Manchester United legend Steve Bruce is better known today by many for a journeyman managerial career. And that’s just not right.
In the early to mid-90s, Steve Bruce was a force to be reckoned with at the heart of Manchester United’s defence, forging a terrific partnership alongside Gary Pallister.
Bruce’s double against Sheffield Wednesday in 1993 sealed Sir Alex Ferguson‘s first league title, setting in train two decades of dominance from the Red Devils.
To this day, Bruce does not get the credit his magnificent playing career deserves, and his 414 appearances for the club.
Steve Bruce says Manchester United teammates made him better
Steve Bruce spoke this week about his playing career, and modestly put a lot of his success down to having a top class team around him.
Speaking to Stadium Astro, Bruce says being surrounded by high calibre players lifted his own game and drove him on.
He explained: “There’s no doubt you can become better from playing with better players, and I was privileged to play in a great team.
“I use the word great not too often, but when you’ve got Ince and Keane and Robson in front of you and you’ve got Hughes and Cantona, Giggs, Kanchelskis, Denis Irwin and Schmeichel in goal, I will always be grateful for that.
“They take you up, playing with better players is always easier than playing with not so good players.”
Steve Bruce can’t compare himself to a current player
Bruce believes the physical nature of the game in the 1990s suited his style, in a way he perhaps might not have got away with today.
When asked to name a player in today’s era he could compare himself to, he struggled to do so, explaining: “God loves a trier and the one thing I was able to do was play every week.
“I don’t think there’s many now really because you are not allowed to play up against people the way were sort of were. The first challenge on a centre-forward you had to make sure he knew I was around him.”
Just hearing Bruce reel off the names of his teammates from the 1993/94 side makes you feel wistful for an era that is now legendary.
Bruce himself was a titan at the back, who cost Ferguson just £825,000 from Norwich City in 1987, a deal which proved to be one of English football’s greatest bargains.
While at Mancheser United, the defender managed to win three Premier League titles, three FA Cups, one League Cup, one European Cup Winners Cup and one Super Cup.
He had a remarkable eye for goal for a centre-back too, netting 51 times. For context that’s the same number as Roy Keane, and more than Romelu Lukaku, Teddy Sheringham, Carlos Tevez, or Paul Pogba managed, to name a few.
Bruce was more than just an uncompromising bruiser, he played with heart and spirit, which is so sorely lacking from many of the Manchester United players we see wearing the club’s shirt today.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
