Former Manchester United captain Steve Bruce lost his job today as Newcastle United manager.
Despite keeping the Magpies in the top-flight for the previous two seasons, Bruce’s sacking became inevitable following the club’s £305 million takeover by a Saudi-led consortium.
The 60-year-old remained in charge for the 3-2 defeat to Tottenham at the weekend – a milestone 1,00th match as a manager – at St. James’ Park.
Newcastle are currently second bottom of the Premier League and winless after their opening eight games.
According to Sky Sports, former AS Roma boss Paulo Fonseca has emerged as a contender for the job, with Graeme Jones leading the team for the foreseeable future.
But there is sympathy for Bruce from our end – given the disrespect he suffered from Newcastle fans and the club itself. At least club legend Alan Shearer took some time to thank him for his work via Twitter: “I know how tough it was for any manager at Newcastle for the last 14 years. I also know how badly Steve & his family wanted it to work. In difficult circumstances for everybody, he kept #NUFC up for two seasons. It’s a new era now, but thank you, Steve, for your effort & commitment.”
I know how tough it was for any manager at Newcastle for the last 14 years.I also know how badly Steve & his family wanted it to work. In difficult circumstances for everybody, he kept #NUFC up for two seasons. It’s a new era now, but thank you, Steve,for your effort & commitment
— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) October 20, 2021
Speaking to The Telegraph after his sacking, Bruce said: “I think this might be my last job.
“It’s not just about me; it’s taken its toll on my whole family because they are all Geordies and I can’t ignore that.
“They have been worried about me… especially my wife Jan. What an amazing woman she is, incredible, she’s just a fantastic woman, wife and mother and grandmother. She dealt with the death of my parents, hers have not been very well. And then she had me to worry about and what I’ve been going through the last couple of years.
“I can’t take her for granted, she has spent her whole life following me around from football club to football club and if I was to say to her tomorrow, I’ve been offered a job in China, or anywhere, she would say, ‘Steve, is this right for you, do you want to do it?’ And she’d back me again.
“I’m 60 years old and I don’t know if I want to put her through it again. We’ve got a good life so, yeah, this will probably be me done as a manager – until I get a phone call from a chairman somewhere asking if I can give them a hand. Never say never, I’ve learnt that.”
Treated disgustingly by club and their fans.
Relegation is too good for them! https://t.co/Nvr39SODBN
— Mack The Knife (@IdMjones) October 20, 2021
Describing the abuse, he said: “It has been very very tough. To never really be wanted, to feel that people wanted me to fail and saying I would fail, that I was useless, a fat waste of space, a tactically inept cabbage head.”
I really hope Newcastle go down this season – losing the rest of their matches on the way.
Horrible club.
Ah sympathy card firmly played there ,,, didums , the wealthiest failure of a man ever, I wonder when Man U need a manager they will be asking him 😡
Si, you’ve completely missed the point. The way Newcastle and its fans treated Bruce was appalling. Back to the Championship with ye!