Steve Bruce

Infobox Football biography
playername = Steve Bruce


fullname = Stephen Roger Bruce
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1960|12|31|df=y
cityofbirth = Corbridge, Northumberland
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Wigan Athletic (manager)
height = height|ft=6|in=0
position = Central defender
years = 1977–1984 1984–1987 1987–1996 1996–1998 1998–1999
clubs = Gillingham Norwich City Manchester United Birmingham City Sheffield United Total
caps(goals) = 205 (29) 141 (14) 309 (36) 072 0(2) 010 0(0) 737 (81)
nationalyears = 1979–1980
1987
nationalteam = England Youth
England B
nationalcaps(goals) = 008 0(0)
001 0(0)
manageryears = 1998–1999
1999–2000
2001
2001
2001–2007
2007–
managerclubs = Sheffield United
Huddersfield Town
Wigan Athletic
Crystal Palace
Birmingham City
Wigan Athletic

Stephen Roger "Steve" Bruce (born 31 December 1960) is an English football manager and former player. Born in Corbridge, Northumberland, he was a promising schoolboy footballer but was rejected by a number of professional clubs. He was on the verge of quitting the game altogether when he was offered an apprenticeship with Gillingham, and went on to play more than 200 games for the club before joining Norwich City in 1984.

In 1987, he moved to Manchester United, with whom he achieved great success, winning the Premier League, The Football Association (FA) Cup and the Football League Cup. He also became the first English player of the twentieth century to captain a team to The Double. Despite his success on the field, he was never selected to play for the England national team. Commentators and contemporaries have described him as one of the best English players of the 1980s and 1990s never to play for his country at full international level.

Bruce began his managerial career with Sheffield United, and spent short periods of time managing Huddersfield Town, Wigan Athletic and Crystal Palace before joining Birmingham City in 2001. He twice led Birmingham to promotion to the Premier League during his tenure of nearly six years, but resigned in 2007 to begin a second spell as manager of Wigan.

Early life

Bruce was born in Corbridge in Northumberland, the elder of two sons of Joe and Sheenagh Bruce. [cite book | first=Steve|last= Bruce | title=Heading for Victory: An Autobiography| publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing Ltd| year=1994| id=ISBN 0-7475-1780-8|pages=p33] Although his father was a local, his mother had been born in Bangor in Northern Ireland.cite news
title = Blues defender Bruce opts for green shirt of Ireland | work = The Guardian| accessdate =2008-09-04 | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2006/feb/23/newsstory.sport3|date=2006-02-23|author=Ian Parkes] cite news
title = Bruce in the middle | work = Evening Star| accessdate =2007-09-27 | url = http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/content/eveningstar/sport/story.aspx?brand=ESTOnline&category=Sport&tBrand=estonline&tCategory=Sport&itemid=IPED04%20Sep%202007%2009%3A37%3A27%3A587|date=2007-09-04|author=Derek Davis] The family lived in Daisy Hill near Wallsend, [cite book | first=Steve|last= Bruce | title=Heading for Victory: An Autobiography| pages=p34] and Bruce attended Benfield School.cite book | first=Steve|last= Bruce | title=Heading for Victory: An Autobiography| pages=p38]

Bruce, a boyhood fan of Newcastle United, claims to have sneaked into St James' Park without paying to watch the team play, saying "I have always been a Newcastle lad and when I was a kid, I crawled under the turnstiles to get in to try and save a bob or whatever it was. They were my team, I went to support them as a boy and being a Geordie it's in-bred in you, you follow the club still the same today."cite web
title = Tyne Travellers: Part I | publisher = Manchester United F.C.| accessdate =2007-09-27 | url = http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7B6DDFCB6E-3471-4E45-9385-F04D05F4A70D%7D&newsid=368371&page=3|date=2006-10-03] Like a number of other future professionals from the area, he played football for Wallsend Boys Club. He was also selected for the Newcastle Schools representative team, and at the age of 13 was among a group of players from the team selected to serve as ball boys at the 1974 Football League Cup final at Wembley Stadium.cite book | first=Steve|last= Bruce | title=Heading for Victory: An Autobiography| pages=p74]

Having been turned down by a number of professional clubs, including Newcastle United, Sunderland, Derby County and Southport, Bruce was about to start work as an apprentice plumber at the Swan Hunter dockyard when he was offered a trial by Third Division club Gillingham, whose manager Gerry Summers had seen him playing for Wallsend in an international youth tournament.cite book | first=Steve|last= Bruce | title=Heading for Victory: An Autobiography| pages=pp39–40] He travelled down to Kent with another player from the Wallsend club, Peter Beardsley, but although Gillingham signed Bruce as an apprentice, they turned Beardsley away. At the time Bruce was playing as a midfielder, but he was switched to the centre of defence by the head of Gillingham's youth scheme, Bill "Buster" Collins, whom Bruce cites as the single biggest influence on his career.cite web
title = Past Players: Steve Bruce | publisher = Gillingham F.C.| accessdate =2008-09-09 | url = http://web.archive.org/web/20070503105625/http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.premiumtv.co.uk/page/PastPlayersDetail/0,,10416~63313,00.html|author=Haydn Parry] cite news
title = Adams and Bruce were Buster's premier pupils | work = Daily Telegraph| accessdate =2007-09-27 | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2004/03/07/sfnpb207.xml|date=2004-03-06|author=Patrick Barclay]

