Alex Bruce

Blackburn Rovers

Bruce was born in Norwich, Norfolk, but moved to the Greater Manchester area at the age of three when his father, centre-back Steve Bruce, was transferred from Norwich City to Manchester United. He joined the Manchester United Academy, but was released at age 16 and moved to Blackburn Rovers as a trainee. He signed his first professional contract there in 2002, and was part of their under-19 team that won the FA Premier Academy League in 2002–03. He made his first-team debut on 26 December 2004 against Hartlepool United, while on three months' loan to League One club Oldham Athletic, and was part of the Oldham team that beat Manchester City in the FA Cup on 8 January 2005.

Birmingham City

He signed on a free transfer for Birmingham City, where his father was manager, on 27 January 2005. After finishing another loan spell at Oldham and returning to his parent club, he joined Sheffield Wednesday again on loan until the season's end, and contributed to their promotion via the play-offs. Bruce's performances against Tranmere Rovers impressed that club's manager, Brian Little, who signed him on loan for the first half of the 2005–06 season, but the loan was terminated early by mutual consent. Bruce made a few Premier League appearances for Birmingham following his return, including coming on as a substitute against Liverpool when Birmingham were getting heavily beaten. The team were relegated to the Championship, and it was felt that accusations…

Qualifying through his paternal grandmother from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland, Bruce was eligible for international football for both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in addition to England, where he was born and brought up. He was called up by the Northern Ireland under-21s, but opted to play for the Republic instead, and made his debut for their under-21 team against Sweden in February 2006. He also represented Republic of Ireland B against Scotland B in November 2006. On 23 May 2007 he made his full international debut in a friendly match for the Republic of Ireland against Ecuador played at Giants Stadium, New Jersey. He captained the Republic of Ireland B team which played Nottingham Forest in a challenge match at Dalymount Park on 9 October 2008. In July 2011, Bruce switched his international allegiance to Northern Ireland. This was possible under FIFA eligibility rules because Bruce's appearances for the Republic had been in friendly matches. He was first called into the Northern Ireland squad in October 2012, for the World Cup qualifier against Portugal, but injury forced his withdrawal. He made his Northern Ireland debut against Malta in a friendly on 6 February 2013, becoming the only player to make senior appearances for both FA of Ireland and Irish FA sides since a FIFA intervention to prevent switches between the two associations in 1950.

When his father was appointed manager of EFL Championship club West Bromwich Albion in February 2022, Bruce came in as a member of his coaching staff. Steve Bruce was sacked eight months later, and his staff left with him. On 30 October 2023, Bruce returned to former club Macclesfield as manager. On 21 February 2024, the club confirmed that Bruce had left his role as manager in order to take up a role with a club in the Football League. Later that day, he was announced as first-team coach of League Two club Salford City. On 29 June 2026, Bruce was appointed head coach of League Two club Rotherham United.

When Bruce joined Leeds United, he was reunited with his childhood friend, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel; their fathers, Steve Bruce and Peter Schmeichel, had played together at Manchester United between 1991 and 1996. In December 2010, Bruce was involved in a car crash during a snow storm, but managed to escape from the crash unharmed. Bruce married his partner Lucy in 2015.