Macclesfield sign up an ex-Leeds, Ipswich, Hull player; and he comes out of retirement in order to play for the non league outfit.
The former top flight defender Alex Bruce has signed for the phoenix club, joining another ex-Tiger in James Berry at Moss Rose stadium.
Bruce, who is the son of Newcastle boss Steve, announced his retirement from football in November last year after departing Scottish outfit Kilmarnock in January and has now opted to make a return and join the Silkmen’s revival in non league.
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The club stated via their Twitter account: “Macclesfield FC are delighted to confirm that in addition to training with the Club and mentoring our First Team, Alex Bruce has also registered as a player at the http://Leasing.com Stadium – allowing him to play for The Silkmen if required.”
The 36-year-old had been training with the club recently, and was working as a mentor for Danny Whittaker’s first team, but now wants to get back to playing the beautiful game, registering himself to become eligible for games in the North West Counties League.
During a fine career which saw him play more than 350 times, playing for the likes of Birmingham, Ipswich and Leeds, though it was at Hull City where he perhaps enjoyed his greatest success. But he left with the club under a dark cloud.
Born and raised in England, Bruce has played twice for the Northern Ireland national team, for which he declared himself available in 2011 and made his debut in 2013. He had previously made two appearances for the Republic of Ireland in 2007–08, but was allowed to switch under FIFA eligibility rules as these had been in friendly matches.
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He said in 2020: “Unfortunately the day that every footballer dreads has come. The boots are being hung up and I am retiring from playing as of today.
“On the whole it has been an unbelievable 20 years since I left school at the age of 16 and I have had the privilege of playing for some great clubs. My time at Ipswich and Hull in particular hold very fond memories for me.
“I am going to miss playing as it is without doubt the greatest job in the world.
“I’d like to thank my family, team mate and coaches for all their support over the years and I now look forward to starting a new chapter.”
Youth career
1998–2001 – Manchester United
2001–2004 – Blackburn Rovers
Senior career
2004–2005 – Blackburn Rovers
2004–2005 → Oldham Athletic (loan) – 6 games (0 goals)
2005–2006 – Birmingham City – 6 games (0 goals)
2005 → Oldham Athletic (loan) – 6 games (0 goals)
2005 → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) – 6 games (0 goals)
2005 → Tranmere Rovers (loan) – 11 games (0 goals)
2006–2010 – Ipswich Town – 115 games (2 goals)
2010 → Leicester City (loan) – 3 games (0 goals)
2010–2012 – Leeds United – 29 games (1 goal)
2011 → Huddersfield Town (loan) – 3 games (0 goals)
2012–2017 – Hull City – 85 games (1 goal)
2017 → Wigan Athletic (loan) – 2 games (0 goals)
2017 – Bury – 2 games (1 goal)
2017–2019 – Wigan Athletic – 6 games (1 goal)
2019–2020 – Kilmarnock – 20 games (1 goal)
Total – 300 games (7 goals)
National team
2006 – Republic of Ireland U21 – 5 games (0 goals)
2006 – Republic of Ireland B – 1 game (0 goals)
2007–2008 – Republic of Ireland – 2 games (0 goals)
2013–2014 – Northern Ireland – 2 games (0 goals)
Honours
Sheffield Wednesday
– Football League One play-offs: 2005
Hull City
– Championship runner-up: 2012–13
– FA Cup runner-up: 2013–14
– Championship play-offs: 2016
Fans reacted as Macclesfield sign up the ex-Leeds, Ipswich, Hull player; who comes out of retirement…
@ScottDJBarton: Welcome to the club @AlexBruce84
@ventris14: Hope you enjoy your time with us @AlexBruce84 🔵⚪️
@MyClubMyTown: Welcome @AlexBruce84 Hope you enjoy your time with the Silks ⚽️⚽️⚽️
@LeeNewt34960756: Welcome to macc @AlexBruce84
@SwindenBrian: Fair play to him that is brilliant 👏👏
@NATHANM11081484: Unbelievable signing for non-league! C’mon you Silkmen!!!!!
@Dan_B94: You’re in the North West Counties lads
@BurscoughYouth: Tbf Danny they shouldn’t be in our league, that club is something else and have everything that league clubs have and more.What they’ve done at that club is something else.The facilities are unreal, the whole aura around them is something special.
@Dan_B94: Oh god yeah I know. Just hope they don’t go up. 👀
@silkmenarmy: We’ve signed ALEX BRUCE 🤯🔵⚪️
@ForeverAYellow: Now that is a superb signing for that level of football, really would love to see Macclesfield make their way back up the leagues
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Cesar Rodriguez: Super signing this, well done Rob Sav and team, up the Silkmen.
Matthew Anthony: Sheff Wed 04/05 promotion winner. Class CB.
John Summerton: Excellent. He can do what Kenny Cunningham did for his Dad’s Birmingham City team 20 years back. The wise old head. Welcome Alex.
Andy Worth: Nice ⭐👌😊.
Nathan Whiting: Get on the phone to Steve
Sophie Mercer: Wow 🙌
Gareth Gibbons: Tidy
Daniel Fallon: Great signing 👍🏻
Paul Furse: Seems like a good signing. Retired from playing last year after a season and a half at Kilmarnock. Wonder if he has come primarily in a playing or coaching capacity. Time will tell. Wouldn’t expect him to feature soon though after no preseason and over a year of not playing.
Brian Walker: Outstanding!!!
Rob Vernon: Don’t understand the animosity about how much players may or may not be paid at Macc. Its a club grown out of non league – Cheshire League through the 60s, Northern Prem through the 70s and 80s – that didn’t get promoted to the football league til 1997 and for 25 years has punched well above its weight in League 2 and the Conference with year after year the smallest budget in the league, laughed at for its small ground and regularly the lowest attendances in the league, until it finally went bust. Now theres a chairman with a few mil who was born and raised in the town and still lives here, investing to get the club back up a few leagues. Hardly Man City or PSG being bankrolled by dodgy Arabian Royal family is it…
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