Newcastle United great Alan Shearer admits it was difficult seeing former manager Steve Bruce go through the abuse he experienced.
The former Magpies forward has admitted before that he advised Bruce against taking the job.
"I'm a good pal of Steve's and his family and it hurt me to watch what he had to go through," Shearer told The Overlap.
"Football is brutal – as you know – as Steve's big enough and honest enough to tell you that when you're not getting results you have to take the flak.
"When that happens you're going to get hammered whether you like it or not. When you go into that position as manager you have to accept that you're going to have to take that on the chin."
However, Shearer felt that Bruce should have been given more respect for the job which he did at the club.
"In terms of the last two years, from what he had, in terms of where they got to in league position, I think he punched above their weight so in the end I felt for him but it was the reason why I said to him I didn't want him to take it because I was aware of (how it would go)," he added.
"It was almost an impossible job for Steve after coming in and trying to follow Rafa (Benitez) because I was aware of what Rafa meant to the people here and how he communicated with the people here. He was very cleaver, Rafa, in terms of what he did. He did a good job but he was also very clever in terms of talking about the owner."
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