--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think I was a control freak. I…" description: "\"I don't think I was a control freak. I just couldn't get my head around things. When I joined Sheffield United I was told I had £5m to spend, then when..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f4/steve-bruce-4727_around_i-don-t-think-i-was-a-control-freak-i-ju_2153407.jpg" --- # I don't think I was a control freak. I just couldn't get… ![“I don't think I was a control freak. I just couldn't get my head around things. When I joined Sheffield United I was told I had £5m to spend, then when I went to see the chief executive he told me if I didn't raise £350,000 no one was getting paid.” quote by Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f4/steve-bruce-4727_around_i-don-t-think-i-was-a-control-freak-i-ju_2153407.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f4/steve-bruce-4727_around_i-don-t-think-i-was-a-control-freak-i-ju_2153407.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f4/steve-bruce-4727_around_i-don-t-think-i-was-a-control-freak-i-ju_2153407.jpg) > “I don't think I was a control freak. I just couldn't get my head around things. When I joined Sheffield United I was told I had £5m to spend, then when I went to see the chief executive he told me if I didn't raise £350,000 no one was getting paid.” [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He claims he wasn't a control freak, but struggled with financial constraints and expectations at Sheffield United. **In simple terms:** He tried to manage money but felt overwhelmed. Key Takeaway Balance ambition with realistic budgets. Themes leadership finance sports management Mood reflective critical Type advisory motivational When to use this quote - football club management - budget planning - team building - career decisions Key Concepts budgeting expectations authority Questions to Reflect On - What strategies could reconcile ambitious spending with limited funds? - How do leaders communicate financial realities? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex financial pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Control freak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-freak/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ## Related quotes > [I am a control freak back seat driver; a map reading co-pilot who directs every turn of the wheel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/i-am-a-control-freak-back-seat-driver-a-map-reading-co-pilot-who/) [Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/) > [I'm obsessive, I'm a control freak, I get snappy with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/i-m-obsessive-i-m-a-control-freak-i-get-snappy-with-people/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) > [I'm not a control freak - I'm a control enthusiast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-m-not-a-control-freak-i-m-a-control-enthusiast/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [I think I'm too much of a control freak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-ireland/i-think-i-m-too-much-of-a-control-freak/) [Kathy Ireland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-ireland/) > [I'm a control freak. If you're going to slap my name on something, I would like to control it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/i-m-a-control-freak-if-you-re-going-to-slap-my-name-on-something-i/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [You're supposed to be a control freak when you're an artist. That's the whole point of having a vision: Why have one if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robert-brown/you-re-supposed-to-be-a-control-freak-when-you-re-an-artist-that-s/) [Jason Robert Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robert-brown/) > [King George III may have been a greedy ‘control freak,’ but at least he was a Christian. The United States is being run by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-klayman/king-george-iii-may-have-been-a-greedy-control-freak-but-at-least-he/) Larry Klayman > [The dilemma for a control freak is that (s)he can never be rubbed the right way and will often rub others the wrong way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-dilemma-for-a-control-freak-is-that-s-he-can-never-be-rubbed-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Artists are not helper monkeys; they’re not in it to visualize 'your' story, because it stopped being 'your' story the moment you engaged in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-waid/artists-are-not-helper-monkeys-they-re-not-in-it-to-visualize-your/) [Mark Waid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-waid/) > [When you say 'control freak' and 'OCD' and 'organized,' that suggests someone who's cold in nature, and I'm just not. Like, I'm really open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/when-you-say-control-freak-and-ocd-and-organized-that-suggests/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [When it's time to make music, that's about getting lost for me. To be a control freak is not half as good as being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-homme/when-it-s-time-to-make-music-that-s-about-getting-lost-for-me-to-be-a/) [Josh Homme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-homme/) > [To my credit, I think I'm a gentle control freak. Maybe even a little manipulative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-biegel/to-my-credit-i-think-i-m-a-gentle-control-freak-maybe-even-a-little/) [Kevin Biegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-biegel/) > [I do know I'm a control freak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-brown/i-do-know-i-m-a-control-freak/) [Alton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-brown/) > [I just like the idea of pills. I like to collect them but not actually take them. When I fell off my horse, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-just-like-the-idea-of-pills-i-like-to-collect-them-but-not-actually/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [I am such a bossy producer and such a control freak that there's a part of me that really longs to be bossed around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-hanna/i-am-such-a-bossy-producer-and-such-a-control-freak-that-there-s-a/) [Kathleen Hanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-hanna/) ## More by Steve Bruce > [I've been fortunate enough to have some big games as both a player and a manager.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-ve-been-fortunate-enough-to-have-some-big-games-as-both-a-player/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [He’s a fantastic talent and the complete footballer, probably the most coveted in the Premiership. It’s a privilege for the rest of us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/he-s-a-fantastic-talent-and-the-complete-footballer-probably-the-most/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [I have not got a CV like Rafa, few do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-have-not-got-a-cv-like-rafa-few-do/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [When I was younger, I was a bit awkward to work for, hence why I had about five clubs in two years. