Man Utd legend Steve Bruce reveals he was sacked over a substitution that saw entire stadium turn against him

STEVE BRUCE subbed off new Premier League star Brandon Thomas-Asante and then lost his job, the Manchester United legend has revealed. Coventry attacker Thomas-Asante, 27, joined Bruce at West Brom on summer deadline day in 2022, taking the step up from League Two and Salford City. Steve Bruce was sacked after subbing off new Prem star Brandon Thomas-Asante at West Brom Credit: Getty The Coventry winger is now mixing it with the big boys but cost Bruce his job in 2022 Credit: Shutterstock Editorial And he made an immediate impact, scoring late on in his debut to earn a point with Burnley under Bruce. But the winger would also go on to cost Bruce after being subbed in a bore draw at home to Luton. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Bruce explained to talkSPORT: “I remember saying to him at West Brom, and it was a big, big occasion for him with all his family, and you could feel that hunger and desire. “I think after half an hour at West Brom, he became a cult hero all of a sudden. “In fact, the reason why I got the sack really at West Brom was I took him off. “I took them off, and the crowd shouted: ‘You don’t know what you’re doing.’ “I brought on Karlan Grant, who was £15million’s worth.” Ex-United defender Bruce, who has managed over 950 pro matches –most recently at Blackpool last season – was also Newcastle and Sunderland boss. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK He spent time at Aston Villa, Hull, Sheffield Wednesday, Wigan, and Birmingham among others. Veteran Bruce, now 65, only won eight of his 32 matches in charge of West Brom across less than 12 months. He started his second season with just one victory in 12 league games before getting the boot. But Bruce still reflects well on giving Thomas-Asante his chance after spotting him down the EFL. “When I was out of work I watched a bit of Salford with my son [Alex] being there, and I always thought: ‘He’s got something.’ “You’d give him the ball, and something can happen.” And he’s mixing it with the big boys under Frank Lampard in the Prem. Bruce added: “But yeah, I mean I’m delighted. “Look, that’s the nice part of management when you’ve given somebody a chance, and I believe there’s still some younger players in and around the EFL who need a break. “He’s certainly one who proves the point. He went on, and now he’s playing in the Premier League. “I’m delighted for him. He’s a good kid with a big heart, and I hope he does well.” Comment now