Former Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is set to announce his retirement from management. According to the Mail, the 62-year-old will bring an end to his 25-year career in management following on from his sacking at West Brom.
The Baggies parted company with Bruce in October last year, after a torrid start to the Championship. Bruce said: "I’m looking at it now, the last job in particular hasn’t gone so well. So is it time to say “okay - can I see if I can be without it?”
"But, certainly, I’ve enjoyed it. Has it been difficult? Of course it has - if you’re going to go into management there is going to be difficult moments ahead. I don’t think you can ever say never - but at this moment in time I’m bordering on that way (retirement)."
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Bruce managed Sunderland from 2009 to 2011, before going on to take charge of his boyhood club, Newcastle United, in 2019 but struggled to get results he'd have liked. The Toon fan did keep the Magpies in the in the Premier League, but his final season in charge was disastrous, leaving St. James' Park in 2021 following on from the takeover.
The former Manchester United defender said he was the victim of personal attacks during his stint on Tyneside, stating it was a factor in him considering retirement.
"After what happened at Newcastle, personally, and what the family went through - I did question it (retirement) then - but within four months I’m making myself look like a right mug because I end up taking another job," Bruce told the Die For Three Points podcast.
"But I honestly, genuinely thought maybe it’s time. Do I really want to put the family (through it)? When you are getting all sorts of threats and they want to try and burn your house down and things like that, it became really difficult for the family.
"But the biggest thing is what do you do with your time, because in football - you are institutionalised a little bit. When it comes to an end it becomes very difficult for a lot of footballers.
"It’s the most difficult thing we all have to deal with. It’s the same thing with management. It grabs such a hold of you - when you have enjoyed it like I have - how you deal with it becomes an issue.
"How do you deal with the next step of your life. How do you get away from it. I’m trying to go through that now if I’m being honest. The big thing is what you do with the time."
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