Playing career

Gillingham

Bruce spent the 1978–79 season in Gillingham's reserve team and, despite playing in defence, scored 18 goals to finish the season as top scorer. In January 1979, he was selected to represent the England Youth team, and he went on to gain eight caps, participating in the 1980 European Under-18 Championship.cite book | first=Steve|last= Bruce | title=Heading for Victory: An Autobiography| pages=pp52–53] He came close to making his debut for the club's senior team in May 1979, but Summers decided at the last minute that, as Gillingham were chasing promotion from the Third Division, Bruce was not yet ready to handle the pressure of the occasion.cite book | first=Steve|last= Bruce | title=Heading for Victory: An Autobiography| pages=p53] He eventually made his senior debut in a Football League Cup tie against Luton Town on 11 August 1979, and made an immediate impact in the team, winning the club's Player of the Year award at the end of the 1979–80 season.cite book | first=Steve|last= Bruce | title=Heading for Victory: An Autobiography| pages=p57] He went on to make more than 200 appearances for the club,cite book | first=Roger|last= Triggs | title=The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club| publisher=Tempus Publishing Ltd | year=2001| id=ISBN 0-7524-2243-X|pages=p70] and was twice voted into the Professional Footballers' Association's Third Division Team of the Year.cite book | first=Steve|last= Bruce | title=Heading for Victory: An Autobiography| pages=p60] In an April 1983 match against Newport County he attempted, in a moment of anger, to deliberately injure opposition player Tommy Tynan, but connected awkwardly and succeeded only in breaking his own leg, leaving him unable to play again for six months.cite book | first=Steve|last= Bruce | title=Heading for Victory: An Autobiography| pages=p62] He returned in time to play a key role in Gillingham achieving two draws against Everton in the FA Cup in 1984, attracting the attention once again of scouts from First Division clubs. Arthur Cox, manager of Bruce's beloved Newcastle United, expressed an interest in signing the player, but resigned from his job before any further action could be taken.cite book | first=Steve|last= Bruce | title=Heading for Victory: An Autobiography| pages=p65] Bruce eventually opted to sign for Norwich City in August 1984 for a fee variously reported as £125,000cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/football/eng_div_1/1359374.stm|title=Steve Bruce in focus
publisher=BBC Sport|author=Mandeep Sanghera|date=2001-05-31|accessdate=2008-02-21] or £135,000.

Norwich City

Bruce began the 1984–85 season by scoring an own goal in the first minute of his debut for Norwich against Liverpool, [cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/12/02/sfgwig102.xml|title=Steve Bruce helps Wigan Athletic stop the rot|work=The Daily Telegraph|author=James Mossop|accessdate=2008-02-21|date=2007-12-02] but went on to score the team's winning goal in the semi-final of the Football League Cup against local rivals Ipswich Town, [cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:BSMB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FE5660E1AA4DC79&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815|work=Sunday Mercury|title=Sunday Mercury: Football: I want my Blues to be a working class act|date=2003-10-19|author=Ian Clarkson |accessdate=2008-02-22] and was named man of the match in Norwich's victory in the final. [cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=10035F1CCC279CE7&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815|title=Norwich win the League Cup, 1985 – Caught in time |work=Sunday Times|accessdate=2008-09-12|date=2003-09-28] Bruce was voted Norwich City Player of the Year, but the team was relegated to Second Division,cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2359353/Ashton-the-only-difference-for-anxious-Norwich.html|title=Ashton the only difference for anxious Norwich|work=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=2008-09-10|date=2005-05-08] [cite web|url=http://www.canaries.premiumtv.co.uk/page/History/0,,10355~1132064,00.html|title=Player of the Season 1967–2007|publisher=Norwich City F.C.|accessdate=2008-02-21|date=2008-01-25] Bruce played in every match as Norwich won promotion back to the top division at the first time of asking in the 1985–86 season, [cite book | first=Bill|last=Bateson |coauthors=Albert Sewell | title=News of the World Football Annual 1986/1987| publisher=Harper Collins | year=1986| id=ISBN 0-8554-3076-1|pages=p281] after which he was chosen to replace the departing Dave Watson as club captain.cite book | first=Steve|last= Bruce | title=Heading for Victory: An Autobiography| pages=p85] The following season he helped the club to its highest ever league finish of fifth position.Cite web
url = http://www.canaries.premiumtv.co.uk/page/History/0,,10355~1025327,00.html
title = History 1986/1995
publisher = Norwich City F.C.
accessdate = 2008-09-11]

In 1987, he was chosen to captain the England B team in a match against the full national team of Malta,cite book | first=Steve|last= Bruce | title=Heading for Victory: An Autobiography| pages=p88] but it was to be his only appearance in an England shirt, and he has subsequently been described as one of the best defenders of his era never to be selected for the full England team.cite news | title = Football: Upson's choice puts the down days in the past | work = The Independent|accessdate =2007-09-28 | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4159/is_20030316/ai_n12736570|date=2003-03-16|author=Alex Hayes|quote=Steve Bruce showed that you can be one of the best defenders of your generation and yet never play for your country.] cite news
title = Football: Steve Bruce's Path to Top| work = Sunday Mirror|accessdate =2008-09-04 | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20040905/ai_n12904512|quote=From there he moved to Norwich City before making the move to Manchester United that established him as the best uncapped English defender of his generation.] [cite book | first=Bryan|last=Robson | title=Robbo: My Autobiography| publisher= Hodder & Stoughton| year=2007| id=ISBN 0-3408-3957-7 |pages=p118|quote=There's no doubt he was one of the best English players not to be capped by his country] Bruce later stated "I bumped into former England manager Bobby Robson in Benfica" (sic)". He came up to me and said 'I should have capped you'. It was nice to hear but it still didn't get me one....I'll always be a little disappointed I didn't get one."cite book | first=Frank|last=Malley| title=Champions: The Story of Manchester United's Winning Season| publisher=Simon & Schuster | year=1993| id=ISBN 0-6718-5264-7|pages=p131]

