Manchester United legend Steve Bruce has opened up on iconic former manager Sir Alex Ferguson making a big decision that he “hated” at the time.
Steve Bruce had a prolific playing career at Old Trafford and was an influential defensive figure in Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United teams of the past.
The 63-year-old United legend struck up one of the club’s best defensive partnerships after effectively linking up with former teammate Gary Pallister.
Bruce, who was signed by United from Norwich City in 1987, went on to make 393 appearances for the Red Devils and scored 48 times for the Premier League club.
The former United defender lifted three Premier League titles, three FA Cups, a League Cup and a European Cup Winners’ Cup under Ferguson at Old Trafford.
Bruce inherited the captain’s armband at United in 1994 after legendary former club skipper Bryan Robson made his exit from Old Trafford.
Bruce talks Man Utd and Ferguson
Despite his success at Manchester United, Steve Bruce’s exit from Old Trafford at the hands of Sir Alex Ferguson raised eyebrows from the likes of club legend Roy Keane.
Bruce failed to make the United squad for the 1996 FA Cup final due to a small knock, with Red Devils legend Eric Cantona serving in his place as club captain.
Eric Cantona, who later succeeded Bruce as United’s permanent captain, scored the winner for the Red Devils in their 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Wembley.
The 57-year-old former United star wanted Bruce to lift the FA Cup trophy, only for Bruce to turn down the request from Cantona.
Bruce then left United in 1996 and signed for Birmingham City, with the former United centre-back later playing for Sheffield United.
The ex-West Brom and Newcastle boss admitted that he initially “hated” how Ferguson was easing him “out the door” before fully understanding the decision.
“The one regret in all my time was leaving Man United, I left in a bit of a huff because I didn’t get picked for the cup final,” Bruce told talkSPORT.
“It was Sir Alex’s way of easing me out the door. Looking back on it now, I hated it at the time, but I fully understand it.
“I was 36, I wasn’t injured and didn’t get back in the team for the cup when I thought I should have. I left within two or three days, but can fully understand it from afar now.
“I didn’t want to sit on the bench or be a squad player any more. I made that pretty clear to the manager himself. I left within two or three days and I left under a bit of a cloud.
“My contract had finished, but that took me over the edge that I didn’t play in the 1996 cup final.
“Man United won 1-0 and Eric Cantona scored in the last minute, nobody gives a stuff if I played in it. Man United won.
“The manager made the right call and had done the same thing with Bryan Robson a few years before that. It was his way of telling you quietly that your time was up.”
Keane on Ferguson’s treatment of Bruce
Keane, who was axed by Ferguson during his time at Old Trafford, ruthlessly slammed the former United manager’s treatment of both Robson and Bruce.
Speaking to Off The Ball in 2019, he said: “I was at the club when Bryan Robson left, I was at the club when Steve Bruce left, two brilliant servants for Man United and I didn’t like the way they were treated at the end.
“People talk about Ferguson’s man management, don’t be kidded on by all of it.
“Ferguson came out of it after and said he always did what was best for Manchester United. Nonsense!”
