Bruno_(footballer,_born_1980)

Bruno (footballer, born 1980)

Bruno (footballer, born 1980)

Spanish footballer and coach

For other footballers named Bruno, see Bruno.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Saltor and the second or maternal family name is Grau.

Bruno Saltor Grau (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈbɾuno salˈtoɾ ɣɾaw];[upper-alpha 1] born 1 October 1980), known simply as Bruno, is a Spanish football coach and former player who played as a right-back.

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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

Spain

Born in El Masnou, Barcelona, Catalonia, Bruno was a product of RCD 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 de Tarragona (loan) and UE Lleida, Bruno joined UD 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 CF 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

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]

Career statistics

More information Club, Season ...
  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

  1. [1]
    "Acta del partido celebrado el 12 de mayo de 2012, en San Sebastián" [Minutes of the match held on 12 May 2012, in San Sebastián] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. 12 May 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2019.[permanent dead link]
  2. [2]
    "El Espanyol eleva su caché ante un Rayo hundido" [Espanyol prestige on the rise against sunken Rayo]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 29 September 2001. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  3. [3]
    Piñeiro, Raúl (8 September 2008). ""Sólo tengo palabras de agradecimiento hacia Unai"" [I can only thank Unai]. Diario de Almería (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  4. [4]
    "Mestalla calls for Moyá and Saltor". UEFA. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  5. [5]
    "Bruno será el primer fichaje de los béticos" [Bruno will be first bético signing]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 14 May 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  6. [6]
    "El Barcelona negocia el fichaje de Bruno" [Barcelona negotiate Bruno signing]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 1 June 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  7. [7]
    Fuster, P. (21 January 2012). "Es el lateral derecho que más partidos ha jugado" [He is the right-back that has played the most matches]. Super Deporte (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  8. [8]
    "Albion agree Bruno deal". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 25 June 2012. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  9. [9]
    "Brighton 1–1 Bolton". BBC Sport. 24 November 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  10. [10]
    "Brighton & Hove Albion 2–1 Wigan Athletic". BBC Sport. 17 April 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  11. [11]
    "Brighton & Hove Albion: Skipper Bruno signs contract extension". BBC Sport. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  12. [12]
    "Brighton have four in Championship Team of the Year, Sessegnon in". ESPN FC. 20 April 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  13. [13]
    "El City de Guardiola gana sin lucirse en su debut" [Unimpressive win in debut for Guardiola's City]. ABC (in Spanish). 12 August 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  14. [14]
    "Bruno: Brighton captain signs new one-year contract". BBC Sport. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  15. [15]
    Owen, Brian (17 April 2018). "Brighton and Hove Albion 1 Spurs 1: Bruno hails 'big point'". The Argus. Brighton. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  16. [16]
    Begley, Emlyn (4 May 2018). "Brighton & Hove Albion 1–0 Manchester United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  17. [17]
    Flavius, Kavan (12 May 2018). "Picking the best potential Brighton lineup to face Liverpool on Sunday". 90 Min. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  18. [18]
    Naylor, Andy (20 September 2018). "Bruno faces biggest challenge of Albion career to win place back". The Argus. Brighton. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  19. [19]
    "Bruno Saltor: Brighton & Hove Albion: Club matches". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  20. [20]
    Bailey, Steve (5 April 2019). "Defender says Brighton have to play their own game and frustrate Manchester City in FA Cup semi-final". Brighton & Hove Independent. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
    Challies, Josh (9 May 2019). "Brighton player sends message to Man City ahead of final day in title race with Liverpool FC". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  21. [21]
    Owen, Brian (13 May 2019). "Always a Seagull – how Bruno bowed out with a touch of class". The Argus. Brighton. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  22. [22]
    "Brighton favourite Bruno joins coaching staff". BBC Sport. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  23. [23]
    "Graham Potter leaves Albion for Chelsea". www.brightonandhovealbion.com. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  24. [24]
    "Club Statement". chelseafc.com. 2 April 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  25. [25]
    "Chelsea appoint Lampard as caretaker manager". ESPN.com. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  26. [26]
    "Bruno Saltor leaves Chelsea just four months into Mauricio Pochettino's reign". talkSPORT. 25 September 2023.
  27. [27]
    "Bruno Saltor: Bruno Saltor Grau: Matches: 2000–01". BDFutbol. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  28. [28]
    "Bruno Saltor: Bruno Saltor Grau: Matches: 2001–02". BDFutbol. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
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    "Bruno Saltor: Bruno Saltor Grau: Matches: 2003–04". BDFutbol. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
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    "Bruno Saltor: Bruno Saltor Grau: Matches: 2004–05". BDFutbol. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  32. [32]
    "Bruno Saltor: Bruno Saltor Grau: Matches: 2005–06". BDFutbol. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  33. [33]
    "Bruno Saltor: Bruno Saltor Grau: Matches: 2006–07". BDFutbol. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  34. [34]
    "Bruno Saltor: Bruno Saltor Grau: Matches: 2007–08". BDFutbol. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
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    "Bruno Saltor: Bruno Saltor Grau: Matches: 2008–09". BDFutbol. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
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    "Bruno Saltor: Bruno Saltor Grau: Matches: 2009–10". BDFutbol. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
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    "Bruno Saltor: Bruno Saltor Grau: Matches: 2010–11". BDFutbol. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  38. [38]
    "Bruno Saltor: Bruno Saltor Grau: Matches: 2011–12". BDFutbol. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  39. [39]
    "Games played by Bruno in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  40. [40]
    "Games played by Bruno in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  41. [41]
    "Games played by Bruno in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  42. [42]
    "Games played by Bruno in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  43. [43]
    "Games played by Bruno in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  44. [44]
    "Games played by Bruno in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  45. [45]
    "Games played by Bruno in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  46. [46]
    Muntané, Eduard (21 June 2004). "El Lleida asciende a Segunda" [Lleida promote to Segunda]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  47. [47]
    Anderson, John, ed. (2017). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2017–2018. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 82–83. ISBN 978-1-4722-3397-4.
  48. [48]
    "The Football League Awards 2016: Winners". EFL.com. 17 April 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  49. [49]
    "PFA awards: Leicester and Spurs dominate Premier League team". BBC Sport. 21 April 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  50. [50]
    "PFA teams of the year: Chelsea and Tottenham dominate Premier League XI". BBC Sport. 20 April 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
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