Bruce began to attract the attention of big-name clubs in late 1987, with Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Rangers all reported to be interested in signing him. [cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LTIB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F90F17B5C631ABA&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815|title=Football: Bruce offer rejected|work=The Times|date=1987-12-09|accessdate=2008-02-26] Manchester United quickly emerged as the front runners for his signature, and Bruce publicly expressed his desire to sign for the club. [cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LTIB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F90F1802C4741E4&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815|title=Football: Bruce deal is not dead|work=The Times|date=1987-12-11|accessdate=2008-02-26] The deal came close to collapsing when Norwich asked for a transfer fee of £900,000 after initially agreeing to accept £800,000, leading to Bruce refusing to play any further matches for the club, which he felt was jeopardising his dream move.cite book | first=Steve|last= Bruce | title=Heading for Victory: An Autobiography| pages=p93] On 17 December 1987, however, shortly before his 27th birthday, the deal was finally concluded and Bruce officially left Carrow Road,cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LTIB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F90F18B42CD6904&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815|title=Football: Bruce deal agreed after late hitch|work=The Times|date=1987-12-18|author=Ian Ross|accessdate=2008-02-26] [cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LTIB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F90F185DBF4CEE8&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815|title=Football: Transfer shelved yet again|work=The Times|date=1987-12-15|author=Ian Ross|accessdate=2008-02-26] for a fee reported as £800,000 or £825,000.cite web|url=http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7B847FFC5F-947A-470D-A13B-E757FD63C2A8%7D&bioid=92158|title=Legends: Steve Bruce|publisher=Manchester United F.C.|accessdate=2008-02-26] Norwich fans remembered his contribution, however, and in 2002 voted him into the Norwich City F.C. Hall of Fame. [cite web|url=http://www.edp24.co.uk/Content/Sport/CanaryCentenary/HallofFame.asp|title=Norwich City Hall of Fame|publisher=Eastern Daily Press|accessdate=2008-02-26]

Manchester United

Bruce made his Manchester United debut in a 2–1 win over Portsmouth on 19 December 1987, and played in 21 of United's remaining 22 league fixtures,cite web|url=http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/seasons/season1988.html|title=Season 1987/88|publisher=StretfordEnd.co.uk|accessdate=2008-09-08] helping the club to a top two place in the First Division for the first time since 1980.cite web|url=http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/competitions/league.html|title=United in the League|publisher=StretfordEnd.co.uk|accessdate=2008-09-12] The team could only finish in mid-table in the following season, however,cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?teamid=1724|title=Final 1988/1989 English Division 1 (old) Table|publisher=Soccerbase|accessdate=2008-09-12] prompting manager Alex Ferguson to bring in a number of new players, including Gary Pallister, who joined the club in August 1989 from Middlesbrough.Cite book|title=Manchester United: The Red Army|first=Ivan|last=Ponting|publisher=Hamlyn|date=2000|id=ISBN 0-6006-0178-1|pages=p193] His partnership with Bruce in the centre of defence was described in 2006 by the then-United captain, Gary Neville, as the best in the club's history. [cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article744420.ece|title=If we sign another right back, he had better be good|work=The Times|author=Gary Neville|date=2006-03-23|accessdate=2008-09-08] Bruce and Pallister were part of the team which won the 1990 FA Cup final against Crystal Palace in a replay. [cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFACup/History/Postings/2003/11/48579.htm|title=Classic Cup Finals: 1990|publisher=The Football Association|accessdate=2008-09-08]

Following the lifting of the five-year ban on English clubs from European competitions, which had been imposed after the Heysel Stadium Disaster, United became England's first entrants into the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in the 1990–91 season. [cite book|last=Bateson|first=Bill|coauthors=Albert Sewell|title=News of the World Football Annual 1990–91|publisher=Invincible Press|date=1990|pages=p129|id=ISBN 0-8554-3207-1] Bruce played regularly, and scored three goals, in the team's progress to the final against FC Barcelona.cite web|url=http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/seasons/season1991.html|title=Season 1990/91|publisher=StretfordEnd.co.uk|accessdate=2008-09-09] He came close to scoring the first goal, only for Mark Hughes to deflect the ball over the line and claim the goal, [cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LTIB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F91EC6FB2495ECE&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815|title=Hughes provides the spark – Football|work=The Times|author=Stuart Jones|date=1991-05-16|accessdate=2008-09-08] and United went on to win the game 2–1. This was a particularly high-scoring season for Bruce, who found the net 13 times in the First Division and 19 times in total in all competitions. He also played again at Wembley, in the Football League Cup final, in which United were defeated by Sheffield Wednesday of the Second Division. [cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LTIB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F91EBE8777636A6&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815|title=Sheridan strike wreaks havoc on sickly rivals – Football|work=The Times|author=Stuart Jones|date=1991-04-22|accessdate=2008-09-08]

Bruce missed several weeks of the 1991–92 season when he underwent an operation on a longstanding hernia problem,cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LTIB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F91F31CE8BD228C&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815|title=Bruce resolves to make a swift recovery – Football|work=The Times|author=Stuart Jones|date=1992-01-24|accessdate=2008-09-08] in which Leeds United, after a season-long tussle, beat the "Red Devils" to the championship by four points. [cite book | first=Bill|last=Bateson |coauthors=Albert Sewell | title=News of the World Football Annual 1992/93| publisher=Harper Collins | year=1992| id=ISBN 0-85543-188-1|pages=pp54,309–311] Bruce was, however, able to help United win their first-ever League Cup in April 1992, [cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LTIB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F91F3766191D329&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815|title=McClair sets up bid for double – Football|work=The Times|author=Stuart Jones|date=1992-04-13|accessdate=2008-09-08] captaining the team in the final in place of the injured Bryan Robson. [cite book | first=Bill|last=Bateson |coauthors=Albert Sewell | title=News of the World Football Annual 1992/93|pages=p91] Injuries continued to take their toll upon Robson during the 1992–93 season, leading to Bruce captaining the team in the majority of United's matches during the first season of the new Premier League. Bruce scored two late goals in a win over Sheffield Wednesday which proved decisive in United winning the inaugural Premier League title, [cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:UKNB:GRDC&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=120165B21DB30ED0&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=86AB2B3721534D07B61270632E6A70BE|title=Football: Chelsea's title hopes wrecked by Heskey: Chelsea 1 Wigan Athletic 1 Essien 55 Heskey 90|work=The Guardian|author=David Hytner|date=2008-04-15|accessdate=2008-09-23] the first time the club had won the championship of English football since 1967, and he and Robson received the trophy jointly after the home victory over Blackburn Rovers on 3 May. [cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LTIB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F91FAE6DEFF4AA0&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815|title=Old Trafford stands united in celebration – Football|work=The Times|author=Rob Hughes|date=1993-05-04|accessdate=2008-09-08]

At the height of his success with United, Bruce was contacted by Jack Charlton, manager of the Republic of Ireland national team, who had discovered that, due to his mother's place of birth, Bruce was eligible to play for Ireland. Bruce states in his autobiography that further investigation revealed that, while his earlier appearance for England B in a friendly match was not an issue, his appearances for the England Youth team in a UEFA-sanctioned tournament prohibited him from playing for the senior team of another country.cite book | first=Steve|last= Bruce | title=Heading for Victory: An Autobiography| pages=p89] He has subsequently claimed, however, that he chose not to play for Ireland as it would have caused problems for his club at a time when Premier League rules restricted the number of foreign players that a club could include in its team.

