Ipswich Town: Former defender becomes manager of Macclesfield FC

Bruce returns to the club he came out of retirement and registered as a player for in August 2021, but he left them to take a coaching role at West Brom after his dad, Steve, was appointed manager in February 2022.

He departed the Hawthorns eight months later when Steve Bruce was sacked by the Championship club and becomes a manager for the first time at Macclesfield. 

Alex Bruce, pictured alongside his dad Steve at West Brom. (Image: PA)

After the original Macclesfield Town were wound up by the High Court in September 2020, local businessman Robert Smethurst purchased the assets the following month.

The club, who have former Wales midfielder Robbie Savage as the director of football, have since won back-to-back promotions and sit just outside the play-offs in the seventh-tier. 

Bruce will be assisted by former Sunderland and Burnley full-back Phil Bardsley.

Alex Bruce joined Ipswich in August 2006. (Image: Newsquest)

He made over 100 appearances for Town between 2006 to 2010 and retired from professional football in 2020 after a spell at Scottish top flight side Kilmarnock. 

Former Town midfielder Jon Nolan is the among the players in the Silkmen squad, after joining the club this summer.