Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce credits Dave Whelan for lighting his managerial fires

Wigan's visit to Villa Park on Saturday offers Bruce both the chance to get back to winning ways and also renew acquaintances with the Latics owner – a man he credits with helping ignite his passion for football management.

It was back in 2001 that Bruce, then less than two years retired from playing, took charge of Wigan for the final few games of the Second Division campaign, his own life at something of a crossroads.

Bruce now recalls how short stints in charge at Sheffield United and Huddersfield hadn't fully convinced him management was the right path, while a lucrative offer of TV work lay on the table. Two months working with Whelan soon changed all that.

"I'd taken six months off after managing Sheffield United and Huddersfield," says Bruce. "Then came a wonderful offer from Sky, which I very nearly took.

"It was only going to Wigan the first time, when I initially took over for just six games, that made me think again.

"We got into the play-offs, lost the semi-final to Reading, but it sort of reignited me a bit."

Bruce continued: "It's fair to say the first two clubs I had managed weren't easy. There were takeovers and boardroom squabbles. I'd taken a long look at it – football management.

"It was at Wigan, with Dave Whelan and (youth development officer) John Benson, God rest his soul, who really helped me enjoy it again."

It was Whelan, Bruce claims, who taught him the importance of having a good chairman or owner to work with.

"I found management very difficult," he explained. "I had four jobs in two years because I was getting used to what management was. I found managing the people who employed me very difficult to start with.

"Dave was as straight as a die. He was straight-forward and there to help you. You could just tell what he wanted to do. You could see his ambitions. He built an unbelievable stadium and gave the manager the tools to do the job."

He continued: "Management is eye-opening. That what makes you learn.

"There were times when I questioned myself, saying do I really want to be involved in this.

"It was him and John Benson, in particular, who whet my appetite that I could be successful at it, or try to be anyway."

Passion rekindled, Bruce's career would see him return to Wigan six years later, where he led the Latics to an 11th-placed finish in the Premier League.

His focus now is building on a promising start at Villa during a hectic December. With trips to Norwich and QPR to follow, victory on Saturday is therefore viewed as key to regaining momentum following last weekend's defeat at Leeds, the first of Bruce's reign.

"I really enjoyed my time at Wigan but I want to win for my employer now and for this club," he said.

"All of the sentiment goes out the window. After the game, I hope Dave, his grandson and his family really do well.

"I always look out for them because they are good people."