What to know about new MNUFC coach Eric Ramsay
Minnesota United are widely reported to have hired a new head coach, handing the keys to the club to Welsh manager Eric Ramsay
At 32 years old, Ramsay will be one of the youngest full-time managers in MLS history, and the youngest in the league this season. He joins Minnesota after spending the last two seasons on the Manchester United coaching staff.
The Pioneer Press' Andy Greder reported Thursday Ramsay will now go through the immigration process in order to obtain a work visa. The Athletic added that Ramsay is expected to stay at Manchester United through their March 3 game against cross-city rival Manchester City. That timeline would mean Minnesota United would start, at least, their first two games of the season with interim manager Cameron Knowles in charge.
Ramsay was hired in 2021 as the Manchester United's player development and set-piece coach under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. He remained in the coaching set up through interim manager Ralf Rangnick and into current Red Devil's manager Erik ten Hag.
Ramsay was also part of the Welsh national team coaching staff for six months in 2023. In announcing Ramsay joining his staff, Wales manager Rob Page called Ramsay “arguably one of the best young coaches in football at this moment in time."
Before joining Manchester United, Ramsay had stops on the Chelsea U-23 staff, Shrewsbury Town first team and academy staff and Swansea City academy staff.
The Athletic reported in early 2023 that Blackpool, then in the EFL Championship, approached Ramsay about their vacant head coaching role. Swansea City were also interested in hiring Ramsay as their manager as recently as December 2023.
Minnesota United had been without a head coach since firing Adrian Heath last October. Sean McAuley was named interim manager for the remaining two games of the 2023 season, winning one and losing one. McAuley was set to continue that role into the 2024 season before leaving and taking the head coach role at Indy Eleven of the USL Championship in December. Knowles took over as interim manager for the remainder of the offseason and into the season.
Minnesota's season starts Saturday at Austin FC.
Manchester United coaches Erik ten Hag and Eric Ramsay talking
