Sunderland confirm Bruce

Manager leaves Wigan for Black Cats role

By James Dall   Last updated: 3rd June 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Sunderland confirm Bruce

Bruce: New Sunderland boss

MANAGER SPECIALS
Following Steve Bruce's appointment as Sunderland boss, Sky Bet go 9/4 that the former Wigan boss will lead the Black Cats to a top half position in the Premier League next season. The bookmaker also go 20/1 that Bruce will help Sunderland lift a trophy in his first season in charge.
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Sunderland have confirmed that Steve Bruce has been appointed as the club's new manager.

Bruce has left Wigan Athletic, after two years at the JJB Stadium, and has signed a three-year contract at the Stadium of Light, replacing Ricky Sbragia.

The former Manchester United defender cut short a vacation to hold talks with Black Cats chairman Niall Quinn after he was granted permission to open discussions by the Latics.

Bruce's first press conference as Sunderland manager will be screened live on Sky Sports News at 6pm on Wednesday.

Quinn said on Sunderland's official website: "Steve will bring a professionalism and strength of character to this club that will really help to bring us forward to where we all want to be.

Compensation

"He knows more than anyone what football means to people of this region and I'm confident that he will be able to instil into our players exactly what it means to play for this football club."

A statement on Wigan's official website read: "A compensation fee has been agreed between the two clubs, freeing Bruce to move to the Stadium of Light.

"The deal also includes assistant manager, Eric Black."

Latics chairman Dave Whelan said: "Everyone associated with Wigan Athletic is devastated that Steve and Eric have gone, we would be lying if we said any different.

"But things can change very quickly and I have always said I would not stand in anyone's way who wishes to leave the club, as long as the terms are in the best interest of Wigan Athletic.

"What Steve has achieved here over the past 18 months has been magnificent. After a period of instability, he put the team in order and started laying the foundations for a prosperous future.

Replacement

"We finished in our second highest ever league position this season and this is something we will be looking to build upon going forward.

"As for a new manager, we have several options to consider and we will be talking to clubs and candidates over the next seven days.

"We will not rush the appointment as it is a decision not to be taken lightly. We will make a statement when an appointment has been made."

Comments (38)

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Lightning Jack (Liverpool fan) says...

Is it me or is Bruce trying to manage every club that is in the Football League............maybe he had a bet with Sam Allardyce down the boozer to see who could manage the most clubs... Good mgr but nothing outstanding.....

Posted 04:40 4th June 2009

Nigel Smith (Arsenal fan) says...

I was very interested to read and notice the perocialism in all the comments about Steve Bruce being a Newcastle fan. If you've never left the area and seen a little of the world and had your horizons widened then I can understand your narrow mindedness. However it is time to move on and grow up a little. As an Arsenal fan we enjoy lording it over Spurs twice a season when we thump them at football, but as a big club they are not really in our minds that much. The Liverpools, Man U's, Chelsea's, Barcelona's, Milan's and Madrid's of this world are who we concern ourselves with. As Mackems you will need to put petty local rivalrys behind you if you wish to truely go where 200Extra Large can take you. The Maggies are not even in your league any more. Enjoy it and don't forget it. They are not your concern anymore and wont be for a long time!!!

Posted 23:23 3rd June 2009

John Fenwick (Sunderland fan) says...

I am 72 years old a sunderland supporter through and through even played for Sunderland boys on the old rokerpark I hope I live to see us in the top 6. Bruce well it seems he has the right credentials and I wish him well but it will still be difficult to entice tops stars to come and live in the North East once th experience the winter.

Posted 22:55 3rd June 2009

Edward Taylor says...

Great appointment and good to see that S Bruce is being linked with so many world class players so soon after his appointment. I have to say that Titus Bramble would be a welcome sight in the red and white stripes and am dissappointed he has been overlooked for the world cup qualifiers.

Posted 22:29 3rd June 2009

David Piper (Brighton and Hove Albion fan) says...

Sunderland again appoint an ex man utd player as their next saviour. Plus having an ex man utd coach in sbragia. I think niall quinn is a closet man utd fan. I hope steve bruce stays long enough to actually prove he is a top flight manager.Havent seen much yet.

Posted 22:16 3rd June 2009

Andy Connell (Wigan Athletic fan) says...

Sunderland supporters please remember a couple of things. 1, Not the most loyal guy around (Palace, us (twice), Brum), and 2, anyone who signs for him/you can harp on all day about "massive club", "new challenge", "fantastic fan base", but at the end of the day money talks. If any team in the world puts 100 grand in front of you as a take home wage then they will become that massive club with the new challenge who they've always wanted to play for. You will not even be near the Valencia's of this world world. Not only did Bruce not sign him for our club, but if results go against them, do you think he'll be there. He's not going to be given the time to build anything, as he has stated in the press he's "black and white through and through". He started a good job at our place, no pressure, however, he may find it a little tougher up north. Good luck Sunderland. you'll need it.

Posted 21:23 3rd June 2009

Jordan J (Liverpool fan) says...

I think Steve Bruce is a great appointment, but he is always a birmingham guy in my eyes. Don't try taking Antonio Valencia he's LIVERPOOL'S

Posted 21:10 3rd June 2009

Robert Clark (Dundee United fan) says...

