Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has admitted that he told Steve Bruce to stay away from the Magpies manager job.
With Rafa Benitez moving on to China, the Magpies were in search of a new boss.
Bruce is the one they selected, with the former Manchester United defender now formally appointed.
But Shearer thinks that Bruce is "mad" for taking such a high pressure job.
Writing in his column for The Sun, Shearer said: "My advice to him that night was simple: 'No, no, no, don't take it.'
"I said: 'Why are you going to be any different to Keegan or Benitez? If you take it, you must be mad because you know how it works there.'
"But Steve is his own man and I respect that.
"I can't tell him what to do, even though he is a good friend of mine."
