Eric Ramsay leaves Manchester United for Minnesota and MLS head coach role

Eric Ramsay has left Manchester United to join Minnesota United and become the youngest head coach in Major League Soccer history.

In a statement from Minnesota United on Monday, Ramsay, 32, said: “I am incredibly excited to be joining a club with such a strong football culture, a passionate fan base and a brilliant infrastructure. “I have spoken to many of the club’s staff and you can’t help but feel everyone’s passion for driving the club forward.”

Ramsay joined the Premier League club during Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s tenure in 2021 and served as first-team coach under Erik ten Hag. Manchester United confirmed his departure in their own statement, saying: “We would like to thank Eric for his contribution and wish him every success in the US in his first role as head coach.”

The Welshman becomes the latest British coach to cross the Atlantic, joining the likes of Phil Neville, Wayne Rooney, Dean Smith – head coach at Charlotte FC – and San Diego Wave’s Casey Stoney. Ramsay became the youngest British coach to gain his UEFA Pro License in 2019, and served as assistant coach for Wales in 2023.

Born in Shrewsbury and raised in Llanfyllin, Wales, Ramsay played for Welshpool Town and Loughborough University, where he started his coaching career alongside Kieran McKenna, who is now the manager of Ipswich Town. He has also worked in coaching roles at Swansea, Shrewsbury Town and Chelsea, and was captain of the Wales futsal team in 2014.

Minnesota Chief Football Officer Khaled El-Ahmad said: “After an extensive search that included dozens of impressive domestic and international candidates, we are confident that Eric Ramsay is the best choice to lead our club.”

“His experience of working with top players, coaches and sporting staff at both club and international level – as well as his alignment in playing style and development philosophy – all align with the vision we have for the future of MNUFC.”

Minnesota United joined MLS as an expansion team in 2017 and reached the semifinals of the playoffs in 2020. The team, whose best-known international player is former Norwich striker Teemu Pukki, started the 2024 season with a 2-1 win in Austin. .

Ramsay becomes the second permanent head coach in franchise history after Adrian Heath, who joined the team before their inaugural season, left in October 2023. Cameron Knowles served as interim coach before Ramsay arrived.