Sunderland are my second team and I'm delighted with the appointment of Steve Bruce. He'll bring stability, steel and progression to the club. A few points to all of us in Red and White..... Don't get hung up on the whole he's a M*g thing - he has knocked them back more than once. Being realistic we aren't (yet) capable of attracting a top tier manager, so I feel this is a good progressive step up from anyone we've had in the last 10 years. He's not acheived anything in management? He's not been given the bloody chance to acheive anything other than avoid relegation or get promotion from the fizzy pop league! He'll jump ship at the first chance - you mean he's shown ambition to better himself for exactly this kind of opportunity. As for the Spurs fan mentioning loyalty - that's a pretty rich statement coming from someone who's boss has shown absolutely no loyalty over the last 6/7 years! The impact may not be instant but good (better!!) times could just be around the corner! Howay the Lads!!

Posted 21:03 3rd June 2009

John M (Sunderland fan) says...

cant understand the doubters not giving bruce a chance before he has even started !!, what about bob stokoe, bryan pop robson and bobby moncur ex newcastle players who were heroes at sunderland !! bring success and steve bruce will have the supporters eating out of his hands but i agree DONT bring titus bramble as he will be made a scapegoat for every goal conceded

Posted 21:01 3rd June 2009

Carl Harris says...

I would like to say that Steve Bruce is a top class manager no matter what people think of him. What he has done at Wigan is amazing, some of the players that he has brought in that are young and have really high potential are amazing like velencia. Now that Steve Bruce has money in his hands expect some good players going sunderlands way becaus he Knows good players. Success for the future under Bruce i say.

Posted 20:40 3rd June 2009

Mark Woods (Sunderland fan) says...

Good appointment-hopefully get the team finishing within the top 10 consistently with no relegation fears,then after a season or two & some big signings maybe a push for a top 6 finish.Will be interesting to see what signings come in as Bruce will have more finances available than he's normally used to.Please take a good look at the current squad,lots of mediocre players need shifting out and PLEASE DONT BRING TITUS BRAMBLE WITH YOU BRUCIE!!!

Posted 20:08 3rd June 2009

Billy Musk (Sunderland fan) says...

I can't believe this appointment - I'm absolutley gutted, angry and disappointed. How Quinny can appoint Steve "I hate Sunderland" Bruce as our manage is beyond me. He has no experience of signing big name players, no experience of managing them, will offer no stability because he'll walk out on us like he has every other team he's managed. OK so he has experience of relegation battles - but I had hoped that with £200m to spend we would not be in a relegation battle next season. In an interview this season it was put to him that "Now that Wigan have 40 points your players seem to have given up." His reply was "Yes, and no matter what I try I can't motivate them". God help us if we go through a bad patch. He might have managed Wigan to 11th last season but only because there was so much dross in the Premier League. They only had 45 points! He got Birmingham promoted to the Premiership and kept them there for 4 seasons before getting them relegated. So in 4 years he couldn't build a team capable of staying in the premier league. Oh, and we paid £3m for his services! Gutted - anyone want to buy a season ticket?

Posted 20:02 3rd June 2009

Tom Lindsay (Sunderland fan) says...

Oh my goodness! Stebe Bruce is not right for Sunderland AFC. A mag first and foremaost and someone who doesn't know or understand the international market. What have we done? He has managed poor clubs before and now arrives at SAFC. I don't trust anyone who is a Mag and openly supports them. Not the 'high profile' man we wanted Niall. Just wait and see . . .

Posted 19:39 3rd June 2009

Robert Haugh says...

Well Done! Agent Bruce first part of the mission is accomplished in getting behind enemy lines, you know whats be done will send a chopper to get you out of there next may when their sunk , Good luck.

Posted 19:38 3rd June 2009

John Dunville (Newcastle United fan) says...

well done, sunderland, steve bruce great apointment, you've done well. quinn is a realy good chairman. short term (3 years) bruce will move you in to the top 10. he's got itche feet. and not to loyal like all of us geordies from washington ha ha . but with money he will move you foward with players like valencia, bent , crouch, glen johnston and so on. no way you'll be joining us next season. paul jewell for us as sheara to greedy(die hard geordie) ha way the lads

Posted 19:31 3rd June 2009

Callum Redman (Sunderland fan) says...

steady manager not quite the big name we were promised but a stable prem manager and to all those who feel ashamed he is a geordie dont forget STOKOE was a geordie and there is a statue of him outside our stadium let hope bruce attains legendary status just like stokoe HA'WAY THE LADS STEVE BRUCE'S RED'N'WHITE ARMY

Posted 19:31 3rd June 2009

Joe Marley (Sunderland fan) says...

I hope I am wrong but this is a bad appointment, Bruce has a mediocre record, is a black n white and will not encourage good players to come to the club. Where is the big name we were supposed to be getting. Good luck Niall.

Posted 19:29 3rd June 2009

Helen Mac (Sunderland fan) says...

"Sunderland are a good club but if you cut me open I bleed black and white, which is the reason I can say I wont be taking over at Sunderland" I can understand the worry with comments like this but Bobby Stokoe was also black and white...you never know!

Posted 19:17 3rd June 2009

Malcolm Fearn (Sunderland fan) says...

Naill what have you done. Approximately 6 months ago you stated 30 people had applied for the vacant managers job at Sunderland. You had taken 5 from this list and of that 5 you had decided on the person you wanted. Then you give the job to Ricky Sbragia. What has Steve Bruce acheived in football management - nothing. Once again we lack ambition. I have supported Sunderland all my life and allways will, however as long as Steve Bruce is manager or has anything to do with my club then I will never set foot in to the stadium of light again. Have we not learned our lesson with Lee Clark and Michael Choppra.

Posted 19:14 3rd June 2009

Kavi Pabari (Arsenal fan) says...

Congratulations to Sunderland on appointing the most unloyal man in football when Steve Coppell and Gorden Strachen are readily available.

Posted 19:12 3rd June 2009
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