Word On The Tweet

This Bruce stat has left some Newcastle fans worried: ‘How the hell did he even get the job?’

|

Steve Bruce has entered St James’ Park, signed his Newcastle contract, and boarded a plane to China to link up with the first-team during our pre-season tour in Asia. The former Sheffield Wednesday boss’ arrival on Tyneside is still not being taken well by some corners of the Toon fanbase though, and a stat highlighting his record in the top-flight is giving them even more cause for concern.

Over the course of his managerial career in the Premier League, Bruce has taken charge of 393 top-flight encounters, but has won just 27.98% of the fixtures overseen. That is the second-worst strike-rate of any manager in the history of the Premier League.

The only head coach to have taken fewer top-flight points while also managing more than 250 games was Bryan Robson, who won 26.29% of his 251 fixtures in the dugout.

Making up the top-five are Gordon Strachan, with a 29.88% win-rate, Tony Pulis, with a 30.43%, and current Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez, who won 30.56% of his games while in charge of Wigan Athletic and Everton.

Newcastle will also be the eleventh side Bruce has taken charge of since stepping off the field as a player and sitting in the manager’s seat, completing a hat-trick of rivalry doubles, having managed Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United, Aston Villa and Birmingham.

Bruce has not taken charge of a top-flight game since being relegated with Hull City in 2015, despite leading the Tigers to Championship Play-Off success the following season.

Here’s what these Newcastle supporters had to say on Bruce holding the second-worst win-rate of any manager to have taken charge of more than 250 Premier League games…

Share this article

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *