Since Sir Alex Ferguson left Manchester United in 2013, the club has seen many managerial changes.
Managers like David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick, and most recently, Michael Carrick have all stepped in and out of the role.
The period after Ferguson has been marked by temporary solutions, interim hires, and high-profile risks.
Now, with Carrick at the helm, discussions have resurfaced about whether United should promote someone from within, similar to their approach after Mourinho was let go in December 2018.
During that time, a familiar name was being considered for the job.
In a recent episode of the Sacked podcast with Neil Ashton, former United captain Steve Bruce shared that he was in the running for the managerial position before Solskjaer took over as the interim manager.
Bruce stated:
“I believe when Ole went in, I was in the frame a little bit, but I think the timing had just left Aston Villa and didn’t work out for me.”
He added that while he was in the conversation, he wasn’t very close to getting the job.
Manchester United ultimately chose Solskjaer, who had a successful interim period with 14 wins in 19 games, leading to his permanent appointment.
Bruce has continued his managerial career elsewhere and remains a United legend from his playing days, having made 414 appearances and scoring 51 goals as a centre-back, along with winning three Premier Leagues, three FA Cups, and the European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Though he never had the chance to manage at Old Trafford, his insights provide an intriguing perspective on a key moment in the club’s history.