Steve Bruce ‘delighted to be back’ after surprise return to management at Blackpool

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Steve Bruce has unexpectedly returned to coaching with Blackpool after being unemployed for almost two years.

Bruce has agreed to a two-year deal to take over from Neil Critchley, who was fired on August 21st following back-to-back losses at the start of the season.

The 63-year-old ex-Manchester United player departed from his latest position at West Brom in October 2022, only halfway through his 18-month agreement.

"I'm very happy to be back in the world of football and to lead this amazing soccer team," Bruce stated.

I am excited to meet all the team members and players in the upcoming days as we get ready for what we hope will be a thrilling season at Bloomfield Road.

The highly seasoned manager started his career as a coach at Sheffield United in 1998 and has overseen over 1,000 matches in English football at 11 different clubs.

Bruce has successfully managed four teams from the lower league into the top flight of English football, as well as taking Hull City to the final of the FA Cup in 2014.

"I believe that Steve's skills and leadership abilities will greatly benefit Blackpool Football Club," stated owner Simon Sadler. "His structured methods, along with his passion for creating a dedicated and exciting team, are key reasons why we chose him."

Moreover, Steve's skill in assisting the growth and advancement of both our players and coaches was a crucial factor for us. Working together with his assistant Steve Agnew, two of our former players who are new to coaching have a unique chance to be mentored by a pair with exceptional qualities. We believe that this combination will bring out the full potential of our talented team.

He was named as the new manager right after Blackpool's 4-1 victory over Crewe in the EFL Trophy. The team is currently in the third-to-last position in the league after drawing their past two matches.