Bruno (footballer, born 1980)

Spanish footballer and coach From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bruno (footballer, born 1980)

Bruno Saltor Grau (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈbɾuno salˈtoɾ ɣɾaw];[A] born 1 October 1980), known simply as Bruno, is a Spanish football coach and former player who played as a right-back. He is currently assistant head coach of Premier League club West Ham United.

Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...
Bruno
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Bruno with Brighton & Hove Albion in 2018
Personal information
Full name Bruno Saltor Grau[1]
Date of birth (1980-10-01) 1 October 1980 (age 44)
Place of birth El Masnou, Spain
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Right-back
Team information
Current team
West Ham United (assistant head coach)
Youth career
Olimpic Mora d'Ebre
Lleida
1997–1999 Espanyol
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2003 Espanyol B 72 (6)
2001–2003 Espanyol 1 (0)
2001–2002Gimnàstic (loan) 14 (0)
2003–2006 Lleida 110 (1)
2006–2009 Almería 104 (0)
2009–2012 Valencia 59 (0)
2012–2019 Brighton & Hove Albion 225 (6)
Total 585 (13)
Managerial career
2022–2023 Chelsea (assistant)
2023 Chelsea (caretaker)
2025– West Ham United (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
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He began his professional career with Espanyol, and went on to appear in 128 La Liga matches, all but one of which were with Almería and Valencia. In 2012 he signed with Brighton & Hove Albion, going on to spend seven years with the English club and also acting as its captain.

He served as caretaker head coach of Chelsea for one match against Liverpool on 4 April 2023. He was replaced by Frank Lampard as interim manager for the rest of the season.

Playing career

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Perspective

Spain

Born in El Masnou, Barcelona, Catalonia, Bruno was a product of Espanyol's youth system. He appeared only once for the first team, playing eight minutes in a 3–1 home win over Rayo Vallecano on 29 September 2001;[2] he was used almost exclusively by the B-side during his tenure, spending three of his four years in Segunda División B.

After a further two stints in his native region, with Gimnàstic (loan) and Lleida, Bruno joined Almería in the summer of 2006, being instrumental in the Andalusia side's first ever promotion to La Liga as a late bloomer. In 2007–08, he missed only four league games as his team overachieved for a final eighth place, and produced similar numbers in the following season.[3]

In mid-June 2009, Bruno signed a three-year deal with Valencia and reunited with former Almería manager Unai Emery.[4] He had previously arranged a transfer to Real Betis, but the move collapsed as the club was eventually relegated.[5][6]

Brighton & Hove Albion

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Bruno playing for Brighton & Hove Albion in 2015

On 25 June 2012, after a further 33 league appearances for Valencia in two seasons combined,[7] free agent Bruno signed a two-year contract for EFL Championship club Brighton & Hove Albion.[8] He scored his first goal for his new team on 24 November, in a 1–1 draw at home to Bolton Wanderers.[9]

At the age of 35/36, Bruno was still the automatic first choice in his position, helping the club gain promotion to the Premier League at the end of the 2016–17 campaign after 34 years.[10] Previously, in March 2017, the captain agreed to a one-year contract extension,[11] and on 20 April he was included in the Championship Team of the Year for the second year running.[12]

Bruno made his debut in the English top flight on 12 August 2017, playing the whole of a 2–0 home loss to Manchester City.[13] On 3 April 2018, he signed a new one-year deal.[14] Two weeks later, he made his first league start since January, at home to Tottenham Hotspur in a 1–1 draw that gave his team "a big point" in their fight against relegation,[15] and remained in the side for the 1–0 home win against Manchester United that ensured their safety,[16] to which the player contributed with 25 appearances (26 overall).[17]

A hamstring injury during the opening match of 2018–19 lost Bruno his place to fellow Spaniard Martín Montoya.[18] Despite his return to the side in early October coinciding with three consecutive winning clean sheets, it proved short-lived. He played in the early rounds of the 2018–19 FA Cup, but not in the quarter-final or semi-final, and started five of the last six league matches as Brighton narrowly avoided relegation.[19][20]

On 10 May 2019, Bruno announced his retirement at the end of the season. He started the 4–1 defeat at home to Manchester City that confirmed their second consecutive Premier League title, and ended his post-match speech of appreciation and farewell with the words "Once a Seagull, always a Seagull".[21]

Coaching career

In June 2019, Bruno was appointed as a senior player development coach at his former club Brighton & Hove Albion.[22]

On 8 September 2022, Bruno followed Graham Potter on a move to Chelsea.[23] On 2 April 2023, following Potter's departure from the club, Bruno was named as caretaker head coach.[24] Bruno managed the team for one match, a 0–0 draw against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. Former Chelsea head coach and player Frank Lampard took his place as interim head coach for the rest of the season.[25] He left the club on 25 September 2023.[26]

On 9 January 2025, following Potter's appointment as head coach, Bruno joined Premier League club West Ham United as assistant head coach.[27]

Career statistics

More information Club, Season ...
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Espanyol B 2000–01[28] Segunda División B3226[a]0382
2001–02[29] Segunda División B9191
2002–03[30] Segunda División B313313
Total 72660786
Espanyol 2001–02[29] La Liga101020
Gimnàstic (loan) 2001–02[29] Segunda División14000140
Lleida 2003–04[31] Segunda División B3415[a]0391
2004–05[32] Segunda División37010380
2005–06[33] Segunda División39040430
Total 110150501201
Almería 2006–07[34] Segunda División36000360
2007–08[35] La Liga34020360
2008–09[36] La Liga34030370
Total 1040501090
Valencia 2009–10[37] La Liga260308[b]1371
2010–11[38] La Liga190204[c]0250
2011–12[39] La Liga140103[b]0180
Total 59060151801
Brighton & Hove Albion 2012–13[40] Championship301001000311
2013–14[41] Championship331000000331
2014–15[42] Championship3531010373
2015–16[43] Championship46100002[a]0481
2016–17[44] Championship4200000420
2017–18[45] Premier League2501000260
2018–19[46] Premier League1404000180
Total 22566020202356
Career total 585132302028163814
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  1. Appearances in promotion play-offs
  2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. Appearances in UEFA Champions League

Honours

Lleida

Brighton & Hove Albion

Individual

Notes

  1. In isolation, Grau is pronounced [ɡɾaw].

References

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