There was an element of surprise in February when it was confirmed Eric Ramsay, who had no previous managerial experience, was appointed as manager of Minnesota United.
Having previously worked in the youth setup at Shrewsbury Town and Chelsea, Ramsay had been part of Manchester United’s backroom staff since 2021, working under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick and Erik ten Hag, and was an assistant first-team coach when the chance to move to MLS presented itself.
While some on the outside may have raised their eyebrows, those within the game were not surprised. Ramsay was a respected member of the staff within the United changing room, and had been credited with being in charge of the club’s set-piece routines.
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Indeed, Christian Eriksen credited Ramsay with the credit for a well-worked Marcus Rashford goal against Nottingham Forest last season and Ten Hag placed a lot of trust in the 32-year-old despite inheriting him as part of his staff.
So much so that when Ramsay was linked with the Blackpool job last season, Ten Hag was believed to have been pleased when he opted against the role.
But it wasn’t going to be much longer before he took the step up to management. Former Wales boss Rob Page, who had worked with him in the national team setup, described him as one of the brightest young coaches in the game.
So when Minnesota United came calling, Ramsay, who had worked alongside Kieran McKenna at Loughborough University and United, and then watched his former colleague excel as a manager for Ipswich Town, wanted to finally take the plunge for himself.
Ramsay has spoken about how all three of Solskjaer, Rangnick and Ten Hag were excellent communicators and held an ‘unwavering conviction’ in their ideas.
He took over a Loons side in transition following the departure of their former manager Adrian Heath and who had failed to reach the MLS Cup play-offs last season. He wanted to take what he had learned at United and apply it in Minneapolis.
What has followed has been remarkable. Not only has Ramsay – alongside his assistant (former Coventry coach) Dennis Lawrence – guided Minnesota back into the play-offs but his side have shattered records along the way.
Under Ramsay’s guidance, the Loons have broken club records for goals scored, away points and consecutive clean sheets, while he has managed to get a tune out of the club’s designated player Kelvin Yeboah, who has scored seven goals in nine appearances.
Despite still being at the start of the club’s transition, Minnesota finished the regular season in sixth place in the Western Conference to secure their post-season spot.
This season, the first round of the MLS Cup play-offs were a series of three matches, with the first to two wins advancing to the next stage – similar to how the best of seven NBA, NHL and MLB play-off series’ work – before moving to single matches from the conference semi-finals onwards
As such, it meant each match must have a victor so if a match finished level, it would go to a penalty shootout. Minnesota benefitted from that as they drew home and away to third seed Real Salt Lake but advanced as 2-0 series winners after two penalty shootout victories.
It has set them up with a Western Conference semi-final next Sunday away to second seeds Los Angeles Galaxy – spearheaded by former Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus and ex-Barcelona youngster Riqui Puig.
They will head to California as underdogs but Ramsay’s side have already proven they relish that tag. To win the MLS Cup they will now need to win two away games on the spin just to reach the final, but it is something Ramsay believes his side are capable of.
Addressing his players in the dressing room after their win over Real Salt Lake, Ramsay said: “Three wins away. We can (expletive) beat anyone in this league. And you know we are a good match for Galaxy. They are a beatable team, particularly with how we are looking at the moment.”
Following the success of the likes of McKenna and Michael Carrick from the same United leadership team, do not be surprised if Ramsay takes home the silverware to assert himself as the next product of the United coaching conveyor belt.
