In fact, in his prime as a player he became known for his calm and deliberate passing of the ball and his ability to control the ball under pressure. His first season as a manager was with Sheffield, though he resigned after only one season, citing turmoil and a shortage of funds. He has also managed for such teams as Huddersfield Town, Birmingham City, Wigan Athletic and Sunderland. On June 9, 2012, Bruce was appointed as manager Hull City.