League One side Blackpool has appointed Steve Bruce as their new head coach on a two-year contract. The 63-year-old was out of work after being dismissed from West Bromwich Albion in October 2022 following a nine-month stint.
Bruce, who has managed over 1,000 competitive games for clubs including Birmingham City, Hull City, Aston Villa, and Newcastle United, took over after Neil Critchley was dismissed on August 21 following a series of defeats.
Last season, Blackpool lost their playoff position, finishing eighth, and have only managed to collect two points from their first four games this season.
Bruce will be joined at Bloomfield Road by his long-time assistant, Steve Agnew, along with coaches Richard Kio, Stephen Dobbie, and Steve Banks. Bruce expressed his excitement about returning to football and taking on the responsibility of managing the club. He thanked Simon, Julian, and David for the opportunity and looked forward to meeting all the staff and players.
This role is Bruce’s 13th managerial job since retiring as a player in 1999, and his 12th club, following two spells at Wigan. His appointment was announced shortly after Blackpool’s 4-1 defeat to Crewe in the EFL Trophy.
Owner Simon Sadler expressed confidence that Bruce’s experience and leadership would be a great asset to Blackpool. He highlighted Bruce’s organized approach and his desire to build a hard-working and entertaining team. Sadler also noted the importance of Bruce’s ability to develop and grow the coaching staff.