Oxford United appointed former Arsenal and Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey as their new men’s first-team head coach on Tuesday. The 35-year-old takes over a squad recovering from a dismal Championship campaign that ended in relegation down to League One.
Ramsey replaces Matt Bloomfield, who was formally dismissed on June 20. Bloomfield lasted less than six months on the touchline after arriving in January 2026. The swift managerial change is the first major structural overhaul driven by Dusan Bogdanovic, who took over as the club’s chairman in May.
The new manager addressed the supporters in his initial press release, calling the role an “honour and privilege.” He explicitly stated his immediate priority is instilling a “culture of high standards, professionalism and work ethic” to mount a promotion challenge, according to a breaking report by Sky Sports.
This hiring marks Ramsey’s first permanent managerial position. His only prior senior management experience was a brief three-game interim stint at Cardiff City at the tail end of the 2024/25 season. During his playing career, Ramsey made over 400 appearances for Arsenal and Juventus while earning 86 caps for the Welsh national team.