Should Aston Villa try to recruit the 55-year-old?
According to The Sun, Steve Bruce is among the contenders to replace Roberto Di Matteo as Aston Villa boss.
The Italian was sacked by Aston Villa on Monday after a 2-0 defeat at Preston North End on Saturday appeared to seal his fate.
Di Matteo, who led Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2012, had only managed to win one of Villa’s first 11 Championship games, leaving them 10 points behind the top six and inflicting perhaps irreversible damage to their playoff hopes already.
If their promotion bid can he salvaged, then perhaps Bruce, who has led two different teams into the Premier League on four occasions, is the best man for the job.
But would he take it? If previous comments are anything to go by, then he certainly might.
Back in April, Bruce, then in the process of winning promotion with Hull City, was linked to the Aston Villa job following the dismissal of Remi Garde.
Speaking to The Hull Daily Mail in April, the 55-year-old admitted that he was “flattered” by the speculation, but insisted that leading the Tigers back into England’s top flight was his sole priority.
“It’s flattering for any manager We’ve worked so hard over the past eight months to turn things around after the disappointment of relegation. That’s the only thing I’m interested in, getting us over the line.”
He did get them over the line via the playoffs, but given that Bruce and Hull have since parted ways, and Aston Villa in need of the sort of magic which he has extensive experience in producing, it seems like the ideal opportunity for the Villans to approach him.
There doesn’t seem to be many reasons to say no anymore.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
