Oxford united FC
Oxford United boss Aaron Ramsey credits Arsene Wenger
The 35-year-old was appointed into his first head coach role in June, taking over at United from Matt Bloomfield after retiring from professional football in April.
Ramsey has enjoyed a successful start to his tenure in OX4 so far, securing four wins from four pre-season fixtures, including a 2-0 victory over Premier League side Ipswich Town.
The former Gunners midfielder has also had to manage the squad amidst a temporary transfer ban which sees Oxford unable to register any new player until they prove compliance with the EFL’s Squad Cost Management Protocol (SCMP) regulations.
The ex-Wales international played under some world-renowned managers during his successful playing career in the likes of Wenger, Aston Villa boss Unai Emery and former Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri.
“Arsene was a huge part of the success that I had as a player,” the Yellows head coach detailed after the pre-season win over Ipswich.
“And obviously, I took so much from him as well, from the manager side of things.
“But I’ve been very lucky and blessed to have played for some really good managers over the years, which I’ve taken little bits from as well.
“So, yes, I wouldn’t just say it’s all him, but definitely he’s formed part of that.”
Similarly to Wenger, Ramsey possesses a calm demeanour on the touchline, more often than not on the edge of his technical area with the occasional instruction directed at a player or the team as a whole.
READ MORE: Will Vaulks leaves Oxford United to join Tranmere Rovers
READ MORE: Aaron Ramsey emphasises importance of Oxford United’s Stan Mills
He is visibly calm and contemplative, something which he himself acknowledges.
“I think that’s me as a player, though. I’ve always been quite calm and comfortable in situations. So for me, that’s the way that I am.
“And I want my players to feel that and to feel like they can go out there and express themselves.
“So, yes, when they play like that [against Ipswich], it does make it a lot easier for me on the side lines.
“I think we need to be confident in what we’re trying to do for us to be able to really showcase exactly what we can do.
“It’s that confidence which is important without stepping over the line, but we need to embrace that.”
The U’s begin their campaign this Saturday with a Carabao Cup clash with League One rivals Leyton Orient.
Ramsey will be hoping his side can take the confidence and impressive performances from pre-season into the competitive campaign.
League action begins a week later, with the Yellows hosting newly-promoted MK Dons at the Kassam on the opening day.
The U’s return to the third tier after a two-year stay in the Championship, suffering relegation last term with a 22nd-placed finish under Matt Bloomfield.
The club revealed their new home strip last month and have worn it twice during pre-season when they beat Crawley Town 3-1 and Ipswich Town 2-0 at the Kassam Stadium.
Oxford’s away kit was released with a video on social media titled ‘Performance Inspires’, the shirt being inspired by Oxford’s performing arts, with a ballet performance filmed at Oxford New Theatre.
The video is soundtracked by a reimagined take on Oxford band Foals’ song ‘What Went Down’.
The shirt is available to buy online and in-store.
The 32-year-old midfielder joined United in 2024 and played 88 games for the club, scoring two goals.
His last goal for the club came in the final home game of last season, a 4-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday.
On 14 January 2025, he scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 league draw away against Plymouth Argyle.
He will now join Tranmere who are in League Two.
The Wales international did not make any senior appearances for Tranmere in his first spell but has signed a two-year deal with the club.
The U’s are in the midst of a temporary transfer embargo and will not currently be able to replace the midfielder.
As well as his contributions on the pitch, Vaulks was also a pioneer in the Oxfordshire community, using his personal story to establish the award-winning Can We Talk? suicide prevention campaign.
READ MORE: Jack Currie hails Oxford United versatility under Aaron Ramsey
READ MORE: Aaron Ramsey emphasises importance of Oxford United’s Stan Mills
He introduced a suicide prevention check-in app for staff, delivered training to employees and supporters, and led workshops across the county, including at RAF Brize Norton.
He was nationally and internationally recognised for his campaigning, winning awards including the FIFPRO Player Voice and was recently named PFA Community Player of the Year.
Vaulks made seven appearances for Wales, his most recent coming in a 1-1 draw with Czechia in 2022.
Oxford United begin their League One campaign next week with a home clash against MK Dons after suffering relegation from the second tier last season.
The U’s defeated Ipswich Town in their final pre-season friendly on Saturday to secure four wins from their four friendly fixtures.
Currie scored the opener, converting Tyler Goodrham’s ball across before Stan Mills dispossessed David Button in goal and swept the ball into an open net to double the score.
Oxford look ahead to their first competitive fixture this coming Saturday, a Carabao Cup clash with third-tier rivals Leyton Orient before the new League One season commences a week later.
Ipswich were the first team above United in the English football pyramid that Ramsey’s men played, beating lower-league opponents Aldershot Town of the National League as well as League Two clubs Barnet and Crawley Town in the three games prior.
“We’ve had games this pre-season that have challenged us in multiple ways, with the physicality of Barnet and then the technical quality of Ipswich,” Currie observed after the victory over the Tractor Boys.
“I think what’s really important for us is that we’re versatile, like we have been, and we can change things up when we need to, and we’ll be enjoying football.
“I think the bottom line of it is they’re a Prem team, so whoever they put out are Prem quality players, and that just shows the quality we do have with everyone.
“I’m just very glad we can put what we want into the game, and we can give the fans something to be excited for.
“We all knew exactly how we wanted to set up and we were excited. Everyone really enjoyed the way we were playing.
READ MORE: Aaron Ramsey opens up on Oxford United latest injury struggles
READ MORE: Greg Leigh back impressing for Oxford United in pre-season
“We got set up nicely by the gaffer and the staff. I think the main thing was that we implemented it. We weren’t nervous in the ball or anything.”
New head coach Ramsey has seemed to have had an inspiring influence on the U’s squad, bringing in top-level experience after a stellar playing career with giants like Arsenal and Juventus.
Former Cardiff City, Reading and Wales full back Chris Gunter followed Ramsey to OX4 as his assistant.
“He’s come in with fresh ideas, fresh ways of playing that I think suit the boys a little bit better, so it’s important that we do put them on the pitch and keep enjoying our football like we did today.
“Even [assistant head coach] Chris Gunter as a full back myself. You look at these players and you think that’s the career you want to have.
“They’ve both had unbelievable careers.
“They’ve got an incredible buy-in from everyone around the club. And it’s a really nice buzz, especially with the wins in pre-season.”
Fans rally around Jeremy Clarkson after Diddly Squat Farm ‘disaster’
Thames Water leakage targets are ‘not realistic’ says boss
Gatwick airport to open second runway after legal challenge fails | Gatwick airport
-
Business & Technology3 weeks agoHSBC UK & Visa test AI shopping with live payments
-
Business & Technology3 weeks agoValarian lands USD $50 million backing for sovereign AI
-
Business & Technology4 weeks agoMouser warns against viral hacks to cool overheating phones
-
Oxford News4 weeks agoNew romantasy bookshop attracts queues of customers
-
Business & Technology4 weeks agoSNP & Palantir launch AI tools for SAP transformations
-
Business & Technology4 weeks agoKane tops England influencer rankings after Mexico win
-
Traffic & Transport4 weeks ago‘I felt my spine and body split’: the woman who was hit by a child on a Lime bike – and denied compensation | Ebikes
-
Oxford News4 weeks agoDWP now checking bank accounts for Universal Credit and Pension Credit