Things have moved very quickly in Eric Ramsey’s world over the past week.
The 34-year-old enjoyed an off-season spell with Minnesota United at the start of January but is now set to take charge of West Brom for the first time in the Championship on Friday night.
“It’s been a whirlwind, but as I hoped it would be, it’s been a really exciting start,” he says Ski Sports.
“It’s a great football club and I’ve had a really warm welcome from the existing staff and support staff.
“I wanted to come into a club where I felt I could help make good things happen, and everything I’ve felt so far has left that impression on me. It’s been as good a start as I could have hoped for.”
Friday, January 16, 7:30 p.m
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It is Ramsey’s first head coaching role in England, but he is no stranger to these shores.
He coached at Swansea, his hometown club Shrewsbury Town, before joining Chelsea, where he coached the U23s and became the youngest British coach to receive a UEFA Pro License back in 2019.
From there he joined Manchester United and worked under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Michael Carrick, Ralf Rangnick and Erik ten Haag.
Ramsey was a coach at Manchester United under Eric Ten Haag and others
“Nobody hopes for that level of managerial turnover,” says Ramsey of his time at Old Trafford. “But as a young coach it gave me a unique opportunity to observe different approaches in a very demanding environment.”
“I learned a huge amount from watching how different managers deal with pressure and that experience has served me well ever since.”
“I feel very well prepared to work in the Championship. I have worked below this league in League One, above it in the Premier League and Champions League, and in elite youth development.
“On top of that, I spent two years as a head coach in a very demanding league. All of that gave me a really solid foundation.”
“MLS is very competitive, very tight and similar to the Championship in that every game can be won or lost. Add in the travel, the climate and the fact that it’s the most multinational league in the world, and it becomes incredibly challenging.”
“We had 21 nationalities in our team, media in multiple languages, and it was an amazing experience for my family. I took everything I could from those two years.”
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Ramsey told Sky Sports he is looking forward to his first West Brom game against Middlesbrough on Friday night
Sitting down and talking to Ramsey, you don’t get the feeling you’re talking to a 34-year-old head coach in just his second senior role. He speaks multiple languages, including Spanish, French and Welsh.
“Age is just a number,” he says. “I have spent almost 14 years as a professional coach and have always considered myself young in the roles I have held.”
“It was never something I thought about. What’s important is the depth of experience underneath, and in some cases, being younger can be an advantage.”
His confidence should help ease any worries that West Brom have left with another boss ready to take his first real stab at managing the club. Ramsey, of course, replaces Ryan Mason, himself just two months older and in his first full-time senior role with the Baggies.
Ramsey feels more than ready for the occasion.
“I think it’s a natural step, given how my career has progressed to this point,” he continues. “I wanted to make sure I was really well prepared for an opportunity like this, and I feel like I’ve done the groundwork for my previous roles.”
“Because of that, it feels very logical and natural to where my career has been.”
Insightful would be an understatement when it comes to the new West Brom boss. But it will not be lost at all that results will shape his success at The Hawthorns.
He takes over a club that is languishing in 18th place in the Championship table, which is an unacceptable position for the Baggies in this league.
But Ramsey already has a clear idea of his plan and philosophy for the future.
“Clarity and organization are key,” he says. “I want everyone to know exactly what is required of them, and I want the fans to know what to expect when they come to the stadium. You will see a balance between control with and without the ball and a team that looks connected.
“My focus is very much on the minute-to-minute and day-to-day. I don’t want to dwell too much on the past or look too far ahead. If we create clarity, demand and consistency in our work, then we will get what we deserve.”
It’s hard to disagree with anything he says right now. Time will tell if he can turn impressive words into results.