Ranieri offers support to Bruce after Newcastle exit

Watford head coach, Claudio Ranieri, was keen to offer his support to Steve Bruce today after going through a similar experience to the former Newcastle boss.

Bruce left his role as Magpies manager on Wednesday, 13 days after Amanda Staveley’s Saudi-backed consortium completed their takeover of the club.

While the 60-year-old was able to manage his 1,000th game in last weekend’s 3-2 defeat to Tottenham at St James’ Park, it would prove his last in the post with the new owners finally bringing his tenure at his boyhood club to an end after huge speculation before and after the match with Spurs.

read also:Thiago Silva’s wife learning English during private lessons

Ranieri faced similar scrutiny over his job at Chelsea when Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought the Blues in 2003 and, despite lasting a whole season, he was sacked following a second-place finish and Champions League semi-final appearance.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s trip to Everton, the Italian said: “No I haven’t spoken to him, not yet but I want to congratulate him for the 1,000 matches.