Steven Bruce was hired on an 18-month contract to replace Valerien Ismael, who was fired on Wednesday after only seven months at the helm.
Signing Bruce as Manager
After being fired by Newcastle in October following the club’s takeover, the 61-year-old is back in command of the Baggies and is tasked with returning them to the Premier League. West Bromwich Albion has won just one of their last seven Championship games, slipping to sixth after a 2-0 loss at Millwall on Saturday, eight points behind the automatic promotion places.
Bruce has plenty of experience in this area, having won promotion from the Championship four times and managing in the Midlands with both Aston Villa and Birmingham City. He didn’t expect to be back in the dugout so soon following his ordeal at Newcastle, but he stated he couldn’t say no to the Hawthorns project.
Word from Bruce
Bruce expressed his joy at the opportunity to coach a team with such a rich history and culture, according to the club’s official website. He knows the club well from his time in the Midlands, and he’s looking forward to the job of leading it forward.
“I did not envisage I would return to management this quickly, but once I got the phone call from Ron (chief executive Ron Gourlay), I knew I could not resist the challenge of getting this club back to where they want to be.
“I am coming in with one aim and that is to get Albion to the Premier League.”
Bruce will be joined by assistants Stephen Clemence and Steve Agnew, as well as his son Alex Bruce in a coaching capacity, in the club’s backroom team, which also includes James Morrison and Gary Walsh.
Steve is a well-respected and experienced manager, according to Albion’s chief executive officer Ron Gourlay, who has an exceptional track record of achieving promotion to the Premier League. When Albion travels to Sheffield United, another of Bruce’s previous clubs, on Wednesday, he will be in charge for the first time.
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