For once, mutual consent may mean just that. Newcastle United’s new owners knew from the start that they wanted an upgrade on Steve Bruce. It was an inauspicious start when they left him in charge and in limbo for their first game, Sunday’s 3-2 defeat to Tottenham. His departure was inevitable and necessary; disliked by the fans, presiding over an increasingly shambolic side, he had looked bruised, battered and beleaguered.
For Bruce, leaving Newcastle feels a welcome relief. The dream job became a nightmare. Rejection by his fellow Geordies hurt; he was hounded out, in his own words, dismissed as a “stupid, tactically inept cabbage head.” He can pocket a huge pay-off and somewhere the businessman in Mike Ashley is presumably reflecting with glee that it has cost Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund far more to sack Bruce than it did him to employ him.
That golden goodbye could cushion a passage into retirement. “I think this might be my last job,” Bruce told The Telegraph.
The strain on his family may have proved too much for one of the game’s great constants. If it is farewell, it is the conclusion to a career of remarkable longevity and endurance. He brought up 1,000 games in management on Sunday; he has been directly involved in each of the last 43 seasons.
The unsatisfactory ending and the vitriol should not obscure the reality that he is a fundamentally decent and likeable man; he is not destined to go down among the managerial greats but over 10 clubs and 11 jobs, he has accomplished much. Indelibly associated with Ashley on Tyneside, damned by comparison with his popular predecessor Rafa Benitez, he was afforded little credit for finishing 13th and 12th at St James’ Park but he ensured Newcastle remained attractive to prospective buyers.
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HIGHS AND LOWS OF STEVE BRUCE ERA - Aug 25, 2019. Spurs 0 Newcastle 1 (Joelinton 27'): Bruce's first victory as manager against the Champions League runners-up with the Magpies new £40m record signing securing the points. Bruce said: "Hopefully, that will shut a few people up a little bit." Getty -
Sept 29, 2019. Leicester 5 (Pereira (16', Vardy 54', 64', Dummett og 57', Ndidi 90') Newcastle 0: The joint heaviest defeat of Bruce's reign as Newcastle are blown away by three goals in 10 second-half minutes. Isaac Hayden was sent off just before half time as Newcastle failed to register a single shot on target. Bruce said: "I've got no complaints." AFP -
Oct 6, 2019. Newcastle 1 (M Longstaff 72') Manchester United 0: Teenage local boy Matty Longstaff enjoyed a debut to remember when he drove home the winner against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side. Bruce said: "All you can do is answer your critics by getting a result ... I hope this is the turning point." Getty -
Jan 1, 2020. Newcastle 0 Leicester 3 (Perez 36', Maddison 39', Choudhury 87'): Ayoze Perez came back to haunt his old club. Goalkeeper Martin Dubravka kept the scoreline down while Newcastle played most of the second half with 10 men due to injuries. Bruce said: "You get injuries by forcing players to play tired. That's not an excuse, it's a fact." Getty -
Jan 18, 2020. Newcastle 1 (Hayden 90+4') Chelsea 0: Frank Lampard's side enjoyed 70 per cent possession and had 19 shots on goal - but it was Newcastle that stole the points courtesy of Isaac Hayden's injury-time winner. Bruce said: "We didn't seem to carry a threat. But one great ball or delivery - you may call it smash and grab, but it is good to see." AFP -
July 1, 2020. Bournemouth 1 (Gosling 90+4') Newcastle 4 (Gayle (5', S Longstaff 30', Almiron 57', Lazaro 77'): One of the best performances of the Bruce era, even if if did come against the relegation-bound Cherries. Allan Saint-Maximin was a constant menace for Newcastle. Bruce said: "Some of the football we played and the goals we scored were a delight to watch." AFP -
Sept 12, 2020. West Ham 0 Newcastle 2 (Wilson 56', Hendrick 87'): Summer signings Callum Wilson and Jeff Hendrick both scored as Newcastle made a winning start to the new campaign that seemed to suggest a promising season lay ahead. Bruce said: "We have made progress ... and cannot get carried away but it has been a positive week for everybody." AFP -
Sept 20, 2020. Newcastle 0 Brighton 3 (Maupay pen 4', 7', Connolly 83'): Back down to earth with a crash for Newcastle after the the previous week's win at West Ham. Brighton were two-up after seven minutes and outplayed the home side. Bruce said: "Since I've been here it's like this. We do OK for a while, then we throw a hand grenade in." AFP -
