Local boy done good!

Ysgol Llanfyllin has celebrated the confirmation that one of its former pupils, Eric Ramsay, has been appointed as the new head coach of West Bromwich Albion.

Ramsay, 34, has become one of the most respected young coaches in world football, and he joins the Championship club from Major League Soccer side Minnesota United, where he achieved the club’s highest points total and a fourth-place Western Conference finish in the 2025 season, before reaching the conference semi-finals of the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs.

He even orchestrated a 4-1 win over Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.

Ramsay, who established his excellent reputation as a coach with Chelsea, Manchester United and the Wales national team, has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract at The Hawthorns.

The Shrewsbury-born boss is the youngest British coach to achieve the UEFA Pro Licence and became the youngest permanent head coach in MLS history when he was appointed by Minnesota in February 2024. He oversaw 81 games in the States, claiming 34 wins and 21 draws.

But he has been fondly remembered this morning by the headteacher at Ysgol Llanfyllin, and his former PE teacher who said from an early age Ramsay showed “exceptional maturity, discipline, and a deep understanding of the game”.

Talking to MyWelshpool this morning, head, Dewi Owen, said: “All of us at Ysgol Llanfyllin are incredibly proud of Eric and his appointment as manager of West Bromwich Albion. As a former pupil of the school, Eric’s journey and achievements are a source of real inspiration to our whole school community.

“We have followed his career with great interest over the years, and his success is a reflection of his hard work, commitment and ambition.

“On behalf of everyone at the school, I would like to wish Eric every success in this exciting new role. We would also very much look forward to welcoming him back to the school in the future, should he be willing to inspire our pupils by taking part in our assemblies as he did when at Manchester United.”

Ramsay was also a player in the TNS academy and made his senior stamp in the game at Welshpool Town, but it was coaching that he always had a love for, as his PE teacher Llyr Thomas, who is also Deputy Head at the school, remembered: “From an early age at Ysgol Llanfyllin, Eric showed exceptional maturity, discipline, and a deep understanding of the game.

“His achievements are a source of great pride for our school and community. He exemplifies how dedication, intelligence, and humility can take a young student from Llanfyllin to the very highest levels of the global game. We wish him all the very best in his new role.”

Ramsay will be assisted by his right-hand man at Minnesota, Dennis Lawrence, who has extensive playing and coaching experience in England, having worked as first team coach alongside Roberto Martinez at Wigan Athletic and Everton, before joining Mark Robins as first team coach at Coventry City. 

Talking to West Brom’s official website, Ramsay said: “It’s an incredibly proud day for me and my family to become the Head Coach of West Bromwich Albion.

“Anyone connected in any type of way to my football journey would recognise that this is a huge step. I’m delighted to be able to take it at a club that I feel so positively about in terms of prospects, standing, stature and everything that goes with being at a club that is woven into the fabric of English football and has such a rich history, as well as optimism for the future.

“When you weigh all that up, it’s difficult not to feel just incredibly positive about the situation that I’m in. I’m really proud to be here and I’m really proud to play, hopefully, a small part in the club moving forward. 

“The timing of coming here was really important. It’s on the back of two full seasons in the MLS and having had the opportunity to have a bit of a break. I think anything that would have led to me leaving America and finding myself jumping straight back into a role in the midway point of an English season would have been tough. 

“The timing was really good and really important for me to come into this job feeling like I’ve been able to have a break and a reset and refreshed with the energy that is going to be needed to meet this challenge.”