Aston Villa confirmed his appointment earlier today.
Former Aston Villa manager Ron Atkinson has backed the appointment of Steve Bruce at his old club.
Today saw Villa end a week of speculation by finally hiring the former Hull City manager. The club’s owner and chairman Tony Xia had sacked Roberto Di Matteo after a less than convincing start to the new season in the Championship.
Bruce, who guided Hull to promotion last season, is now looking to take Villa to the play-offs – despite their disappointing start to the campaign.
Ex Hull manager Steve Bruce
Atkinson is clearly a fan of the appointment. The 77-year-old told the Birmingham Mail he was very pleased with the appointment, as he feels Bruce was in with a shout of the England job:
“He’s got everything that Villa need and I’m sure he’ll turn the club around.
“I actually thought it would be a toss-up between Brucey and Sam Allardyce for the England job in the summer and who knows, if he didn’t take this job he could have had a bash at it if Gareth Southgate isn’t hired on a long-term contract.
“He’s up there with the best this country has produced, no doubt, and Villa fans will be happy, I’m sure.
Ron Atkinson Aston Villa
“Why not (win promotion), he’s done it plenty of times before.
“The players will like him and enjoy playing for him.”
Bruce’s appointment has certainly caused something of a stir. His previous links to rival club Birmingham City means he is a controversial choice.
But Atkinson does not see it being a problem:
“It shouldn’t come into play.
“He did very well at Blues and if he can do as well at Villa then there won’t be too many unhappy fans.
Aston Villa manager Roberto Di Matteo before the match
“With Alex McLeish things were different – he came directly from the club.
“Brucey was there ten years ago and so much has changed since then.”
Aston Villa were hoping for an immediate return to the Premier League and Xia invested heavily in the team in the hope of doing just that.
Now fans will be hoping Bruce can finally find the right formula to get Villa creeping up the table.
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