Reports suggest that Eric Ramsay, the current head coach of Minnesota United, is a potential early candidate for the managerial position at Southampton. The Saints are in the initial phase of their search for a new coach to guide them in the Championship following a very poor Premier League season where they only managed 11 points from 34 matches. Ramsay is reportedly one of several individuals being considered by the club as they aim for an immediate promotion back to the Premier League.
The 33-year-old Ramsay is highly regarded within English football circles. His background includes spells as a player development coach at Chelsea and then Manchester United, where he served under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and also assisted the Welsh national squad.
Upon joining Minnesota in February 2024, he became the youngest permanent head coach ever in Major League Soccer (MLS). In his first season, he led the team to a sixth-place finish in the Western Conference, reaching the conference semifinals. As of nine games into the 2025 season, Minnesota United holds third place in the Western Conference standings.
Ramsay has previously indicated his openness to working outside English-speaking countries if he were to leave MLS. His fluency in Spanish and French would be beneficial for such moves. Speaking to the BBC in February, he commented that coaches reaching the top in England often have international experience, which can make their careers more stable due to a wider range of job opportunities. He said he considered this when moving to MLS.
He added that while the standard of coaching in England is high and a frequent topic of discussion, returning from MLS might offer clearer pathways to certain roles compared to managing in the Championship.
Nevertheless, the Southampton role presents a substantial opportunity for Ramsay. Although they had a very poor season after being promoted (likely meant `relegated`), Southampton is expected to be one of the top contenders for promotion from the Championship. Furthermore, there might be a chance to rebuild the squad, especially if promising young players like Tyler Dibbling and Mateus Fernandes depart from St. Mary`s.
Simon Rusk is reportedly serving as Southampton`s interim head coach, his second time in this role this season. According to the source, Rusk first stepped in after Russell Martin, who the text claims had secured promotion, was sacked in December. It also states that Ivan Juric left earlier in the current month after winning two and losing 13 of his 16 matches managing the team.
