Aaron Ramsey has spoken publicly for the first time since his appointment as Cardiff manager, insisting he is ready for the challenge after years of preparation. The former Wales international took interim charge of Cardiff for three games at the end of the 2024-25 season, beginning with a 1-1 draw against Oxford United.
“I wouldn’t be sat in this position if I didn’t think I was ready,” Ramsey told BBC Radio Oxford. “I’ve been planning for this now for the last few years. As soon as I started these conversations with the club, and I realised how ambitious they were and everything that’s in place, I knew this was the right place for me.”
At his first media conference since being appointed, Ramsey stopped short of naming promotion from League One at the first attempt as a stated target. Instead, he framed success in terms of culture and identity. “For me, now, success looks like instilling everyday behaviours and habits into my team and giving us a platform, from which I’m confident success will follow,” he said. “I have a really clear way of playing, an identity that I want to create. But that is built on clear principles first, underpinned by elite habits and behaviours.”
Ramsey credited his playing career for shaping his managerial outlook, pointing to the environments and coaches he experienced. “I’ve been really lucky to have played under so many great managers, who have all brought different attributes that I really liked, and have taken little snippets here and there,” he said. “I’ve been lucky to work in some of the most elite environments in football and been exposed to that. That gives me the confidence to go forward and lead and inspire this team.”
The new Cardiff boss also made a direct appeal to supporters, urging them to get behind the club. “I really want the fans to be excited and to be proud every time they come and watch their team,” he said. “I think there’s a lot of potential in this team, a really talented group. It’s just about aligning that now with the way I see the game and getting them to buy into that.”
Image credit: BBC Sport / BBC Sport
