Bruce on management return at Blackpool & avoiding rollercoasters

Steve Bruce has won four and drawn one of his first five games in charge of Blackpool

Veteran boss Steve Bruce is relishing his return to the game with Blackpool.

The 63-year-old had been out of work for almost two years before taking over at the League One club in September.

Bruce, in his 13th managerial appointment in a career that started in 1998, spoke to Mark Clemmit for BBC One's Football Focus after four wins and a draw from his first five games as Seasiders boss.

"When I was out for nearly two years, at the end of the day I wanted and needed to do something," he said.

"I had to have something to get me out of bed in the morning and this opportunity came along and I thought 'why not?'"

He added: "I've been to South Africa and done a safari and been to places I never thought I'd go but I wasn't just ready to pack up.

"I think you know when the time is right and for me it was 'let's go and do a couple more years and see where we are'."

"I still think I've got something to offer and as long as you maintain the enthusiasm that you've got... if that goes away, I'll know it's time."

Bruce was sacked as West Bromwich Albion boss in October 2022 after an unhappy nine months at The Hawthorns.

That followed a difficult two years in charge of hometown club Newcastle.

In his whole managerial career he had never previously been out of work for more than six months and admitted he needed to take a longer break before returning.

"I wanted to make sure that I took at least 12 months off," he said.

"I think all my family know that I was wanting to go back to work and good for them that they never tried to stop me either and I'm grateful for that.

"It's just being involved in football - the winning on a Saturday or even the disappointment like we had on Tuesday of conceding a last minute equaliser."

Impact of 'toxic' social media

Bruce enjoyed a hugely successful playing career with Manchester United, where he won the Premier League title three times.

He started his career in the dugout with Sheffield United 26 years ago, has won promotion to the top flight four times and passed 1,000 games in management in 2021.

While he accepts criticism is part of the job, Bruce says it is difficult when he sees the impact it has on his family.

"You deal with it and you put up with it. It's when it affects those closest to you that it upsets you," he said.

"I've got no interest in social media, it's toxic. I don't think there's ever any good news from there... the only good that I've seen come from it is when we got our dog back after Alex posted on there.

"It gives everyone a platform but it's not everyone's opinion."

Steve Bruce started his managerial career with Sheffield United in 1998

'Are you really doing that at your age?'

At 63, Bruce is the oldest manager to have led a club in the top four tiers this season by two years.

The ex-Birmingham, Hull City and Aston Villa boss admitted his sideline antics were a surprise to himself after Clemmit suggested he must have done 20,000 steps during their win at Charlton last month.

"You don't realise what you're doing on the touchline until you look back at it and you see it and think 'are you really doing that at your age?' But I really enjoyed how we played that day," he said.

"I've thoroughly enjoyed it and if I didn't, I wouldn't do it. I enjoy being around young people, it keeps me young."

He added: "Until you came along I was under the radar here for the past month!"

After the best part of two years out of the game, Bruce said he is still getting used to the routine of being in full-time work again.

"There was a time when I fell asleep in the chair when I'd only been back home half an hour," he said.

"You have to adjust to it again. The alarm going off at half-six in the morning, wow. I'm just getting used to it and back in the swing of it again. I don't regret it at all."

Big Dipper 'not happening'

Bruce became the first Blackpool boss ever to win his first four league games in charge and was moments away from making it five from five before Lincoln's stoppage-time leveller on Tuesday.

They travel to third-placed Mansfield on Saturday and could move up to second with a win.

Despite starting the season without a win from their first four league games before Bruce took over, the promotion specialist believes they could challenge for a return to the Championship.

"The owner wants a tilt at it. We've got a decent enough squad to be competitive. I've only been here a month and results have been great," he said.

"There's a real determination to take the club forward. Can we get near the play-offs and get further than last year? It's going to be very difficult but I think we can do it."

If they do manage it, will he celebrate by taking a ride on the town's famous Big Dipper rollercoaster?

"No chance. I've just seen it go there. It's not happening!"

Watch the full interview on Football Focus on BBC One at 12:00 BST on Saturday, 5 October.