Ex-West Brom, Birmingham City and Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce drops major career change hint | OneFootball

He has been out of work since being sacked by Blackpool.

Steve Bruce has managed some of the biggest clubs in English football, and he has now dropped a major hint on the next step of his career.

The 65-year-old had been managing League One outfit Blackpool, but after a poor start to the season, he was sacked by the club in late October.

Many expected that it would not be long before the former West Brom, Birmingham City and Aston Villa manager returned to the dugout, given his lengthy CV, but he has remained out of a job.

However, Bruce has now opened up about his future and gave a rather surprising answer about what he expects to do next amid recent talks.

Steve Bruce suggests retirement and reveals international talks

Given that Bruce has managed at the highest level of English football, many would assume it would be easy for him to bag a new job, but doing so has proved rather difficult.

His recent stint with the Tangerines, alongside his uninspiring spells at Newcastle United and the Baggies, has meant that his reputation has been on the decline of late.

And while 65 might seem like the perfect age for retirement, the return of Roy Hodgson to Bristol City emphasises the fact that managers can keep on going as long as they really want to.

However, when speaking on The Overlap's Stick to Cricket podcast, the former Sunderland manager made a rather surprising admission about his future.

“I can never say never, but I honestly believe that I've had my time in management now. I thoroughly enjoyed it and still love it to this day, but I think there comes a time when you have to call it. The former Manchester United defender did not stop there, though, and revealed that he had recently been in talks with two international sides about taking the helm. “You never say never; maybe something like an international job," he continued. "I had a conversation with Ireland a few years ago, and would you believe, before Steve McClaren, I had a chat with the Jamaican FA. They went for Steve McClaren in the end.”

Inside Steve Bruce's love affair with the West Midlands

Bruce's bond with the West Midlands began in 2001 when he took the helm at Birmingham City, and to this day, it remains his longest stint at one club, having taken charge of a seismic 264 matches. In 2002, he led the Blues to promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs, ending a 16-year absence from the top flight. He then established Birmingham as a Premier League outfit and even took them to the League Cup final in 2002, only to lose to European giants Liverpool on penalties. However, after relegation in 2006 and a breakdown in relations with the board, notably David Gold and David Sullivan, he eventually departed for Wigan Athletic, but it is safe to say that he gave the club some of their best memories over the past few decades. His links to Birmingham did not stop him from taking over as Aston Villa boss in 2016, with the club stranded in the Championship and desperate to return to the top table.

As he did with the Blues, he managed to get the Villains to the Championship play-off final, having finished fourth, only to lose 1-0 to 10-man Fulham. Fan frustration about his predictable style of play and lack of progression, alongside his inability to get Villa promoted, cost him his job in 2018, but he was not done with the West Midlands just yet. Indeed, his most dire time and management came at The Hawthorns, when Bruce managed just 32 matches with a points-per-match average of just 1.13, according toTransfermarkt. To be fair to the 65-year-old, he had taken over a drifting Baggies side after the turbulent reign of Valerian Ismael, but just as transpired at Villa Park, supporters were less than impressed with his style of play and results, which ultimately led to his sacking. While Bruce has hinted that his time in management has come to an end, he has not completely closed the door, so it would be intriguing to see what comes next for him, especially if he is offered a return to management. One thing that does seem almost certain is that his time with the West Midlands is surely over.