Steve Bruce reveals he was once in contention for the Manchester United job.
Manchester United have had 12 managers, both short-term and permanent, since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
The most recent, Michael Carrick, was appointed as head coach until the end of the season as Ruben Amorim’s successor.
Who is Manchester United’s best manager since Sir Alex Ferguson?
A strong start under Carrick means United are serious contenders for a Champions League spot, including his initial two matches against title contenders Man City and Arsenal.
Manchester United’s list of managers since Sir Alex Ferguson retired:
- David Moyes
- Ryan Giggs (caretaker)
- Louis van Gaal
- Jose Mourinho
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (interim + permanent)
- Michael Carrick (caretaker)
- Ralf Rangnick (interim)
- Erik ten Hag
- Ruud van Nistelrooy (caretaker)
- Ruben Amorim
- Darren Fletcher (caretaker)
- Michael Carrick (interim)
If United can secure Champions League football, Carrick could earn himself the head coach role beyond this season. It would be a big achievement after such a topsy-turvy first half to the season under Amorim.
Steve Bruce was a contender for Man Utd job before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
United were on the lookout for a new manager after sacking Jose Mourinho in December 2018.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer arrived in a toxic atmosphere and immediately lifted the dressing room, with one of the greatest start-of-tenures in Premier League history.
United had 14 wins, two draws and three losses in 19 games under Solskjaer as interim manager, with a win percentage of 73.7%. He was eventually given a permanent deal.
However, it has now emerged that Steve Bruce was a contender for the United job before it was given to Solskjaer.
That means the former United defender could have returned to Old Trafford as an interim manager in 2018.
Speaking on Sacked, a new podcast by Neil Ashton, Bruce opens up on missing out on managing his former club.
When asked if he was ever close to landing the job at United, Bruce said: “I believe when Ole went in, I was in the frame a little bit, but I think the timing of it, I think the timing I had just left Aston Villa and the timing went against me.
“But I believed I was in the frame then, as far as I know, I wasn’t that close, but I was led to believe that that was the case.”
Michael Carrick is just another Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with better players: __ % AGREE
Fill in the blank. Is Carrick actually a better coach, or are we falling for the same trap again?
Bruce is one of the most experienced figures in English football management, having overseen over 1,000 competitive matches.
Although he often faced criticism in the Premier League, Bruce will be fondly remembered for some of his Championship campaigns, especially after getting Birmingham City and Hull City promoted.
Bruce was a safe pair of hands at Wigan and Sunderland, though it never worked out for him at Newcastle.
He managed a total of 12 clubs and reached the FA Cup final with Hull City in 2014.
Steve Bruce’s record at Man Utd
Bruce made a total of 416 appearances for United throughout his career.
The club legend had an amazing goalscoring record for a centre-back, scoring 51 goals for the Red Devils, on top of six assists.
Bruce won the Premier League three times at United, on top of the three FA Cups and the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1991.
Solskjaer wouldn’t have had his opportunity to manage United if Bruce had his way.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
