Steve Bruce has revealed that he is ready to get back into the world of football, over a year after departing West Bromwich Albion.
Fourteen months have passed since Bruce left his role as manager of the Baggies, making it the longest period that he has spent out of the game since beginning his career as a player in 1979.
Starting off as a player at Gillingham, and most notably spending nine years at Manchester United, Bruce has since gone on to manage a number of clubs in the Premier League.
After managing Birmingham City, Wigan Athletic, Sunderland and Hull City in the top flight, the former defender dropped down to the Championship to manage Birmingham's rivals Aston Villa, and then Sheffield Wednesday.
When Bruce's boyhood club Newcastle United came calling though, he left Hillsborough to take charge at St James' Park, before leaving shortly after the Saudi-backed takeover of the club.
After spending an extended period out of the game though, Bruce has told Sports Mole that, after some consideration, he is ready to return.
"I've done something like 46 years unbroken, of course I've been sacked before, but I've always, two or three months later, gone back to work. This time I've thought I'm going to really take some time away from it and analyse everything I've done over the last few years and get myself ready now, I've had a year off, get myself ready for the next challenge," he told Sports Mole.
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Bruce is eager to try something new though, and is not restricting himself to just taking on potential managerial roles, instead keeping all options open.
"That [next challenge] could be helping a younger manager. I always thought in management when I was young, somebody with grey hair alongside you is never a bad thing! So I'm open to that," he added.
"This 'sporting director' seems to be really, really flavour of the month, and very popular within a lot of clubs, and of course if the right opportunity in management comes along, then of course I'd be willing to have a conversation with anybody."
Following his year out of the game, the 62-year-old has confirmed his ambitions to keep going, and revealed his love for the game is what is luring him back in.
Bruce joked: "I've had a year off and I'm not really ready to retire yet! You know, even though I've hinted about it, and there will be a lot of people reading thinking 'you bloody should be!' but when it's been with you part of your life, it's very, very difficult to let it go.
"The top and bottom of it is, I enjoy working, and especially involved in football. As I said, I've been involved [for] 46 years, how bloody lucky am I to have achieved that! Quite incredible."
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Bruce's son and fellow ex-defender Alex Bruce has recently ventured into management himself, taking on the role at Macclesfield, and father Steve had some encouraging words for his son, also playing down the need for him to give him any tips when asked whether pairing up with Alex could be a potential future career move.
"Helping [Alex] a little bit? Listen, he's won four out of four! So he's not doing too badly!" Bruce said.
"Look, it's something he wanted to do, it's a wonderful opportunity for him. Steve Clemence, the lad who worked with me a lot over the last 10, 12, 15 years, has got the Gillingham job, so it will be interesting to see how he does, Steve Agnew has worked with me a long time, he's up at Aberdeen, so you know it's important for them to keep working.
"Alex especially, and Stephen Clemence, they are just starting in their management, and I wish them well of course, and If I can help Alex or Stephen I will do."
Macclesfield currently sit in the playoff places of the seventh tier, with promotion to the National League North appearing a strong possibility this season for Alex and his side.
Steve Bruce was talking to Sports Mole on behalf of Gambling Zone.
Andrew Delaney
