West Bromwich Albion are closing in on the appointment of Eric Ramsay as their new head coach, with the former Manchester United assistant poised for a swift return to English football from Major League Soccer.
From Carrington to the Hawthorns
The 34-year-old Welshman, who was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's final coaching recruit at Manchester United, has emerged as the leading candidate to take over at the Championship club. Ramsay has spent the last two seasons as head coach of Minnesota United in the MLS, guiding the team to the play-offs in both campaigns. This success has significantly bolstered his reputation and caught the eye of decision-makers at West Brom.
The Baggies are seeking a permanent replacement for Ryan Mason, who was dismissed this week after a poor run of form. Mason, who only joined the club from Tottenham last summer, was sacked following a midweek defeat to Leicester City, which marked a sixth loss in eight games. His departure leaves West Brom languishing in 18th place in the Championship table.
A Rising Coaching Star
Ramsay's coaching pedigree is well-regarded in England, forged during his time at one of the world's biggest clubs. He arrived at Manchester United's Carrington training ground in 2021 and retained his role through the subsequent managerial tenures of Ralf Rangnick and Erik ten Hag. Alongside his club duties, he also served as an assistant coach for the Wales men's national team for a six-month period beginning in March 2023.
His earlier career included spells working in youth development at Swansea City, Shrewsbury Town, and Chelsea. Ramsay's quality was publicly acknowledged by Erik ten Hag during their time together at Old Trafford. The Dutch manager told the club's website in 2023: “Eric is a really talented coach, and he is progressing a lot. He is ambitious and this will happen, and it will improve him and help him to get new experiences, but also it will improve Manchester United as he will bring experiences back in our coaching.”
Following a Proven Path
If appointed, Ramsay would be the latest in a line of former Manchester United assistants to step into a demanding managerial role with success. Michael Carrick, who has recently been linked with a return to United in an interim capacity, took charge of Middlesbrough and led them to the Championship play-offs.
Perhaps the most notable example is Kieran McKenna. He took over at Ipswich Town when they were in League One and secured back-to-back promotions, returning the Tractor Boys to the Premier League for the first time in over two decades. After relegation last season, he again has them in contention for an immediate return to the top flight.
The potential move for Ramsay, as reported by ESPN, signals West Brom's intent to appoint a progressive, highly-rated young coach to steer them away from the Championship's relegation zone and back towards promotion contention.
