Alex Bruce
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| Alex Bruce | ||
| [[Image:]] | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alexander Stephen Bruce | |
| Date of birth | September 28, 1984 | |
| Place of birth | Norwich, England | |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | |
| Playing position | Defender/Midfielder | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | Ipswich Town | |
| Number | 5 | |
| Youth clubs | ||
| –2001 2001–2002 |
Manchester United Blackburn Rovers |
|
| Senior clubs1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 2002–2005 2004–2005 2005–2006 2005 2005 2005 2006– |
Blackburn Rovers → Oldham Athletic (loan) Birmingham City → Oldham Athletic (loan) → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) → Tranmere Rovers (loan) Ipswich Town |
0 (0) 6 (0) 6 (0) 6 (0) 6 (0) 11 (0) 58 (0) |
| National team2 | ||
| 2006 2006 2007– |
Republic of Ireland U21 Republic of Ireland B Republic of Ireland |
5 (0) 1 (0) 1 (0) |
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
||
Alexander Stephen "Alex" Bruce (born September 28, 1984) is an English-born Irish international footballer who currently plays for Ipswich Town. A central defender who occasionally plays in midfield, he is the son of Wigan Athletic manager and former Manchester United defender Steve Bruce.
Contents |
[edit] Club career
Bruce was born in Norwich. He joined Manchester United's Academy, but was released at age 16[1] and moved to Blackburn Rovers as a trainee. He signed his first professional contract there in 2002, and was part of their under-19 team which won the FA Premier Academy League in 2002–03.[2] He made his first team debut on December 26, 2004 against Hartlepool United, while on three months' loan to League One Oldham Athletic, and was part of the team that beat Manchester City in the FA Cup on January 8, 2005. He signed on a free transfer for Birmingham City, where his father was manager, on January 27, 2005,[3] shortly after Robbie Savage's controversial move[4] in the opposite direction.
After finishing his loan spell at Oldham and going back to his parent club he joined Sheffield Wednesday again on a loan until the season's end, and was instrumental in their rise to the play-off places. Having impressed Tranmere Rovers boss Brian Little during Rovers' trip to Oldham, Little swooped for a loan deal which encompassed the first half of the 2005–06 season, but the loan was terminated early by mutual consent.[5][6]
Bruce made a few appearances for Birmingham following his return, but could not stop the club being relegated to the Championship. It was felt that accusations of nepotism were hindering his progress, so it was decided that in the best interests of club, manager and player Bruce should pursue his career away from his father's management.[7][8] In the summer of 2006 Alex moved to Ipswich Town on a free transfer, signing a three-year contract.[9]
After a very successful start to his Ipswich footballing career he managed to collect over 10 bookings this meant a suspension of 2 games for the player. Bruce became very popular to the Town fans thank to his whole hearted display and never giving up attitude. He has been very versatile and has also been used as a defender successfully. It was due to these credentials that in the early throes of Summer 07 he was called up as a international player by the Republic of Ireland .
[edit] International career
Qualifying through his Irish grandmother, Bruce was eligible for international football for both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, as well as England, where he was born. He was called up by Northern Ireland U21s, but opted to play for the Republic of Ireland U21 instead,[10] and made his debut for the team against Sweden in February 2006.[11] He also represented Republic of Ireland B against Scotland B in November 2006.[12]
On May 23, 2007 he made his full international debut in a friendly match against Ecuador played at Giants Stadium, New Jersey.[13]
[edit] References
- ^ Colin Tattum. "Bruce signs son", Birmingham Mail, 2005-01-27. Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
- ^ "Academy boys top of class", Lancashire Evening Telegraph, 2003-05-14. Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
- ^ Bruce signs son from Blackburn. BBC (2005-01-27). Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
- ^ Savage seals switch to Blackburn. BBC (2005-01-19). Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
- ^ "Bruce Jnr set to return to Blues", Birmingham Mail, 2005-10-27. Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
- ^ Lorraine Rogers (Tranmere chairman). "Handle with care.. the fragile ego of the loan star", Liverpool Daily Post, 2005-11-10. Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
- ^ Ian Clarkson. "Bruce Jnr heads for fresh fields", Birmingham Post, 2006-08-03. Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
- ^ Defender Bruce heads to Ipswich. BBC (2006-08-03). Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
- ^ Alex Bruce. Ipswich Town F.C.. Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
- ^ Bruce wants to play for Ireland. RTÉ. Retrieved on 23 August 2006.
- ^ Under 21 - 2006/2007 Squad Profile. FAI. Retrieved on August 23, 2006.
- ^ McPhail and Stokes impress as Ireland fail to take their chances. Football Association of Ireland (2006-11-14). Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
- ^ Seven players win their first senior caps for Ireland against Ecuador. Football Association of Ireland (2007-05-23). Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
[edit] External links
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