Oxford United eyeing ex-Arsenal star to replace Matt Bloomfield | OneFootball

Aaron Ramsey has emerged as the new frontrunner for the vacant head coach role at Oxford United

Oxford United's sacking of Matt Bloomfield days before players were due back for pre-season raised some eyebrows, but the Yellows look set to appoint a replacement swiftly.

Oxford's two-year stay in the Championship came to an end last season. The Yellows were always seen as underdogs throughout the couple of terms they spent in the second tier, but they were unable to keep their heads above water for a second time last year.

It marked the second time that Matt Bloomfield had come into a struggling second-tier side midway through a campaign and was unable to keep them up, despite not being amongst the bottom three sides when it came to points return with him in the dugout.

However, unlike at Luton Town, the former Wycombe Wanderers boss hasn't been afforded the start of the campaign to try and engineer a swift Championship return, as the higher-ups at the Kassam Stadium relieved him of his duties on Saturday.

With pre-season on the horizon, questions were raised about the timing of such an important decision, but it looks like Oxford are closing in on their replacement almost immediately, as Aaron Ramsey has emerged as the new favourite.

New Oxford United favourite emerges as Aaron Ramsey earmarked for head coach role

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According to the Oxford Mail, former Arsenal midfielder and Welsh international Aaron Ramsey has become the new favourite to succeed Matt Bloomfield in the Oxford dugout.

The report states that there is "long-standing" interest in the 35-year-old at the Kassam Stadium, and that he impressed the board in an earlier meeting between both parties.

Ramsey spent 11 years at the Emirates Stadium, winning the FA Cup three times, the Community Shield twice and coming runners-up in both the EFL Cup and the UEFA Europa League.

After departing Arsenal in 2019 for Juventus, he bounced around numerous different clubs before returning to Cardiff City in 2023, where he took charge of the final three games of the 2024/25 campaign following the dismissal of Omer Riza, the first of which, coincidentally, was a 1-1 draw with Oxford on Easter Monday.

The Bluebirds would be relegated to League One that season, and Ramsey left for Mexican outfit UNAM, but left in October and subsequently retired earlier this year in April. Now, he's looking for his first permanent role in management.

With several former Premier League midfielders taking over at League One clubs in the past few years, it would serve as a good litmus test for the 35-year-old in his managerial career to see if he could oversee an immediate second-tier return at the Kassam.

How Oxford United fans are reacting to Aaron Ramsey update

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Understandably, bringing in an unproven young manager for what is expected to be a promotion-challenging campaign in League One for the former Championship side has created some speculation amongst Oxford fans.

Reacting to the news broken by the Oxford Mail, one fan simply replied, "Oh God, what are we doing?" "Would rather have Craig Short [former three-time caretaker boss] than this bloke," another said.

"I personally think it's a big risk, bringing in someone who, before now, has had very limited managerial experience. Don't get me wrong, whoever we bring in, I will give my full backing, but just a bit sceptical," another said.

Do you think Aaron Ramsey could be a success as the new Oxford United head coach? Let us know in the comments.

Sometimes, though, taking risks on young managers can prove to be a masterstroke. It's easy to compare the two, given their playing past and the fact they could both replace Bloomfield, but Luton's hire of Jack Wilshere looks to be paying dividends, albeit just missing out on promotion last season.

One Oxford fan is fine with the hiring of an inexperienced head coach, but only if paired with an experienced assistant to help him get his feet under the table in the dugout.

"Certainly in the minority here, but I wouldn't hate this," they said. "Yes, it's a risk, but I'm not so sure there are any 'risk-free' candidates. Bringing in an experienced assistant manager would be imperative."

Only time will tell whether Oxford move for Ramsey, and if the Yellows do hire the 35-year-old, all eyes will be on whether he works out in the dugout in his first role.

Regardless of some reaction and scepticism, it seems that those inside the Kassam Stadium will be ready to give him a chance.