Steve Bruce has been appointed as Blackpool’s new manager
.
The sixty-three-year-old had not had a job since he was fired by West Bromwich Albion almost two years ago after leading the team for nine months. Over a thousand competitive games have been managed by him for teams including Newcastle United, Birmingham City, Hull City, and Aston Villa.
Bruce takes over at Blackpool, who were the first team in League One to fire their manager this year after losing two straight games. Neil Critchley was fired on August 21.
Steve Agnew, Bruce’s longtime assistant, coaches Steve Banks, Stephen Dobbie, and Richard Keogh will all be at Bloomfield Road with Bruce.
“I’m thrilled to be back in football and to lead this incredible football club,” Bruce stated. I want to express my gratitude to David, Simon, and Julian for this wonderful chance. As we get ready for what we all hope will be a great season at Bloomfield Road, I’m looking forward to getting to know all of the staff and players in the coming days.
“I’m confident that Steve’s experience and leadership qualities will be a tremendous asset for Blackpool Football Club,” said owner Simon Sadler. What drew us to him was, in large part, his organized approach and his desire to have a hardworking yet fun side.
Furthermore, we valued Steve’s capacity to foster the development of both our coaching staff and playing group. Steve Agnew, his assistant, and two of our former players who are just starting their coaching careers have an incredible opportunity to learn from a pair of exceptional individuals. We’re hoping that this combination will bring out the most in our gifted team.