Dec 16, 2020. Leeds 5 (Bamford 35', Rodrigo 61', Dallas 77', Alioski 85', Harrison 88') Newcastle 2 (Hendrick 26', Clark 65'): A second-half collapse saw the Magpies fall to a heavy defeat - and begin a run that would not see them win a game until January 30. Bruce said "We've gifted them the two or three goals ... they're something which you see on a park on a Sunday." AFP -
Dec 22, 2020. Brentford 1 (Dasilva 66') Newcastle 0: A dreadful performance devoid of energy, drive and inspiration saw Newcastle exit the League cup at the quarter-final stage against second-tier opposition. Bruce said: "We've had a great opportunity to get into a first semi-final in many years. I'm bitterly disappointed and very, very frustrated." Getty -
Jan 12, 2021: Sheffield United 1 (Sharp pen 73') Newcastle 0: Taking on the bottom club who had yet to win in 17 league games, Bruce selected a five-man defence and only two attacking players in Ryan Fraser, who was sent off before half-time, and Callum Wilson. Bruce said: "The gloves are off now. I’m going to do things the way I see fit. We’ll do it my way." AFP -
Jan 30, 2021: Everton 0 Newcastle 2 (Wilson 73', 90'+3'): Newcastle's first win in 12 ended a five-match losing streak. A change in formation implemented by new coach Graeme Jones seemed to give the Magpies a desperately needed lift. Bruce said: "There's no disputing it - it's been very difficult. We're trying to be more on the front foot." Reuters -
Mar 20, 2021: Brighton 3 (Trossard 45'+3', Welbeck 51', Maupay 68') Newcastle 0: A woeful defeat against relegation rivals that many thought would result in Bruce being sacked. Newcastle had one shot on target all game and the scoreline flattered them. Bruce said: "I'll take full responsibility. We were nowhere near the levels we need to be." AFP -
May 7, 2021: Leicester 2 (Albrighton 80', Iheanacho 87') Newcastle 4 (Willock 22', Dummett 34', Wilson 64', 73'): Bruce had avoided the sack and oversaw an upturn in form that saw Newcastle win five of their last eight games that season. This was the best of them - and the best of his entire reign. Bruce said: "We have turned it around at the right time." AFP -
Oct 17, 2021: Newcastle 2 (Wilson 2', Dier 89' og) Tottenham 3 (Ndombele 17', Kane 22', Son 45'+3). The last stand, and despite taking the lead, a quick turnaround and another defeat for Bruce in his 1,000th match as a manager. Bruce said: "I will carry on as best I can until I hear otherwise." EPA
His former assistant Graeme Jones takes charge. Roberto Martinez’s long-term sidekick was widely believed to be responsible for Newcastle’s more attacking makeover in the second half of last season, after linking up with Bruce. His experiences on first Martinez and then Gareth Southgate’s backroom staffs mean Jones has helped take teams to the semi-finals of the World Cup and the final of Euro 2020.
Jones is seen as a more progressive coach than Bruce; another boyhood Newcastle supporter will not start out with the fanbase united against him. Yet the fact is that his only experience as a manager was a spell with Luton that ended with them 23rd in the Championship. He is not the long-term option, and probably not the medium-term one, either.
Jones scarcely looks a caretaker for the rest of the season, especially as the immediate priority must be to shore up a porous defence. Newcastle have conceded the most goals in the division; perhaps it bodes badly that Luton had the Championship’s worst defensive record, conceding 71 times, over Jones’ reign.
Whether his presence could tempt Martinez to Tyneside remains to be seen. The probability is that Newcastle will require at least two managerial appointments: those they can lure to a relegation-threatened team who cannot strengthen for 10 weeks might not prove the calibre of coach to help them realise their lofty ambitions.
The unemployed quartet of Paulo Fonseca, Eddie Howe, Lucien Favre and Frank Lampard have obvious appeal but differing backgrounds and attributes. Each might be able to secure the kind of bounce associated with new managers and to get Newcastle a belated first win of the season. Each would be hampered by the current squad, the underlying problems and December’s fixture list. None of which are Bruce’s problems any more. The unhappy alliance is over.
