Erik ten Hag and I parted ways at Manchester United in order to pursue a career as a manager. Presently, I am on the cusp of achieving MLS success.

In order to pursue a career as a manager, I parted ways with Erik ten Hag at Manchester United. Presently, I am on the cusp of achieving MLS success.

The confirmation of Eric Ramsay’s appointment as Minnesota United’s manager in February was met with a degree of astonishment, as he had no prior managerial experience. Ramsay had been a member of Manchester United’s backroom staff since 2021,

where he worked under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick, and Erik ten Hag. He had previously worked in the youth setup at Shrewsbury Town and Chelsea. When the opportunity to move to MLS arose, Ramsay was an assistant first-team coach.

Although some individuals on the outside may have raised their eyebrows, those who were involved in the game were not taken aback. In the United changing room, Ramsay was a highly esteemed staff member who was attributed with overseeing the club’s set-piece routines.

Certainly, Christian Eriksen attributed Ramsay’s contribution to a well-executed Marcus Rashford goal against Nottingham Forest last season, and despite inheriting him as a member of his staff, Ten Hag exhibited a high level of confidence in the 32-year-old.

Therefore, it was widely assumed that Ten Hag was delighted when Ramsay declined the Blackpool position last season.

But it would not be long before he made the transition to management. Rob Page, the former manager of Wales, who had collaborated with him in the national team setup, characterised him as one of the most talented youth coaches in the game.

Ramsay, who had previously collaborated with Kieran McKenna at Loughborough University and United, and had since observed his former colleague’s success as a manager at Ipswich Town, was eager to ultimately make the leap for himself when Minnesota United reached out.

Ramsay has discussed the exceptional communication skills and unwavering conviction of all three of Solskjaer, Rangnick, and Ten Hag.

He assumed control of a Loons team that was in a state of flux due to the departure of their previous manager, Adrian Heath, and had failed to qualify for the MLS Cup play-offs the previous season. He desired to implement the knowledge he had acquired at United in Minneapolis.

The subsequent events have been extraordinary. In addition to guiding Minnesota back into the play-offs, Ramsay and his assistant Dennis Lawrence, a former Coventry coach, have also obliterated records while doing so.

Under Ramsay’s leadership, the Loons have established new club records for consecutive clean sheets, away points, and goals scored. Additionally, he has successfully encouraged the club’s designated player, Kelvin Yeboah, to contribute seven goals in nine appearances.

Minnesota secured their post-season berth by finishing the regular season in sixth place in the Western Conference, despite still being at the beginning of the club’s transition.

The MLS Cup play-offs’ initial round was a three-match series this season, with the first two teams to secure victories advancing to the next round.

This format is comparable to the best-of-seven NBA, NHL, and MLB play-off series. The format transitioned to single matches from the conference semi-finals onwards.

Do not be taken aback if Ramsay wins the silverware to establish himself as the next product of the United coaching conveyor belt, following the success of individuals such as McKenna and Michael Carrick, who were part of the same United leadership team.