Roy Keane called out Sir Alex Ferguson over my departure from Manchester United – but he made the right decision
Steve Bruce admits he regrets how he left Manchester United in 1996 and actually believes Sir Alex Ferguson did things right.
Bruce had been a fantastic servant for United for almost a decade, making over 400 appearances and winning several trophies, including the inaugural Premier League trophy following the break with the First Division.
However, he left the club just days after being eliminated from the 1996 FA Cup final, a team that won Liverpool 1-0.
His departure has always been controversial and Roy Keanewho later captained the club, admitted he did not like the way Ferguson treated Bruce and Bryan Robson.
speaking to of the ballKeane said: “I was at the club when Bryan Robson left, I was at the club when Steve Bruce left, two brilliant servants of Man United and I didn't like the way they were treated at the end.
“People talk about the human management of Ferguson, don't be fooled by all that.
“Ferguson recovered later and said he always did his best for manchester united Foolishness!”
Bruce, who was signed by Ferguson from Norwich in 1987, harbors no hard feelings towards his former boss and has opened up about his regrets.
He told talkSPORT during an appearance at White and Jordan: “The only thing I regret in all my time was leaving Man United, I left a bit angry because I didn't get picked for the cup final.
“It was Sir Alex's way of helping me out the door. Now that I think back on it, I hated it at the time, but I completely understand it.
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“I was 36 years old, I wasn't injured and I didn't return to the team for the cup when I thought I should. I left in two or three days, but now I can completely understand it from afar.
“I no longer wanted to sit on the bench or be a player on the team. I made it quite clear to the director himself. I left after two or three days and left a little cloudy.
“My contract was up, but that pushed me to the limit of not playing in the 1996 cup final. Man United won 1-0 and Eric Cantona scored in the last minute, nobody cares if I played in it. Manchester United won.
“The manager made the right decision and had done the same with Bryan Robson a few years earlier. It was his way of quietly telling you that your time was up.
He added: “The way the game evolved, maybe I should have become a team player. He was 36 years old and still the captain.
“It was difficult for me to understand it. I thought I'd been playing week in and week out and here's a game I'm not involved in, that'll tell me something.
“I don't think I can take it personally not being involved. When the important games arrive, I wanted to participate.
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“He only left me out once in 10 years and that was when we played against Barcelona at home. By the way, I asked him about that too and he played me on the replay. I made a difference like We lost 4-0 in that.”
Bruce still fondly remembers his time at Man United and is still in touch with Ferguson.
He added: “I have been in this (football) for 40 years and 10 of them were at Manchester United. It grabs you, it's such an iconic football club.
“Being a part of this, playing over 400 games and winning a few trophies along the way was a highlight.
“With Sir Alex, I still have conversations with him. I haven't seen him in a while, he's been everywhere.
“I can always call him on the phone, especially when I was in management. He was instrumental in her taking a job to begin with and was always someone she could answer the phone with.”
After his nine-year career came to an end, Bruce joined Birmingham, arriving as a defender who had won three FA Cups, three Premier League titles, the League Cup, the Cup Winners' Cup and the Super Cup.
He joined Sheffield United in 1998 and then managed the Blades before returning to Birmingham in 2001 as manager, where he remained until 2007.
His most recent job was at West Brom and he also took the reins at Sunderland, Wigan, Hull, Aston Villa. and Newcastle.
