get back in. But I didn’t entertain any of them at all.
“But this year, when the season came around again, there was that itch again for me to say, ‘OK, let’s see if I can do something’, and here I am.”
Bruce knows only too well he will have to retire from management at some stage, but he still retains much of the youthful exuberance that saw him land his first managerial job, with Sheffield United, in 1998. “My enthusiasm for football has never changed,” he adds.
(Image: Man Utd via Getty Images)
“It was difficult because I started in the lower divisions. I played 235 times for Gillingham before I got my break, so I know what the lower divisions are all about.
“I thoroughly enjoyed that time. I’m lucky that I didn’t pick many injuries up and lucky that I got the opportunity to get into management. How lucky I have been to be involved in football for 40-odd years? It’s incredible.
“It’s really hard to quantify what my proudest achievement is as a manager.
(Image: Bob Thomas Sports Photography via Getty Images)
“I had a wonderful time at Hull, but I arguably had my best-ever team at Wigan. We had a team which took 63 points in calendar year, which would have been there of thereabouts for Europe before we sold Wilson Palacios, Antonio Valencia, Emile Heskey and Hugo Rodallega.
“The big boys came and took them all! I actually think my proudest moment was getting to an FA Cup final with Hull. We were 2-0 up against the mighty Arsenal, but we didn’t quite make it.
“Promotions with Birmingham, Hull and with Sunderland we finished tenth, the club’s third highest finish in the Premier League in 50-odd years. There’s plenty of highs.”
But what does ‘Brucey’ – as he his affectionately known to his friends – expect from his new adventure at Bloomfield Road in 2024-25 and beyond? “I hope I can help make these players better and achieve something,” he says.
“There’s nothing better in management than giving somebody a chance and seeing them go on and do really well. Players like Andy Robertson, a Jarred Bowen or a Harry Maguire. It’s been great to watch them and realise you’ve had some sort of influence on them progressing and having a good career.
“But perhaps the proudest aspect for me is how lucky I’ve been to be involved in football for so long. My longevity has to come down to my enthusiasm to be involved in the game. I’ve never lost that!”
Steve Bruce. A gentleman of the game, and one truly loves it.