3 months ago
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Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant has described Steve Bruce as the best manager he worked under during his playing career.
The now 42-year-old represented 15 clubs in a career full of highs and lows, and played under several well-known managers. There was obviously Rafael Benitez at Liverpool, Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, and the likes of Tony Pulis, Stale Solbakken, Mark Hughes, and Marcelino.
But none of those had an impact on Pennant’s career like Bruce, who he played under at Birmingham City. He made 60 appearances during his time at St. Andrew’s, and Pennant credits Bruce with enhancing his performance levels to the extent that it convinced Liverpool to sign him in 2006.
“Steve Bruce was my favourite ever manager to work with, without a shadow of a doubt,” he told Adventure Gamers.
“I speak so highly of him as a person and not only as a manager. He was supportive, he always believed in me, and even when we had bad games, he knew that I would give him 110 percent every time I played.
“Even when sometimes off the field, I wasn’t the best professional, he always knew that I would help the team. That’s what made me work hard and want to be a winner for him.
“Many people might have a different opinion, but personally, for me, he was the reason I got my move to Liverpool in 2006.”
Explaining why he chose Bruce over Wenger, a manager widely regarded as one of the best in Premier League history, Pennant added: “As a coach, Arsene Wenger was 100 percent one of the best tactically, but for personal growth, the person who got the best out of me was Bruce.
“I always felt like I could approach him and not be worried about the repercussions. He was like a father figure rather than a manager.
“When things got sticky, when things got bad, he would also come down on you hard – I appreciated that, he would put his arm around you, like some players need – that little bit of love and attention just to get their confidence up.
“Some people don’t need that, I needed it, he did it, and I got the most out of it.”
Pennant, who played 81 times for Liverpool between 2006 and 2009, also revealed he turned down the opportunity to join Real Madrid during the end of his time at Anfield.
“Madrid came in needing a right winger for their squad depth, so we had that conversation, and it was exciting, but then I asked myself if I wanted to go there and sit on the bench for three years or do I want to go somewhere to be a first-team starter and kick-start my career again?
“"It was exciting, but I wasn’t keen at the time. Would I go back and change my decision? I wish I could.”
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