United dominated English football in the 1993–94 season, winning a second consecutive Premier League title and then defeating Chelsea in the FA Cup final to become only the fourth team, and Bruce the first English captain, to win The Double in the twentieth century, [cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LTIB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F924217D546CF4E&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815|title=United worthy of place among elite – FA Cup|work=The Times|author=Rob Hughes|date=1994-05-16|accessdate=2008-09-10] [The other twentieth century Double-winning captains were Dave Mackay and Alan Hansen, both from Scotland, and Danny Blanchflower from Northern Ireland] cite book | first=Steve|last= Bruce | title=Heading for Victory: An Autobiography| pages=p1] The 1994–95 season was a disappointing one for Bruce and United, however, as the club failed in its bid to win a third consecutive Premier League title and lost to Everton in the FA Cup final. [cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LTIB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F9247A0E0BFBA03&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815|title=Everton's Royle revival crowned by Rideout – Football|work=The Times|author=Rob Hughes|date=1995-05-22|accessdate=2008-09-10]

During the following season Bruce was offered the job of manager by three different clubs, but Ferguson refused to allow him to pursue the opportunities as he felt the player still had a role to play in the United team. [cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:UKNB:LNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F933E6886339C7E&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=86AB2B3721534D07B61270632E6A70BE|title=Gissa job, says Bruce – Football|work=News of the World|author=David Harrison|date=1997-11-16|accessdate=2008-09-15] Bruce made a further 30 Premier League appearances,cite web|url=http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/playermenu/bruce.html|title=Steve Bruce|publisher=StretfordEnd.co.uk, the official Manchester United statistics website|accessdate=2008-02-28] as United managed to overcome a twelve-point deficit to Newcastle United to win the championship once again. [cite web|url=http://www.premierleague.com/page/1995/96Season|title=Season 1995/96 |publisher=The Premier League|accessdate=2008-09-11] A week later, however, he was left out of United's squad for the FA Cup final, due to a slight injury. [cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20040520/ai_n12778966|title=Football FA Cup Final: Keane's lack of practice fails to worry|work=The Independent|author=Tim Rich|accessdate=2008-02-28|date=2004-05-20] At the end of the match Eric Cantona, who had captained the team and scored the only goal in a 1–0 win over Liverpool, attempted to persuade Bruce to be the one to receive the trophy, but Bruce declined. [cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F933F0CE3D601CF&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815|title=Man U-fique! – It's Doubly bubbly for king Eric|work=News of the World|author=Alex Montgomery|date=1996-05-12|accessdate=2008-09-09] Ferguson denied that Bruce's omission was a sign that his time at the club was nearing an end, but Bruce, then 35 years old, believed that he would be unlikely to be selected for the team during the year remaining on his contract.cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:UKNB:LSNB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F93499D929A3445&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=86AB2B3721534D07B61270632E6A70BE|title=I'll be the most hated man at Elland Road – and I'm gonna love it – Exclusive|work=The Sun|date=1998-02-14|author=Neil Custis|accessdate=2008-09-15] He opted instead to join First Division club Birmingham City on a free transfer, having signed a contract valued at nearly £2 million over two years, which made him one of the highest-paid players in the country.cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LTIB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F9249CB8DE3A931&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815|title=United's route to Champions' League made easy – Football|work=The Times|date=1996-05-23|author=Peter Ball|accessdate=2008-02-28]

Later playing career

Bruce was among five former Premier League players signed by Birmingham manager Trevor Francis to add experience to a squad expected to challenge for promotion. [cite news
url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_19960818/ai_n14453508 |title=Trev-ing up for glory! |author=Hugh Southon|work=Sunday Mirror |date=1996-08-18 |accessdate=2007-11-21] He was made captain of the team, [cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LTIB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F924BB205098E44&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 |title=Options for boss of Birmingham City |author=Jason Nisse |work=The Times |date=1997-02-19 |accessdate=2007-11-21] but his Birmingham career was dogged by a series of disagreements with Francis. [cite news
url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_19961124/ai_n14457699 |title=Blue revolt |work=Sunday Mirror |date=1996-11-24 |accessdate=2007-11-21] [cite news
url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LSNB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F9350E2A80979EB&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815
title=Bruce snubs age concern |work=The Sun |date=1996-12-28 |accessdate=2007-11-21] Director David Sullivan felt the need to publicly deny rumours that Bruce was lined up to replace Francis as manager after the club's stock market flotation. [cite news
url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19970226/ai_n14097994 |title=Market report : Hello Dolly as biotechs dance back into the spotlight |author=Patrick Tooher |work=The Independent |date=1997-02-26 |accessdate=2007-11-21] [cite news
url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LTIB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F924BBC1019468B&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815
title=Francis sees stock tumble among supporters |author=Richard Hobson |work=The Times |date=1997-03-01 |accessdate=2007-11-21] The 1997–98 season saw Bruce dropped for the first time in his career, for a match against former club Gillingham, and he described himself as "hurt and unhappy" at being left out. [cite news
url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:UKNB:LSNB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F934D28F220CE22&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=86AB2B3721534D07B61270632E6A70BE |title=Bruce axe was right, says Trev |work=The Sun |date=1997-08-14 |accessdate=2007-11-21] [cite web
url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:UKNB:LSNB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F934D37FA95C8CF&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=86AB2B3721534D07B61270632E6A70BE |title=Welcome back, Bruce |work=The Sun |date=1997-08-23 |accessdate=2007-11-21] By November 1997 he was being left out more frequently, and his omission against Nottingham Forest provoked a public war of words, which fuelled rumours that the manager was to be dismissed and that Bruce would take over as caretaker until the end of the season. [cite news
url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_19971116/ai_n14470734 |title=Campbell's kingdom |author=Phil Rostron|work=Sunday Mirror |date=1997-11-16 |accessdate=2007-11-26] [cite news
url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_19971123/ai_n14470135 |title=Bruce set to boss Blues! |author=Hugh Southon |work=Sunday Mirror |date=1997-11-23 |accessdate=2007-11-26]

