Eric Ramsay is ready to embrace the responsibility of being Albion Head Coach following a successful chapter leading Minnesota United in Major League Soccer. 

In addition to becoming the Baggies boss at an incredibly young age, it was a similar story across the pond in the United States when Ramsay was tasked with leading the Western Conference outfit in February 2024.  

This was something the Shrewsbury-born coach did with distinction, helping United qualify for consecutive play-off semi-finals between 2024-2025, in addition to making the last four of the U.S. Open Cup in September 2025.

More impressively, though, Eric helped evolve Minnesota’s squad into becoming one of the most competitive sides in the MLS - proven by their record points tally (58) under this stewardship last term. 

However, he wouldn’t have been able to make those strides without a solid grounding - which is where a return to English soil will bring back fond memories of the hard work which allowed the now-Albion boss to progress his career in senior football. 

Not just a student, but a player of the game in his younger years, Ramsay grew up just over the border from his Shropshire roots in Llanfyllin, Wales, but returned to his home county to develop his love for football at The New Saints’ academy, Oswestry. 

Moving from boys to men’s football, Cymru Premier side Welshpool Town gave Eric a taste of competitive action. But it quickly became apparent a career off the pitch lay ahead, as he embarked on a Sports Science with Management course at Loughborough University. 

Ramsay’s passion for sport continued during his studies; captaining Wales’ national futsal team alongside coaching his university’s football side - a job he undertook with fellow student and now Ipswich Town boss, Kieran McKenna. 

Displaying a hard-working ethos and desire to succeed in the sporting world, Eric was rewarded with First-Class Honours and soon gained important exposure at both ends of the professional footballing scale.

Firstly, by becoming Lead Professional Development Phase Coach at Swansea City and, later, Head of Academy Coaching at Shrewsbury Town in 2017. 

Back in familiar territory, the Shropshire local’s role soon escalated - taking on added responsibility as Salop’s Academy Manager after just six months in his initial role and, soon enough, he would step into the first-team breach. 

Town’s decision to part ways with then-manager, John Askey, in November 2018 meant a joint-interim team of Ramsay and goalkeeper coach Danny Coyne led senior matters until Sam Ricketts was appointed. 

Impressed with Eric’s influence on the squad, Shrewsbury’s new man at the helm encouraged the former Academy Manager to stay with him as First Team Coach, which is what he did until Premier League giants Chelsea recruited Ramsay to help with their Under-23s team.  

A shift in role to Assistant Coach of the Blues’ youngsters in 2019 saw the ambitious young coach develop, not only more of the country’s best young talent, but also his own CV - obtaining a UEFA Pro License and becoming the youngest British coach to achieve this feat in the process. 

Another man who holds the highest coaching qualification is Ramsay’s former university colleague, McKenna, and it was through the Northern Irishman that a path was paved for his fellow Loughborough graduate to move onto pastures new at another top-flight team. 

Having worked with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford, McKenna was quick to recommend Eric to the Norwegian and in 2021, he joined the Red Devils’ backroom team as a First Team Coach focused on player development and set-pieces. 

Despite the pressures which come with representing an English giant, Ramsay’s influence on the United squad was evident in his longevity - remaining with one of the country’s most successful teams until 2024 and working with some of the game’s big names. 

Ralf Rangnick and Erik Ten Hag kept the young coach within their setups, allowing him the opportunity to work with renowned players from across the globe such as Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Being multi-lingual, speaking English, Spanish, French, Welsh (amongst others), exhibited Eric’s commitment to ensuring players learned under his guidance which, undoubtedly, will have been a factor in helping United secure honours during his time there.  

The Red Devils lifted the EFL Cup and reached the Emirates FA Cup Final in 2023, and Ramsay’s growing reputation earned him further openings but, this time, on the international stage. 

He combined club duties with a nation he spent most of his upbringing in by stepping up as Wales’ Assistant Coach in March 2023 under former chief, Rob Page. 

Six months in Cymru’s ranks continued Eric’s expansion into the footballing world, developing relationships which he would come to benefit from later down the line - as a reunion with Baggies defender Chris Mepham proves following his appointment as boss. 

All of those fruitful exposures, from youth development, to the heights of elite football in Manchester United - intertwined with international football - gave Ramsay the confidence to take on his first lead role in senior management at Minnesota United. 

Joining ‘The Loons’ early into their campaign during February 2024, Eric excelled in his challenge to transform the competitiveness of the MLS Western Conference team - achieving aforementioned historic success for the club. 

The 24/25 campaign saw United break records for highest league finish (fourth), goals scored, wins, points accumulated, clean sheets and longest unbeaten run courtesy of Ramsay’s coaching methods. He also managed this success on a budget, still averaging 1.71 points per-game with the 5th-lowest wage bill the MLS.

And a season with such positivity, progression and optimism will give the new Baggies Head Coach belief in his approach ahead of starting his first lead role in English football.