Aaron Ramsey will be the latest Gunner to venture into management after being appointed to lead Cardiff for the final three games of the campaign.
Although technically now a player-manager, it had already been confirmed that the midfielder would remain on the sidelines until the end of the season. Ramsey has an opportunity to cement his legacy in South Wales if he can keep his hometown club in the Championship.
At the club since the age of nine, the youngest to ever play for the Bluebirds, and having featured in an FA Cup Final at just 17, Rambo’s responsibility is to prevent relegation to the third tier of the English football pyramid.
It reflects the ongoing turmoil at Cardiff City Stadium that Omer Riza was dismissed two days before a must-win fixture, with the club now taking a gamble on someone with no prior coaching experience. Ramsey’s only formal qualifications outside of his playing career at the highest level are a UEFA A Licence and an Elite Youth A Licence.
While recovering from surgery, the Welsh captain has been working with the youth team, but he is hardly a new presence within the club. The hope is that the respect he has from his peers will lift the dressing room.
He will be supported by some coaching expertise. His assistant, Chris Gunter, currently manages the Welsh Under-19 side.
Although his return home began promisingly, recurring hamstring problems restricted him to just 13 league appearances last season and only eight this time around. Remarkably, he is still only 34, and his former teammate Jack Wilshere—now a first-team coach at Norwich—is just 33. Both careers have been severely impacted by injuries. Without such misfortune, they might still be playing at Arsenal today. Their minds remain willing, but their bodies do not.
A free agent in the summer, Ramsey had been contemplating his future before this unexpected development. Would he be willing to play in League One? Could the club afford to retain him if relegated? Would another surgery be necessary, given the last one was unsuccessful? Would any other club offer him a contract, considering his fitness history?
What if he succeeds in the next two weeks and is offered the managerial role permanently? Would he retire from playing, or attempt to juggle both responsibilities?
Cardiff are currently 23rd in the table, but only one point adrift of safety. Their next two matches are both at home.
Who knows—perhaps this is the first step towards Ramsey one day returning to the Emirates as our manager?
I’m very happy to see Ramsey pursuing a coaching career. But I think we’ll see Henry becoming an Arsenal manager first before Ramsey does, because Henry learned directly from Guardiola
Henry hasn’t done well so far in his managerial career. I think he’s far better as pundit analysing the game on TV. The former gunners that I think could make good managers are Fabregas, Wilshere and Xhaka. In the current squad I’d say Jorginho. Good luck to Ramsey. I will always cherish those goals he scored in the FA finals. He received too much unwarranted criticism during his time at Arsenal imo.
I thought Henry did a good job with France Olympic team, despite losing to Spain in the final
I agree about Fabregas, Xhaka and Jorginho, but I’m not sure about Wilshere
I think David Luiz can be a good manager too
I see that Ramsey is on the first rung of the managerial ladder to become Arteta’s replacement. 🤣😂👍😉
The legendary Arsne Wenger, once described Aron Ramsey as the complete midfielder, my best recollection of the player, is he arriving in the box late to devastating effect.
But it is said a heart never forget where it first felt love, so as Rambo takes up the mantle on his old stomping ground, I want to wish him luck.
Nice article Dan.
Aaron Ramsey should always have a place in every Gooners heart, or at least those of us who were lucky enough to have seen him play.
He turned down Fergie and manure to come to our club and he always gave 100 %.
The horrific tackle by the thug at Stoke would have ended most players careers, but he came back just as good as ever.
Phil (PAL) was at that game and he swears he heard the crack of his bones as the “tackle” went in.
His FA cup goals will always be a part of our history and it was sad the way he parted from the club, no matter what went on with his contract – he deserved more than that in my opinion.
Good luck Rambo and whatever happens, if you return to our club, you will get a hero’s welcome.
Thanks for the memories and the loyalty!!
Good luck to Aaron in his new adventure!