At the end of the season, Bruce accepted a one-year extension to his playing contract, at reduced wages, which included a clause allowing him to leave for a managerial post.cite news
url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19980703/ai_n14175635 |title=Sorry! |author=Colin Tattum |work=The Independent |date=1998-07-03 |accessdate=2007-11-26] He was linked with several vacancies, including those at Wigan Athletic and former club Norwich City, for which he was twice interviewed, [cite news
url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19980416/ai_n14160426 |title=Hoddle may lose McManaman |author=Rupert Metcalf |work=The Independent |date=1998-04-16 |accessdate=2007-11-26] [cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19980611/ai_n14150545 |title=D-Day for Bruce |author=Colin Tattum |work=The Independent |date=1998-06-11 |accessdate=2007-11-26] but eventually accepted the post of player-manager of Sheffield United. Though the deal was delayed while Birmingham attempted to negotiate a transfer fee for his playing contract, [cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19980626/ai_n14153819 |title=United move to keep Kidd from Everton |author=Alan Nixon |work=The Independent |date=1998-06-26 |accessdate=2007-11-26] he took up his new position on 1 July 1998. He played eleven matches for the club before retiring as a player, his final appearance being in a home match against Sunderland on 28 November 1998. [cite web
url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=1078|title=Steve Bruce |publisher=Soccerbase |accessdate=2008-02-28]

tyle of play

During the early part of his career, Bruce's sometimes over-enthusiastic playing style, which he later described as "rampaging", caused him disciplinary problems. He later developed into a solid and dependable all-round player, characterised as "an honest trier who made the absolute most of limited natural ability".Cite book|title=Manchester United: The Red Army|first=Ivan|last=Ponting|pages=p177] In his prime he was particularly noted for his calm and deliberate passing of the ball, and his ability to control it under pressure, often with his chest. At the time, Mark Wright of Liverpool was said to be the only other central defender able to match Bruce's level of skill in these areas.

Bruce was also known for his unusually high goalscoring rate for a central defender, resulting from a combination of his ability to powerfully head the ball and his effectiveness in taking penalty kicks. [Cite news|url=http://www.setanta.com/Templates/News/NewsArticle.aspx?id=8896&epslanguage=EN|publisher=Setanta Sports|title=The XI at 11: Goalscoring centre backs|author=Adam Marshall|date=2007-10-02|accessdate=2008-09-10] Although lacking poise and grace, and often criticised for his lack of pace, [Cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LTIB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F924308782B4AB3&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815|work=The Times|title=Cantona key to United's ignition – Football|author=Rob Hughes|date=1994-11-23|accessdate=2008-09-10] his bravery and willingness to take knocks from opposition players made him the "heart" of the defence during his time with Manchester United. [Cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_united/s/1017296_vidic_succeeds_as_king_bruce_|work=Manchester Evening News|title=Vidic succeeds as king Bruce|author=Mike Whalley|date=2007-09-22|accessdate=2008-09-10] He was well known for continuing to play even when injured, [Cite news|url=http://www.examiner.ie/story/sport/qlkfsnmhql/rss2/|work=Irish Examiner|title=Masked ball for 50 in-a-row ‘Killer’|author=Liam Mackey|date=2008-09-10|accessdate=2008-09-22|quote=But Steve Bruce — I think he played with 20 broken bones!] including returning to the United team at short notice in 1992 even though he was awaiting an operation on a hernia. His indomitable spirit and motivational abilities were deemed vital to the United team, and Alex Ferguson has commented on his "determination and heart". [Cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=657703.html|publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |title=Fergie compares captain Rooney to greats|date=2007-12-11|accessdate=2008-09-10]

Playing statistics

Managerial career

Early managerial career

In his first season as a manager, Bruce guided Sheffield United to eighth place in the First Division, nine points away from a place in the play-offs. [Cite web
title= England 1998/99
url= http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/eng99.html
publisher= Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
date= 1999-12-20
accessdate= 2008-09-06] He also caused controversy when he attempted to take his team off the pitch during an FA Cup match against Arsenal. Bruce felt that the "Gunners" had broken an unwritten rule of sportsmanship by failing to return the ball to United, who had intentionally kicked it out of play to allow an injured player to be attended to. Although the game eventually continued to a finish, it was later declared void and replayed. [Cite news
title= 'The goal was an accident. I am sorry' – Football
url= http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LTIB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F9297FD631FE04C&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815
work= The Times
date= 1999-02-15
author=Russell Kempson
accessdate= 2008-09-06] [Cite news
title= Fifa Green Light Clears Blades For Rematch
url= http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:BPOC&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F6F676921B27E2F&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815
work= Birmingham Post
date= 1999-02-23
author=Matt Barlow
accessdate= 2008-09-11] In May 1999, Bruce resigned from his post after just one season in charge, citing turmoil in the club's boardroom and a shortage of funds for transfers. [Cite news
title= Football: Bruce walks out of Wigan for Palace
url= http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20010530/ai_n14384645
work= The Independent
date= 2001-05-30
author=Alan Nixon
accessdate= 2008-03-03] He contemplated leaving football for a job in television but was persuaded by Huddersfield Town owner Barry Rubery to become the club's manager. [Cite news
title= Football: Bruce out on the town: Steve has high hopes at Huddersfield
url= http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_19991205/ai_n14497371
work= Sunday Mirror
date= 1999-12-05
author=Brian McNally
accessdate= 2008-02-28]

