Man Utd legend breaks silence over ‘unfair’ sacking at EFL club but refuses to accept his career is over
MANCHESTER UNITED legend Mark Hughes has finally spoken out after Bradford City “unfairly” sacked him – and claims he is not finished yet.
The League Two club axed the former Manchester City boss and ex-Barcelona striker, 60, two months ago.
But the 72-cap Welshman believes, after “shocking a few people” by stepping down the divisions to take the Bantams job, he can pull off another surprise by returning to management.
Hughes won the Premier League twice and the FA Cup three times as a United frontman.
The former Southampton and Everton ace also lifted the FA Cup with Chelsea, as well as twice being named PFA player of the year.
After hanging up his boots in 2002, he bossed Wales, Blackburn, Man City, Fulham, QPR, Stoke and Southampton, before taking over Bradford in February 2022.
And he feels the Bantams acted too quickly to dismiss him, despite winning just three of their first 11 EFL matches this season.
Bradford sat in 18th place when he departed on October 4 after finishing sixth last term.
But Hughes told ex-England chief Sam Allardyce’s No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, said: “We did okay last year and got to the play-offs, the best season they’d had at League Two level in this current period.
“But you’re at risk as a manager early in the season if you don’t set the tone.
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“Everybody thinks that if you have a bad start, that’s how the whole season is going to pan out. That’s not the case, in fairness.
“When I got the sack, it was the first time since December I’d lost back-to-back league games.
“I thought it was a little bit unfair, if I’m honest. But the perception was that I needed to go.”
Hughes insisted criticism from fans “wasn’t fazing me” and added: “I was quite happy to wait until it turned round.
“I don’t feel I’m done. I possibly did before the Bradford role because I’d been out for three years. It looked like I wouldn’t get another opportunity, for whatever reason.
“I had the opportunity to go to Bradford and took it. I probably shocked a few people.
“But it was just a case of getting back in. I thought it was a good club with a good fanbase.”