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/when-i-was-younger-i-was-a-bit-awkward-to-work-for-hence-why-i-had/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [I've got the utmost respect for Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-ve-got-the-utmost-respect-for-mauricio-pochettino-at-tottenham/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [From a playing or managing point of view relegation is a blot on your CV that you don't want, but you have to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/from-a-playing-or-managing-point-of-view-relegation-is-a-blot-on-your/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [You have to be as truthful as you possibly can. That's always been my philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/you-have-to-be-as-truthful-as-you-possibly-can-that-s-always-been-my/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [I accept I am not everyone's cup of tea, but judge me over a period of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-accept-i-am-not-everyone-s-cup-of-tea-but-judge-me-over-a-period-of/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [Alan Shearer is a friend of mine and he is entitled to his opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/alan-shearer-is-a-friend-of-mine-and-he-is-entitled-to-his-opinions/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [You do get labelled in the game, and that's why I enjoyed my time managing in the Championship. I'd back myself against most people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/you-do-get-labelled-in-the-game-and-that-s-why-i-enjoyed-my-time/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [I'm delighted and incredibly proud to be appointed as head coach of Newcastle United.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-m-delighted-and-incredibly-proud-to-be-appointed-as-head-coach-of/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [Management, whether you're managing in the lower division or you're right at the top, is about getting the best out of what you've got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/management-whether-you-re-managing-in-the-lower-division-or-you-re/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [I'm a Newcastle lad, so to be manager is every Geordie's dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-m-a-newcastle-lad-so-to-be-manager-is-every-geordie-s-dream/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [I'm always sad to see a manager go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-m-always-sad-to-see-a-manager-go/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [I've said it for a long time that Aston Villa is a special club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-ve-said-it-for-a-long-time-that-aston-villa-is-a-special-club/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) [Explore all 107 Steve Bruce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) ## More Around quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I've been to Manchester enough to know it's a real place. It's not Factory Records and the Smiths bicycling around. I get it. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-murphy/i-ve-been-to-manchester-enough-to-know-it-s-a-real-place-it-s-not/) [James Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-murphy/) > [I guess I'm attracted to things that are fun. I guess what is fun about this role in 'Suburgatory' is that there's a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-tudyk/i-guess-i-m-attracted-to-things-that-are-fun-i-guess-what-is-fun/) [Alan Tudyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-tudyk/) > [When I was a teen, I would draw a really, really long line around my eyes with eyeliner, like Lola Flores.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalia/when-i-was-a-teen-i-would-draw-a-really-really-long-line-around-my/) [Rosalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalia/) > [I think the issues around diversity of all kinds are really a huge problem in the startup world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lyons/i-think-the-issues-around-diversity-of-all-kinds-are-really-a-huge/) [Daniel Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lyons/) > [You always hear actors say, 'Theater is my first love,' and it is. It's a time when you really get to do what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-landecker/you-always-hear-actors-say-theater-is-my-first-love-and-it-is-it-s-a/) [Amy Landecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-landecker/) > [Not having drops and not taking plays off, if I do that it will make everyone around me better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demaryius-thomas/not-having-drops-and-not-taking-plays-off-if-i-do-that-it-will-make/) [Demaryius Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demaryius-thomas/) > [I can look around a room and tell you if there are hidden cameras or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ash/i-can-look-around-a-room-and-tell-you-if-there-are-hidden-cameras-or/) [Lauren Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ash/) > [You couldn't get me to go travel around and sit in a hotel room again. I have no interest in doing that. So everybody's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-everly/you-couldn-t-get-me-to-go-travel-around-and-sit-in-a-hotel-room-again/) [Phil Everly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-everly/) > [I drink maple syrup. Then I'm hyper so I just run around like crazy and work it all off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-mcadams/i-drink-maple-syrup-then-i-m-hyper-so-i-just-run-around-like-crazy/) [Rachel McAdams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-mcadams/) > [Music is almost like a therapy for me. It helps keep me centered and think straight. Before I discovered it, I was walking around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/music-is-almost-like-a-therapy-for-me-it-helps-keep-me-centered-and/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [I have to say, I grew up with fashion because my mother was a seamstress, and she had an atelier. She would cut the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donatella-versace/i-have-to-say-i-grew-up-with-fashion-because-my-mother-was-a/) [Donatella Versace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donatella-versace/) > [Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-who-are-we-where-are-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I became an MP in 2017 and have been around to watch Liberal Democrat party membership soar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layla-moran/i-became-an-mp-in-2017-and-have-been-around-to-watch-liberal-democrat/) [Layla Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layla-moran/) Browse all 7,275 Around quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think I was a control freak. I just couldn't get my head around things. When I joined Sheffield United I was told I had £5m to spend, then when I went to see the chief executive he told me if I didn't raise £350,000 no one was getting paid.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steve Bruce" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-don-t-think-i-was-a-control-freak-i-just-couldn-t-get-my-head/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Around" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-don-t-think-i-was-a-control-freak-i-just-couldn-t-get-my-head/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f4/steve-bruce-4727_around_i-don-t-think-i-was-a-control-freak-i-ju_2153407.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f4/steve-bruce-4727_around_i-don-t-think-i-was-a-control-freak-i-ju_2153407.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f4/steve-bruce-4727_around_i-don-t-think-i-was-a-control-freak-i-ju_2153407.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't think I was a control freak. I just couldn't get my head around things. When I joined Sheffield…” — Steve Bruce", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Steve Bruce", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't think I was a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-don-t-think-i-was-a-control-freak-i-just-couldn-t-get-my-head/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-don-t-think-i-was-a-control-freak-i-just-couldn-t-get-my-head/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```