Huddersfield were early promotion contenders in the 1999–2000 season, winning six consecutive matches to rise to third place in the First Division table by late November, [Cite news
title= Grey days serve to inspire Bruce – Football Saturday
url= http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LTIB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F92999760CF415B&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815
work= The Times
date= 1999-11-27
author=Christopher Irvine
accessdate= 2008-09-12] but lost form and failed to reach the play-offs. [Cite news
title= Bruce reflects after Fulham give taste of things to come – Football
url= http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LTIB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F929B9660072A53&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815
work= The Times
date= 2000-05-08
author=Nick Szczepanik
accessdate= 2008-09-12] The team continued to struggle at the start of the 2000–01 season, gaining just six points from eleven matches, and Bruce was sacked in October 2000. [Cite news
title= Bruce sacked by Huddersfield
url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/974836.stm
publisher= BBC Sport
date= 2000-10-16
accessdate= 2007-11-18] He then became involved in a dispute with Rubery, who accused him of "wasting" £3m on players and having "an ego to feed". [Cite news
title= Bruce accused of 'wasting' £3m
url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/huddersfield_town/1204598.stm
publisher= BBC Sport
date= 2001-03-06
accessdate= 2008-02-28] Although he was linked with the manager's job at Queens Park Rangers, [Cite news
title= QPR suffer Bruce snub
url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/1182049.stm
publisher= BBC Sport
date= 2001-02-21
accessdate= 2008-02-28] Bruce remained out of the game until he was appointed manager of Wigan Athletic in April 2001. [Cite news
title= Wigan appoint Bruce
url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/1260445.stm
publisher= BBC Sport
date= 2001-04-04
accessdate= 2007-11-18] The team reached the Second Division play-offs but lost in the semi-finals, [Cite news
title= Whelan hits out at Bruce departure
url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/1357970.stm
publisher= BBC Sport
date= 2001-05-31
accessdate= 2008-02-28] and Bruce almost immediately left the club, where he had been in charge for less than two months, to take over as manager of Crystal Palace. [Cite news
title= Bruce takes up Palace post
url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/crystal_palace/1362215.stm
publisher= BBC Sport
date= 2001-05-31
accessdate= 2007-11-18]

Although his new club began the 2001–02 season strongly, topping the First Division table and looking well placed for regaining the Premier League place that the club had last held in the 1997–98 season,Cite news
title= A man in a hurry
url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1632611.stm
publisher= BBC Sport
date= 2001-11-02
accessdate= 2008-02-29] Bruce tendered his resignation less than three months into the season in order to return to Birmingham City as manager. Although he was initially prevented from doing so by an injunction taken out by Crystal Palace, he was eventually allowed to join the Midlands-based club after a compensation package was agreed. [Cite news
title= Birmingham unveil Bruce
url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/1704971.stm
publisher= BBC Sport
date= 2001-12-12
accessdate= 2007-11-18] [Cite news
title= Bruce eyes promotion
url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/1706536.stm
publisher= BBC Sport
date= 2001-12-12
accessdate= 2008-02-28] By now he had acquired a reputation as a manager who rarely held down a job for a significant length of time.

Birmingham City

Upon his arrival, the "Blues" were in a mid-table position in the First Division, [Cite news
title= Football: Bruce awakens Blues with guts and guile
url= http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20020511/ai_n12610505
work= The Independent|author=Phil Shaw
date= 2002-05-11
accessdate= 2008-09-08] but a lengthy unbeaten run saw the team qualify for the play-offs. [Cite news
title= Bruce feels true Blue
url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/1975644.stm
publisher= BBC Sport
date= 2002-05-08
accessdate= 2008-09-08] The team went on to beat Bruce's former club Norwich City in the final after a penalty shoot-out to gain promotion to the Premier League, ending a 16-year absence from the top level of English football. [Cite news
title= Birmingham reach Premiership
url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/football/eng_div_1/1979806.stm
publisher= BBC Sport
date= 2002-05-12
accessdate= 2008-09-08] Birmingham spent the early part of the 2002–03 season struggling near the foot of the Premier League table, but Bruce's signing of Christophe Dugarry revitalised the team, who ended the season in 13th place and finished higher than local rivals Aston Villa for the first time since the 1970s. [Cite web
title= Birmingham Season Guide
url= http://soccernet.espn.go.com/print?id=271942&type=story&cc=
publisher= ESPN
date= 2003-08-09|author=Dale Johnson
accessdate= 2008-09-08]

The following season began well for Birmingham, who climbed as high as fourth in the table, but the team's fortunes declined and they could only finish in tenth place at the end of the season. [Cite news
title= Taylor hunts European spot
url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/3886253.stm
publisher= BBC Sport
date= 2004-07-12
accessdate= 2008-09-08] Despite this disappointment, Bruce signed a new contract in June 2004 designed to keep him at St Andrew's for a further five years, [Cite news
title= Football: Newcastle set to sign Milner as Bruce opts to stay at City
url= http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20040630/ai_n12794428
work= The Independent|author=Tim Rich
date= 2004-06-30
accessdate= 2008-09-05] but just two months later Freddy Shepherd, chairman of Newcastle United, was reported to have made Bruce his main target in the search for a new manager to replace Bobby Robson. The club was reportedly prepared to pay Birmingham more than £3 million in compensation, and Bruce himself was said to be keen to take over at St James' Park, [Cite news
title= Bruce the target as Venables 'shunned'
url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2386029/Bruce-the-target-as-Venables-shunned.html
work= The Daily Telegraph|author=Rob Stewart
date= 2004-09-02
accessdate= 2008-09-05] but he ultimately remained at Birmingham. He stated that "as far as I'm concerned, I've got a job to do [at Birmingham City] and I'm determined to get on with it", but it was also reported that Newcastle would have been required to pay a much larger compensation fee or face legal action had he been persuaded to switch clubs. [Cite news
title= Football: Newcastle scramble to find Robson replacement | url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20040901/ai_n12807260| work= The Independent
date= 2004-09-01|author=Jason Burt
accessdate= 2008-09-11] Three years later Birmingham director David Sullivan publicly stated that the club had "priced Steve out of a move to Newcastle" and gave the level of compensation which would have been involved as £7 million. [Cite news
title= Sullivan reveals why he let Bruce leave Birmingham | url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-495055/Sullivan-reveals-let-Bruce-leave-Birmingham.html| work= Daily Mail
date= 2007-11-20|author=Neil Moxley, Peter Ferguson
accessdate= 2008-09-11] Initial expectations were high for the 2004–05 season, but the club once again finished in a mid-table position, ending the season in 12th place. [Cite news
title= Premiership review season 2004/5|author=Phil McNulty
url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4555281.stm
publisher= BBC Sport
date= 2005-05-17
accessdate= 2008-09-08]

