Speaking on the Die For Three Points Podcast, Steve Bruce has been discussing his relationship with Newcastle United over the years.
As we all know, Bruce was the manager of the Magpies, between 2019 and 2021, but he was a boyhood fan and he actually had the chance to take the Newcastle job much sooner.
Indeed, Bruce has now shared that he actually turned down the role at St James’ Park back in 2004 after Sir Bobby Robson was sacked.
Bruce could’ve been manager in 2004
The 62-year-old spoke about Newcastle United.
“Look, the two biggest clubs I managed arguably were Aston Villa and Newcastle, which I thoroughly enjoyed even the challenge of Newcastle through all of the abuse that came my way. I wouldn’t have swapped it, I wouldn’t have not taken it, I had to take it. I turned it down before Graeme Souness took it when Bobby Robson got the sack and I stayed loyal to Birmingham, and I always regretted that. So to get the opportunity to say I’d done it for two-and-a-half-years, it was difficult, but I’m glad I did it,” Bruce said.
Could’ve been so different
Bruce, somewhat sadly, will be remembered as one of the most divisive, and disliked, figures in Newcastle’s recent history, but perhaps that narrative would’ve been very different if he took the job in 2004.
Not to dismiss Bruce’s ability as a manager, but by 2019 a number of his methods were outdated – leading to some labelling him as a dinosaur, a label that probably isn’t very fair.
However, back in 2004, Bruce was still an up-and-coming manager, and his methods would have resonated a lot more with the fans and the squad at that point in time.
In hindsight, Bruce probably should’ve taken this job, and who knows? Perhaps he would have been a fan favourite back then rather than a figure of ridicule at St James’ Park.
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