Biography
Alex Bruce signed for City in July 2012 to provide defensive steel to his father’s promotion push. And he proved over four seasons to be a very reliable support defender, quelling the considerable threat of Luis Suarez and dominating the FA Cup Final along the way. But he remained the manager’s son in the eyes of some supporters, with all the negative connotations of that truth, and latterly in the eyes of the chairman’s son once Steve Bruce had left the City helm in July 2016. After a season out of the first team, some of which was spent on loan at Wigan, Bruce was released via the club’s Twitter feed in May 2017.
Born in Norwich during his father’s early career at the Canaries, Bruce served his apprenticeship at Manchester United before switching to Blackburn Rovers just before his 17th birthday. After a season and a half at Ewood Park Bruce switched to Birmingham City, playing under his father for the first time. A year later he signed for Ipswich Town where he spent four seasons and established himself as a regular first team choice. In 2010 he switched to Leeds United where Bruce spent two seasons prior to signing for the Tigers.
In August 2017 Bruce spent two weeks as a non-contract player at Bury, where he scored on his debut and made one further appearance. At the end of August 2017 he signed for Wigan Athletic, where he had played on loan the previous season, on a one season deal. By January 2019 he was heading north, signing for SPL success story Kilmarnock.
Bruce has a grandmother that hailed from Northern Ireland, which means he qualifies to play for both Ireland and Northern Ireland at international level. Bruce played for Ireland under-21s and Ireland B in 2006, being elevated to the senior team during 2007 when he played in a friendly against Ecuador. Having not played for Ireland in a competitive fixture, Bruce was able to switch to Northern Ireland in 2011, for whom he made two senior appearances during 2013.
Details
Nationality: Northern Ireland
Date/Place of Birth: 28 September 1984, Norwich
Hull City First Game: 11 August 2012, Rotherham United H (League Cup 1st Round), 27 years, 318 days old
Hull City Final Game: 14 May 2016, Derby County A (Championship Play-Off Semi-Final First Leg), 31 years, 229 days old
Clubs
Blackburn Rovers (2001-2005), Oldham Athletic (2004-2005, loan), Birmingham City (2005-2006), Oldham Athletic (2005, loan), Sheffield Wednesday (2005, loan), Tranmere Rovers (2005, loan), Ipswich Town (2006-2010), Leicester City (2010, loan), Leeds United (2010-2012), Huddersfield Town (2011, loan), Hull City (2012-2017), Wigan Athletic (2017, loan), Bury (2017), Wigan Athletic (2017-current)
Hull City Record
Career: 104 apps, 1 goals
Alex Bruce| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012/13 | 29 (3) | 0 | 3 (0) | 0 | 0 (2) | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| 2013/14 | 19 (1) | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 3 (0) | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| 2014/15 | 17 (5) | 0 | - | - | 1 (0) | 0 | 2 (0) | 0 | - | - |
| 2015/16 | 9 (2) | 1 | 3 (0) | 0 | 2 (0) | 0 | - | - | 0 (1) | 0 |
| 2016/17 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |