Steve Bruce is eyeing a return to management and has thrown his hat in the ring for the vacant Republic of Ireland job. 

The former Manchester United defender has been unemployed since his sacking from Championship side West Brom in 2022. 

But he has revealed that he is ‘itching’ to get back to work following his longest spell out of football in his near half-century involvement in the game. 

‘I’ve been busy building a house over the last couple of years, so I’ve got myself involved with that. But, look, it’s time that I go back to work again.

Steve Bruce won just eight games of his 32 in charge of West Brom before he was sacked

Stephen Kenny has left his role as Ireland manager after his contract was not renewed

‘I’m itching to go back in, not necessarily as a manager. I wouldn’t mind helping a young manager, helping a club in any way; I’d like to think that after 46 years, if someone asked me a question about football, I’d be able to answer it.’

Bruce endured a difficult spell in charge of Baggies and lasted just eight months before his dismissal in October last year. 

While in charge of the Championship side he won just eight of his 32 games across two seasons and eventually lost his job with the side languishing in 22nd place in the division. 

Still, the former Newcastle boss reckons that he would be a good fit for the Ireland job following the departure of Stephen Kenny after the side’s dismal EURO 2024 qualifying campaign. 

‘I’m led to believe I’m there or thereabout in the betting for the Ireland job.’ He added. ‘It’s a job that would interest me, that’s for sure.

‘You know, as I’ve said, I’ve had a bit of time out and I’m itching to get back into the game, and something like that would suit me.

‘Let’s see if the phone rings… it’s one of those; are they going to make an approach? At this moment in time, I really don’t know. But I’ve seen the betting sites and read the rumours, like everybody else.

‘At the moment I can’t really comment on it because there’s been no connection.’

Ireland finished above only Gibraltar in a dismal EURO 2024 qualifying campaign under Kenny