| Lauren |
04-06-2009 02:15 PM |
AND, an interview with Steve Bruce (I'm spoiling this thread today... not!).
Quote:
A transcript of Steve Bruce's exclusive interview with safc.com.
First of all, a very warm welcome to Sunderland Football Club. You've been appointed as new manager - how does it feel?
SB: Well, I can only say how excited I am. You know, when I first spoke to Niall and the new owner I was genuinely thinking: well - this is the big chance that I've been waiting for, for all those years.
It's a huge club - with great tradition, great supporters - all the infrastructure's there. It's just up to me now to produce a team that the supporters can associate with.
Obviously you've spoken to Niall. Everybody that speaks to Niall is infected by his enthusiasm …but you knew that anyway, didn't you?
SB: We all want to have a relationship with the Chairman, of course. Everybody in the game knows Niall and what a good ambassador he has been, and everyone speaks so highly of him - and rightly so. He was big crowd favourite. I played against him many times up here. Yeah, one of the reasons why I came here.
He didn't have to sell it, to be particularly honest. But the way the club is looking, the way the infrastructure is set up, with the new owner on board, I hope it can be a exciting times for Sunderland supporters.
It's up to me to ensure that I produce team which they'll associate with. I'm from the North East - I know what they want - and I'll try to give it to them.
One of the things that you do bring to the job Steve is a vast amount of experience. You've been a manager for 11 years and seven different campaigns in the Barclays Premier League, so you've been around the block and you know what's expected. You obviously got your finger on the pulse of the Premier League already.
SB: I know how difficult it is. We've all seen that. Even the big clubs, with Sunderland amongst them, have seen how difficult the Premier League is.
You're right; I've got my finger on the pulse but I am under no illusion about how difficult it is - it is the biggest and best league in the world.
But, if we can make a stamp on that, which I am determined to do, then I can't wait to get started.
It's not too long since you were at the Stadium of Light with a Wigan side that beat Sunderland 2-1 and obviously you had a draw at the JJB Stadium against Sunderland in the early part of the season. Did you see Sunderland live at any other time last season?
SB: I was at the second last game because we had Portsmouth coming up the following weekend so I have seen the club. The one about the Premier League is that it is saturated. I know all of the players inside-out. As I said, I can't wait to get started and working with them - and obviously add into the squad. It should be exciting times ahead.
As you said, Steve, you're from the North East, which is of course well known. Sunderland is a club you've known inside-out - since you were a young boy, I imagine?
SB: I think when you're from the North East, there's something bred in you. That certainly didn't do me any harm in my football career or in management. Wherever I go there are the same principles: work hard, play hard, I suppose - but make sure that you give 100 per cent in everything you do, and be totally committed.
That's what I've been with every club I've been with. That's the only way I know, and that's possibly because I've been born and bred here. I'm a normal working class lad, who has a crack, has a go and works hard. These beliefs never left me, really - and can only help me.
Everybody knows I'm from up here. It's been a long time - I've been gone for nearly 30 years, I think, so I'm looking forward to coming back and having a go at a really genuinely big club, with big tradition and big history and cant wait to get started.
One of the things we talked about with Niall Quinn was that he mentioned that he thought you would bring to the job is a steeliness to the side …
SB: Well, I think everybody knows that to play for me, you have to give 100 per cent. I'll forgive mistakes, we all make mistakes. I'll forgive that - I'll forgive a bad pass. What I won't forgive is anyone who shirks their responsibility or doesn't show enough commitment or passion to play for the jersey. That's all I ask for - 100 per cent effort and dedication towards that. And if you do that, you'll be ok.
You mentioned that you've been gone from the North East for 30 years. You started your career down in Gillingham there was talk that I have read recently that as a young lad Sunderland were one of the clubs that passed up the opportunity of signing you.
SB: Them and every other club! I went to every club - I think I certainly went to every club in the North East and went to half of Yorkshire as well!
Were you a centre half in those days?
SB: I was a skinny, scrawny, young midfield player who basically took a long time to develop.
I was very, very small and basically every club said the same thing: 'sorry son, you won't be big enough or strong enough' … and here I am now - on a diet!
So, yeah, I was here and I was shown the door very quickly. And not surprisingly, the state I was in, so I had to go down to Gillingham, which is about 330 miles away from the North East, which was difficult when I was kid of15 or 16.
But, I went and started off down there as they were the only ones who really wanted to take me. Everybody else showed me the door.
Obviously you did very well at Gillingham, but you first really started to cross Sunderland's path when you played against them for Norwich in the 1985 League Cup Final at Wembley.
SB: It was my first season with Norwich and I'd just come from Gillingham. I'd played in the lower divisions so Norwich gave me my crack. And of course, playing at Wembley. I remember the game was poor if I am being honest, I think we won it with a deflected shot, cross shot come own goal and I think that summed up the afternoon. But for me personally it was the first trophy I had won and set me on my way that I could play at that sort of level
Well I'm delighted to see that after being turned down by Sunderland as a player, being Man of the Match against us at Wembley, you've finally come back to the North East - you suit that red and white tie - and all we can do is wish you absolutely all the best, Steve.
SB: Thanks very much. I'm determined that we'll have a right good go at it and I'm looking forward to it immensely.
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