Ex-Premier League manager confirms he’s retired from 27-year coaching career

Steve Bruce has confirmed he has retired from management, but revealed one role could tempt him into a return.

The 65-year-old has taken charge of a host of Premier League teams in his 27-year career, including Birmingham City, Sunderland, Newcastle and Aston Villa.

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During this time, Bruce has managed over 1,000 games, 476 of which have been in the English top-flight.

This puts the Englishman sixth on the all-time list, ahead of managerial icons Roy Hodgson and Pep Guardiola.

Bruce has not been back in the dugout since his sacking by Blackpool last October, with the Tangerines in the League One relegation zone at the time.

And the ex-Manchester United captain has now confirmed his coaching days are all but over.

‘I’ve had my time’

Speaking on Betfair‘s Stick to Cricket, Bruce said, as quoted by The Sun: “I honestly believe that I’ve had my time in club management now.

“I thoroughly enjoyed it but there comes a time when you have to call it.”

Despite this, Bruce revealed he would be tempted to make a comeback if an international role were to become available.

On his managerial career, he went on: “You never say never; maybe something like an international job would draw me back in.

“I had a conversation with Ireland a few years ago, and would you believe, before Steve McClaren got the job, I had a chat with the Jamaican FA.”

Steve Bruce’s managerial career

Bruce’s first managerial role came at Sheffield United in 1998, where he spent a year as player-manager.

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He then enjoyed spells at Huddersfield, Wigan and Crystal Palace, before being named Birmingham boss in 2001.

In his first season at St Andrews, Bruce guided the Blues to Premier League promotion with a penalty shootout victory over Norwich in the play-off final.

Over the next four years, he would turn Birmingham into an established top-flight outfit, before they were eventually relegated in 2006.

Bruce sealed an instant return from the Championship the following year, but then left to become Wigan boss for a second time in 2007.

He spent two years with the Latics ahead of switch to Sunderland, where he served as manager between 2009 and 2011.

However, it was at Hull City where Bruce really impressed as he guided the club to the FA Cup final in 2014.

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After leading the Tigers back to the Premier League with another play-off final win in 2016, the English coach resigned from the role, before returning to the dugout three months later at Aston Villa.

His stint at Villa Park was followed by a brief spell as Sheffield Wednesday boss, and he later landed his dream job when he was named manager of boyhood club Newcastle in 2019.

At St James’ Park, Bruce hit the 1,000-game mark as a manager, making him one of just a handful of coaches to achieve the feat.

Following his sacking as Magpies boss in 2021, Bruce spent eight months at West Brom in 2022.

He then took charge of what looks to be the final club of his managerial career in 2024, as he appointed Blackpool head coach, where he last just 13 months before his dismissal last October.