The new Villa boss acquired the not-altogether-affectionate nickname during his time at rivals Birmingham City.
Newly-appointed Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has commented on the nickname of ‘Potato Head’ he acquired from the club’s supporters during his time at Birmingham City, as quoted by the Birmingham Mail.
Bruce was this week confirmed as Roberto di Matteo’s replacement at Villa Park some nine years after he left Villa’s cross-city rivals at St. Andrew’s.
Since leaving Blues, Bruce has been in charge at Wigan Athletic, Sunderland and Hull City, and whenever he has returned to B6 he has been greeted with taunts of ‘Potato Head’.
On Saturday, in some turnaround, he will lead Villa out at Villa Park with the fans who used to mock him now looking to get behind him.
Speaking in his first press conference as Villa boss, the 55-year-old has insisted that he always took the insult as a term of endearment, and described the club’s fanbase as “fantastically loyal”.
Greeting a question about the taunt with a wry smile, Bruce replied, via the Birmingham Mail: “I’ve been used to being called Potato Head by them for 20 years and Fathead at Liverpool or whatever.
“I always took it as a bit of a compliment. If they’re against you then they usually quite like you.
“All I’ll ask is for them all to get behind the team and get behind the club again. They’re a fantastically loyal support and I’ll try my utmost to make sure we get back to where we want to get to.”
Former Villa striker Stan Collymore said before the confirmation of Bruce’s appointment that the former Blues boss will need a thick skin and a fast start as Villa boss.
Indeed, Bruce will be desperate to get off to the perfect start by leading Villa to just their fifth win in 55 games at home to Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday evening.
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