Source: SKY_Sports
Fergie - Bruce could be top boss
Manchester United chief Sir Alex Ferguson admits that Steve Bruce has what it takes to manage at the very top.
Bruce has long been linked as a potential successor to Ferguson at Old Trafford after a successful stint as captain in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Of the clutch of former Ferguson players who are now managing, Sunderland boss Bruce is emerging as the cream of the crop.
"If you go through Steve's career, he has had exactly what you need to manage at the very top," said Ferguson ahead of United's clash with Sunderland on Saturday.
"He has had experience of scrapping at Sheffield United, Huddersfield, Crystal Palace and Birmingham. And the job he did in his second spell at Wigan was fantastic, almost getting them into a European place.
"So he has learnt as he has gone along in difficult jobs. I don't think he had much money when he was at Birmingham, no big budget to buy players.
"Now he has had the chance to spend some money and is looking good." Bruce has never beaten his old boss in 12 managerial encounters and Sunderland have not won at Old Trafford for 40 years, but Ferguson is wary of the threat they pose.
"Steve has galvanised the club already, you can see something great happening there. Hopefully not against us."
Daunting taskBut despite Ferguson's comments, Bruce says he thinks the task of following his former boss would be a daunting one.
"Do you really want to follow him?" questioned Bruce.
"Imagine what that would be like. The United job doesn't dominate my thoughts. It never has.
"If I'm associated with it, it means I must have done well with the club I'm at but it doesn't enter the equation at all.
"Like a footballer you want to be at the top.
"When I was in the Championship I wanted to be a Premier League boss and I have been for the best part of eight years.
"With the ambitions of the owner and chairman at Sunderland, there's no reason we can't really establish ourselves in the Premier League.
"Everything's in place here. I've got to make sure we have a team to meet the demand. We have great training facilities, a stadium as good as there is and huge support.
"We took 5,500 to Bolton on my first day and I thought 'This is fantastic, this is what I'm here for'."
