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Bruce left the Latics with a move up the league structure, leaving the club in the lurch at the end of the season. However the club have no re-built and over taken Bruce's current club Birmingham.
So much so that Paul Scharner has rejected a move to relegation fodder City in favour of Europe chasing Wigan Athletic.
Bruce said: "I went there for the last six or seven games after Bruce Rioch left. We reached the play-offs, but were beaten by Reading in the semi-final.
"Dave Whelan played a big part in helping me get back in. I'd been out of work for a year and it's not that easy to get another job. Dave was very good to work for and what he and Paul Jewell have achieved is remarkable."
Both clubs have now played three games in six days and the meeting at St Andrews on Monday will be the fourth game in eight days and will have put a tremendous strain on the players.
If the players were animals, animal rights protestors would be at the game protesting. As it stands, the teams will have to meet so Sven can have his four week break at the end of the season.
Leighton Baines suffered a hamstring injury on Saturday in the 3-0 defeat and will have to sit this game out. Manager Paul Jewell must chose whether to replace the England under 21 international with David Wright or Steve McMillan.
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Damien Francis may have dropped down the pecking order after a light hearted display on Saturday.
Ryan Taylor and Josip Skoko are still doubts, but Jewell may rush them back to compensate for a tired first eleven.
Birmingham City have four first teamers back for the game. Top scorer, Jiri Jarosik, Muzzy Izzet, Mario Melchiot and Stan Lazaridis are all back for the Blues after sitting out the home defeat to Chelsea.
However centre back Matthew Upson will miss the game after sustaining an ankle injury against Mourinho's men.
How much must Paul Jewell will be wishing Scharner could make his debut on Monday as the Latics look to push on further with a return to winning ways against struggling Birmingham.
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