Steve Bruce at 1000

[1973Blade]

Tomorrow is Steve Bruce's 1000th match as a manager. So who remembers his first match in charge, for us at home against Swindon Town in August 1998 (a 2-1 win)?

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

I can't remember much about the Bruce era. Probably underwhelming dropoff from the Spackman era via Steve Thompson. The bits that stick out are the Arsenal FA Cup (Kanu & Overmars cheating) and getting tonked at home to Sunderland 0-4.

 

[Dkc]

The only manager to have quit both Sheffield clubs

 

[Gavlar]

Not blades related sadly but good luck to him

 

[Muttley]

The only manager to have quit both Sheffield clubs

Dunt he quit on every job?

 

[JohnDenver]

Dunt he quit on every job?

He’ll only quit his current job if he’s threatened with lunch at the embassy.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

Does look about a 1000 to be fair.

 

[SwissBlade]

He’ll only quit his current job if he’s threatened with lunch at the embassy.

“Steve, come to Istanbul, meet his highness…”

 

[coaxingstar71]

I can't remember much about the Bruce era. Probably underwhelming dropoff from the Spackman era via Steve Thompson. The bits that stick out are the Arsenal FA Cup (Kanu & Overmars cheating) and getting tonked at home to Sunderland 0-4.

Wasn't the Sunderland game also Bruce's last game as a player after Michael Bridges absolutely roasted him all afternoon?

I always think the abuse he gets from our fans is a bit unfair due to him quitting the job. He'd obviously been promised transfer funds which never materialised and actually the opposite happened with players being sold without his knowledge, such was the chaos in the boardroom at the time.

There's a quote from Bruce in the Blades Biography book : I never knew who the boss was, so when I met Dean Saunders coming out of the ground as I was going in one Saturday afternoon, telling me three hours before kick-off that he had just been sold to Benfica without my knowledge, I didn't even know who to complain to.

 

[steve26272]

He’ll only quit his current job if he’s threatened with lunch at the embassy.

Hmmm, reckon turning down a free lunch could be a close call

 

[Silent Blade]

 

[Bashamed]

Good lad is Bruce

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

Hmmm, reckon turning down a free lunch could be a close call
View attachment 122848

Was that before he put on weight?

 

[I should coco]

I remember a game at home when he was on a yellow. His popularity wasn't high and he was way past his best, but still picked himself*.
He made a poor challenge and the Kop as a man chanted;
"Off, off, off".

* He has form for this, picking Alex Bruce (no relation apart from being his son), ahead of Harry Maguire.
Good call Steve.

 

[Withington Blade]

Wasn't the Sunderland game also Bruce's last game as a player after Michael Bridges absolutely roasted him all afternoon?

I always think the abuse he gets from our fans is a bit unfair due to him quitting the job. He'd obviously been promised transfer funds which never materialised and actually the opposite happened with players being sold without his knowledge, such was the chaos in the boardroom at the time.

There's a quote from Bruce in the Blades Biography book : I never knew who the boss was, so when I met Dean Saunders coming out of the ground as I was going in one Saturday afternoon, telling me three hours before kick-off that he had just been sold to Benfica without my knowledge, I didn't even know who to complain to.

It’s sometimes easy and convenient for a manager to blame the board. No doubt there is an element of truth I. What he said about our owner at the time as we were a shambles but bruce has a history of jumping ship as soon as a better offer comes along. In addition to walking out on us, he did the exact same at Wigan twice, Palace, Huddersfield and of course our friends across the city. I also recall him touting himself for the Newcastle job whilst in position at Birmingham and then he took over a Sunderland despite declaring himself a lifelong magpie. Decent manager though to be fair.