Following the sacking of Souness as Newcastle manager in February 2006, Bruce was again linked with the job, [Cite news
title= Newcastle sack Souness
url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2006/feb/02/newsstory.sport13
work= The Guardian
date= 2006-02-02
accessdate= 2008-09-05] which ultimately went to Glenn Roeder. [Cite news
title= Roeder named as Newcastle manager
url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/4770157.stm
publisher= BBC Sport
date= 2006-05-16
accessdate= 2008-09-05] By this stage of the 2005–06 season, Birmingham were struggling in the league, and on 21 March 2006 were beaten 7–0 at home by Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals. [Cite news
title= Birmingham 0–7 Liverpool
url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/4831306.stm
publisher= BBC Sport
date= 2006-03-21
accessdate= 2008-02-21] Some supporters of the club began to call for his resignation, but Bruce insisted that he would fight on as manager. [Cite news
title= Bruce vows to carry on as manager
url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/4831306.stm
publisher= BBC Sport
date= 2006-03-22
accessdate= 2008-02-21] The team managed to climb out of the relegation zone for the first time in nearly six months after a win over Bolton Wanderers in early April, [Cite news
title= Birmingham 1–0 Bolton
url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4867430.stm
publisher= BBC Sport
date= 2006-04-04
accessdate= 2008-09-08] but were soon overtaken by Portsmouth, whose victory over Wigan Athletic on 29 April left Birmingham mathematically unable to match their points total and therefore relegated. [Cite news
title= Birmingham and Baggies relegated
url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4958306.stm
publisher= BBC Sport
date= 2006-04-29
accessdate= 2008-09-06]

Although Bruce had the largest transfer budget in the division made available to him, [Cite news
title= Birmingham issue finance warning
url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/6682979.stm
publisher= BBC Sport
date= 2007-05-23
accessdate= 2008-09-08] Birmingham made a slow start to the 2006–07 season in the Football League Championship and, after a 1–0 defeat at home to Norwich City, the team's fifth consecutive match without a win, there were calls from fans and local journalists for the manager to be sacked.Cite news
title= David Gold: I've lost a friend in Steve Bruce
url= http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/birmingham-city-fc/birmingham-city-fc-news/2008/04/11/david-gold-i-ve-lost-a-friend-in-steve-bruce-97319-20753562/
work= Birmingham Post
date= 2008-04-11|author=Colin Tattum
accessdate= 2008-09-05] Cite news
title= Blues 0 Norwich 1
url= http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/birmingham-city-fc/birmingham-city-fc-news/2006/10/17/blues-0-norwich-1-97319-17949268/
work= Birmingham Mail
date= 2006-10-17|author=Colin Tattum
accessdate= 2008-10-01] Bruce publicly accepted responsibility for the team's poor run and admitted that he feared for his job,Cite news
title= Birmingham 0 – 1 Norwich
url= http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2006/10/18/birmingham-0-1-norwich-115875-17949008/
work= The Mirror
date= 2006-10-18|author=Lee Reynolds
accessdate= 2008-09-05] but the team responded with a 1–0 victory over Derby County,Cite news
title= Bruce wins the latest battle in Birmingham's uncivil war
url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2006/oct/23/match.sport2
work= The Guardian
date= 2006-10-23|author=Mike Baker
accessdate= 2008-09-05] and then recorded a further five consecutive league victories to be joint leaders of the league table by late November.Cite news
title= Burnley 1 Birmingham City 2: Bendtner's guile brings best out of Birmingham
url= http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/burnley-1-birmingham-city-2-bendtners-guile-brings-best-out-of-birmingham-426001.html
work= The Independent
date= 2006-11-27|author=David Instone
accessdate= 2008-09-05] Cite web
title= Birmingham 2006/2007 results and fixtures
url= http://www.soccerbase.com/results2.sd?seasonid=136&teamid=291
publisher= Soccerbase
accessdate= 2008-09-05] On 29 April 2007, Birmingham secured promotion to the Premier League, with one match to play, by virtue of Derby County's 2–0 defeat at Crystal Palace. Chairman David Gold told the press "There have been some dark days but Steve has been outstanding. He was determined to bounce back. He has rebuilt the team and now we are all back where we want to be." [Cite news
title= Birmingham & Sunderland promoted
url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/6605665.stm
publisher= BBC Sport
date= 2007-04-29
accessdate= 2008-09-04]

Return to Wigan Athletic

In May 2007, Birmingham's board agreed a new contract for Bruce, but the unwillingness of the club's prospective purchaser Carson Yeung to ratify it left his future uncertain. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/7028493.stm |title=Bruce fears for Birmingham future |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2007-10-04 |accessdate=2007-11-16] In October 2007, Bolton Wanderers were refused permission to speak to him about their managerial vacancy. [cite news
url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/bolton/article2686670.ece |title=Steve Bruce emerges as Bolton Wanderers target |work=The Times |date=2007-10-18 |accessdate=2007-11-16] Later that month, Bruce and Yeung held a meeting which reportedly had positive results, [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/7066956.stm |title=Yeung moves to calm Bruce fears |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2007-10-29 |accessdate=2007-11-16] but when Wigan Athletic requested permission to speak to Bruce about their managerial vacancy, he was receptive to their approach. [cite news
url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2007/nov/19/newsstory.birminghamcityfc|title=Birmingham in a flux as Bruce heads for Wigan |author=Stuart James|work=The Guardian |date=2007-11-14 |accessdate=2008-09-11] As required under the terms of his contract, Wigan agreed to pay Birmingham compensation for the loss of his services of around £3m, [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/7100525.stm |title=Bruce set to join Wigan Athletic |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2007-11-18 |accessdate=2007-11-18] and they were then allowed to speak to him. On 19 November, Wigan announced the signing of Bruce for a second time.cite news
title = Bruce leaves Birmingham for Wigan | publisher = BBC Sport| accessdate =2007-11-19 | date=2007-11-19|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/7100525.stm]

