Aaron Ramsey

Aaron James Ramsey (born 26 December 1990 in Caerphilly) is a Wales international association football, who plays as a central midfielder for Arsenal F.C., but can also play on either wing or at fullback. At Cardiff City Aaron Ramsey was nicknamed Rambo by the fans.

Career

Cardiff City

After impressing in an Urdd Gobaith Cymru tournament as a youngster Aaron Ramsey signed for Cardiff City F.C., who beat off competition from Newcastle United F.C., as a schoolboy at the age of eight, working Aaron Ramsey way through the club's youth system. After a few more years Aaron Ramsey eventually made Aaron Ramsey Cardiff City F.C. debut in the last home game of the The Football League 2006-07, coming on to replace Paul Parry in the final minute of the 1–0 defeat to Hull City A.F.C. on 28 April 2007. In doing so, Ramsey became the youngest player to ever play for Cardiff City, aged just 16 years and 124 days, beating the previous record holder John Toshack. In June 2007, Cardiff City turned down a bid of over £1m for Ramsey from a London-based Premier League club. The club was not named, but it was widely believed that they continued to watch Ramsey at every available opportunity during the 2007–08 season. Cardiff also turned down a £1m offer, although the deal was to start with a payment of £200,000 and rise depending on Aaron Ramsey future achievements, from Everton F.C..

Aaron Ramsey made Aaron Ramsey first league appearance of the 2007–08 season on 6 October, when Aaron Ramsey came on as a late substitute for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in the 2–1 home win over Burnley F.C.. Ramsey signed Aaron Ramsey first professional contract in December 2007 and went on to make Aaron Ramsey first full professional start for Cardiff on 5 January in the FA Cup against non-league side Chasetown F.C. replacing the suspended Stephen McPhail. An impressive performance from Ramsey saw Aaron Ramsey head in the second Cardiff goal as they went on to win 3–1. