The 48-year-old today signed a three-year deal at the Stadium of Light and took up the challenge of establishing the club in the top half of the Barclays Premier League.

Corbridge-born Bruce has never made any secret of his Tyneside background, or the fact he is a Newcastle fan, but he is determined to follow in the footsteps of Bob Stokoe, a fellow Geordie who led the club to FA Cup final glory in 1973.

He said: "After reading a chapter of his book, he had a problem with the dressing room, nothing else.

"I hope I don't have any problems with the dressing room, that's for sure! I look forward to working with everybody concerned.

"Bob Stokoe was the local hero here - I have just had my photograph taken with his statue.

"He was the last one to bring a bit of success here, so let's hope he can rub off on me."

Bruce arrived on Wearside today after first meeting chairman Niall Quinn in Dublin on Monday evening, and agreement was finally reached late this afternoon.

But he had to leave his parents, Joe and Sheena, behind in Portugal, where they had been on a family holiday.

However, he did so with the blessing of Bruce senior.

Asked what his father's reaction had been, Bruce said: "'Go and fill your boots, son' is always his advice. He has got no problems with it, no issues at all.

"I know what I was born and bred and it would be wrong of me to say any different.

"But I am here as the Sunderland manager and I am proud to sit here and be the Sunderland manager.

"I am looking forward to the challenge. That wouldn't bother me at all."

Bruce was delighted to have secured what he believes is his big chance to prove himself at the highest level after learning his trade at Sheffield United, Huddersfield, Crystal Palace, Birmingham and in two spells, Wigan, his latest employer.

He said: "I have worked for 10, 11 years in management for a chance and an opportunity at a club like this one. It is a huge football club with a great fan-base, great support.

"The training facilities, the stadium, it's all there. It's up to me now to put a team on the pitch which will take the club forward."

Quinn, who thrashed out a compensation package believed to amount to less than £2million with Wigan chairman Dave Whelan at the weekend, decided Bruce was the man to bring a new mentality to a club which has endured a yo-yo existence in recent years, and the new man wasted little time in establishing a few ground rules.

He said: "Unless you are born up here in the north-east, you don't really realise what it does mean to the vast majority of people up here.

"It's a working class area with huge traditions about the way football should be played.

"Certainly, it was born and bred in me that you only ever got there through hard work.

"I wasn't blessed with any real ability, but I got there through hard work and I just demand that any team I have managed has to have that.

"I hope I can build that at Sunderland and give the supporters what they are looking for in a team, and a team to be proud of."

That was music to Quinn's ears as he prepared for the next phase in the club's development with new owner Ellis Shirt ready to fund a fresh drive for success.

The Irishman said: "I believe the missing ingredient at our football club is that steeliness.

"You ask any one of our fans, give 100 per cent effort and they will back you, they will lift you and it will help us to drive on.

"Steve will forgive a fella working hard if his passing goes astray, if he misses an open goal.

"But what is unforgivable in Steve's mind is somebody shirking their responsibility and not giving 100 per cent.

"Every fan will echo what I say. If they see 11 guys giving 100 per cent in Sunderland shirts, we are going to have a proper football club here."