On 21 November, during a press conference which was intended to formally present Bruce as the new manager of Wigan, the club's chief executive Brenda Spencer informed the media that the deal had been put on hold by "unknown issues" between Bruce and Birmingham City, reported to centre on the advance payment of the image rights element of Bruce's contract at St Andrews.cite news
title = Bruce's Wigan move hit by hold-up | publisher = BBC Sport| accessdate =2007-11-21 | date=2007-11-21|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/7105078.stm] cite news
url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2215060,00.html |title=Bruce's move to Wigan held up over image-rights dispute |work=The Guardian |author=Andy Hunter and Stuart James |accessdate=2007-11-23 |date=2007-11-22] On 23 November 2007, however, Wigan announced that Bruce had now signed his contract and would officially rejoin the Latics.cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/7105078.stm |title=Bruce confirmed as Wigan manager |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2007-11-23 |accessdate=2007-11-23] His first game in charge was a 1–1 home draw with Manchester City on 1 December 2007.cite news
url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2007/dec/02/match.wiganathletic |title=Bruce is buoyed by Wigan's fightback |work=The Guardian |date=2007-12-02 |accessdate=2008-09-04] Wigan spent the remainder of the season struggling against relegation, but the club secured Premier League survival with victory over Aston Villa in the penultimate game of the season.cite news
url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/may/05/premierleague.astonvilla |title=Bruce kisses his own feat in guiding Wigan to safety|work=The Guardian |date=2008-05-05 |accessdate=2008-09-11|author=David Lacey] [cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/results2.sd?teamid=2783&seasonid=137|title=Wigan 2007/2008 results and fixtures|publisher=Soccerbase|accessdate=2008-09-11] In September 2008, Bruce was once again linked with the manager's job at Newcastle United following the departure of Kevin Keegan.cite news
url=http://www.lep.co.uk/national-football/Bruce-back-in-race-for.4531737.jp |title=Bruce back in race for hotseat
work=Lancashire Evening Post |date=2008-09-26 |accessdate=2008-09-26]

Managerial statistics

:"As of 5 October 2008." [cite web
title = Steve Bruce's managerial career | publisher = Soccerbase| accessdate =2008-10-05 | url = http://www.soccerbase.com/managers2.sd?managerid=1342]

Life outside football

Personal life

Bruce has been married since February 1983 to Janet (née Smith),cite news
title = Fan's stick made Bruce a pig | work = Daily Express| date = 2007-05-06 | url = http://express.lineone.net/posts/view/6318 | accessdate = 2007-09-27|author=Steve Millar ] cite news
title = Morrison seals it for Brummies | work = Irish Examiner| date = 2003-02-24 | url = http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2003/02/24/story432371430.asp | accessdate = 2007-09-27|author=John Curtis|quote=...it's a nice way for me to celebrate my 20th wedding anniversary ] [cite book | first=Steve|last= Bruce | title=Heading for Victory: An Autobiography| pages=p66] who is also from the Hexham area, and went to the same school as Bruce. The couple have two children, Alex (born 1984) and Amy (born 1987). Alex is also a footballer, who plays for Ipswich Town. [cite web
title = Alex Bruce | publisher = Ipswich Town F.C. | url = http://www.itfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10272~30895,00.html | accessdate = 2007-09-26 ] He previously played under his father's management at Birmingham City, but left the club in 2006, in part due to accusations of nepotism levelled at his father. [cite news
title = Bruce Jnr heads for fresh fields | work=Birmingham Post | date = 2006-08-03 | url = http://www.birminghampost.net/midlands-birmingham-sport/west-midlands-sports/tm_method=full&objectid=17511083&siteid=50002-name_page.html| accessdate =2008-09-11 ] Amy was linked romantically with Aston Villa player Lee Hendrie in tabloid newspaper stories in 2004, which provoked an angry response from her father, who described the reports as "lies", and claimed that journalists had gone so far as to contact his doctor and examine his household waste in an attempt to uncover gossip. [cite news|title=It's a rat-trick for Lee|author=Andrew Parker | work = The Sun| date = 2004-10-13 | url = http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article96011.ece | accessdate = 2008-08-30] cite news|title=Bruce in rage over "lies"|author=Colin Tattum | work = Birmingham Evening Mail| date = 2004-10-16 | url = http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:BEMB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=105CEB9BB6CDF84E&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815| accessdate = 2008-08-30] In September 2004, Bruce was involved in an altercation outside his home with two men who were attempting to steal his daughter's car. The affray left him with facial injuries but did not prevent him from travelling to a Premier League match the same day.cite news
title = Steve Bruise | work = Sunday Mirror| date = 2004-09-26 | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20040926/ai_n12907024 | accessdate = 2007-09-27|author=Andy Gardner ] After the incident one newspaper attempted to connect it with the allegations concerning Hendrie, leading Bruce to contemplate legal action.

Other activities

In addition to an autobiography, "Heading for Victory", Bruce has published three novels, "Sweeper!", "Defender!" and "Striker!", [cite news
title = Football: The Sweeper | work = The Independent| accessdate = 2007-09-27 | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19991211/ai_n14263957 | date = 1999-12-11|author=Nick Harris, Phil Shaw] featuring the exploits of fictional footballer manager Steve Barnes. "Sweeper!" was described as "surprisingly punchy and pacey, although the plot is essentially ludicrous". [cite news
title = Football: The Sweeper | work = The Independent| accessdate =2007-09-27 | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20000422/ai_n14305933/pg_3|date=2000-04-22|author=Nick Harris, Phil Shaw]

References

External links

*soccerbase|1078|Steve Bruce

Persondata
NAME = Bruce, Steve
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Bruce, Stephen Roger
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Professional footballer, football manager
DATE OF BIRTH = 31 December 1960
PLACE OF BIRTH = Corbridge, Northumberland, England
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =