Former Birmingham City, West Brom, Ipswich Town, Leeds United & Sheffield Wednesday figure handed first job in management

A son of a former Birmingham City manager, who later went on to play for the club has got his first role in football management.

Alex Bruce, son of former Blues, Aston Villa and West Brom boss Steve Bruce, is taking to football management like his father did. The 39-year-old retired in 2022 and has taken the reigns of the last club he played for, Macclesfield.

Bruce will be reporting to forcer Birmingham City and Wales midfielder Robbie Savage who is the director of football at Moss Rose. Macclesfield play in the Northern Premier League Division One West, which is the eighth tier of English football.

"Looking at Alex, Paul, and Phil and with my upbringing, the key values of coming through the system at Manchester United is a fundamental part of why we made these appointments," director of football Robbie Savage told the club website.

"The ethos and the morals and the principles which we want to integrate into the football club are vital going forward. Alex with his coaching experience at West Brom dealing with first-team players and his ability to handle a squad."

Bruce had a 14-year playing career and mainly featured for Ipswich Town over a four-year spell. He also played for Hull City 104 times over a five-and-a-half-year spell. His other clubs included 12 Premier League appearances for Blues, as well as Leicester City, Huddersfield Town and Wigan Athletic.

He was part of the coaching staff when his dad Steve was appointed manager back in February 2022. Bruce Senior lasted eight months and left when his dad was relieved of his duties.

Alex Bruce’s support staff at Macclesfield will include former Aston Villa, Manchester United and Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley. The 38-year-old retired earlier this summer after a brief spell at Stockport County, and will work as assistant manager to Bruce. He has a UEFA B Licence qualification with the Northern Irish FA, and this is his first role in coaching.