Minnesota United head coach Eric Ramsay has reportedly surfaced as a potential candidate for the managerial vacancy at Southampton, according to sources. Southampton is currently in the early stages of identifying a new coach to lead them in the Championship next season. The South Coast club suffered a challenging Premier League campaign, accumulating only 11 points from 34 matches. Ramsay is said to be among a list of names being considered by the Saints as they target an immediate return to the top flight.
Ramsay, aged 33, has a strong reputation within English football. His background includes time as a player development coach at Chelsea before moving to Manchester United. At United, he worked in player development under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and also provided assistance to the Welsh national team.
Upon joining Minnesota United in February 2024, he became the youngest permanent head coach in MLS history. In his inaugural season, he guided the team to a sixth-place finish in the Western Conference, securing a spot in the conference semifinals. In the current 2025 season, Minnesota United is positioned third in the Western Conference after nine games.
Ramsay has previously expressed his willingness to explore coaching opportunities outside the English-speaking world if he were to leave MLS. His fluency in Spanish and French would likely be beneficial in such moves. Speaking earlier this year, he commented on the career paths for coaches, suggesting that those who have worked in various countries might find more opportunities at the highest level, a factor he considered when moving to MLS.
He also shared thoughts on the standard of coaching in England, which he finds impressive. However, he felt that returning from MLS could offer different or perhaps more established routes back into top-level football compared to coaching within the Championship.
Nevertheless, the Southampton role would represent a significant opportunity for Ramsay. Despite their poor recent form, the Saints are expected to be among the favorites for promotion from the Championship. The situation might also involve a squad rebuild, particularly if promising young players like Tyler Dibbling and Mateus Fernandes were to leave St. Mary`s.
Currently, Simon Rusk is serving as Southampton`s interim head coach for the second time this season. His first temporary spell began after the sacking of Russell Martin, the manager who had guided them to promotion, in December. Ivan Juric held the position before Rusk`s current tenure, having departed this month after winning only two of his 16 matches in charge.
