Bruce takes over as Sunderland manager

Sunderland have appointed Steve Bruce as their new manager after he agreed to leave Premier League rivals Wigan Athletic, the club said yesterday.

"Steve will bring a professionalism and strength of character to this club that will really help to bring us forward to where we all want to be," Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn said on the club's website (www.safc.com).

"He knows more than anyone what football means to people of this region and I'm confident he will be able to instil into our players exactly what it means to play for this football club."

The 48-year-old Bruce has signed a three-year deal and takes over from former coach Ricky Sbragia who stood down at the end of the season after replacing Roy Keane during the campaign.

Bruce, who spent the bulk of his playing career at Manchester United, has managed Sheffield United, Huddersfield Town, Wigan twice, Crystal Palace and Birmingham City since retiring as a player in 1999.

Since joining Wigan for his second spell in 2007, Bruce has unearthed a string of talented players including Wilson Palacios, now at Tottenham Hotspur, Antonio Valencia and on-loan Egyptian striker Amr Zaki.

He guided the Lancashire club to 11th place this season, while Sunderland finished two places above the relegation zone in 16th.

His appointment is the first significant change for Sunderland since American businessman Ellis Short assumed complete control of the north-east club last month.