Aaron Ramsey handed first management job as ex-Arsenal star bids to save club

Aaron Ramsey will oversee 's bid to beat the drop after the beleaguered Bluebirds decided to sack Omer Riza in the aftermath of their 2-0 defeat away at on Good Friday.

Riza, 45, leaves with the club second from bottom in the table and a point from safety with three games remaining. And , 34, will step in on a temporary basis.

The news was confirmed in a club statement on Saturday, which read: "Cardiff City FC can confirm that a decision has been taken to relieve Omer Riza of his duties as First Team Manager.

"Aaron Ramsey will lead the Club for the remaining three games of the Sky Bet Championship season, beginning with Monday’s match at home to Oxford United. Chris Gunter, Joe Ralls, Tom Hutton and Matthew Bloxham will join Aaron in the technical area.

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"We’d like to thank Omer for his passion and effort during his time as Cardiff City manager and wish him the very best for his next steps in the game."

Riza's departure comes just days after he was branded 'disrespectful' for saying that some of the club's supporters were "clueless" when he was asked about some of the criticism that had been levelled at him from the fanbase.

Riza, who would go on to apologise hours before Cardiff's crucial match with Sheffield United on Friday, said: "I do read comments, I read all the comments from fans and unfortunately a lot of them are clueless."

Riza was handed a contract until the end of the season back in December after impressing initially in an interim capacity following the departure of the club's previous manager, Erol Bulut.

Ramsey has no senior managerial experience but the Wales captain has made no secret of his desire to pursue a career in management. The former midfielder returned to his boyhood club in the summer of 2023 after spells at and OGC Nice, though he has been plagued by injury.

His first game at the helm will be on Monday, when Cardiff host 19th-placed Oxford United in a huge six-pointer. The midfielder will then oversee further games against and Norwich as Cardiff bid to avoid relegation to the third tier for the first time since 2002.

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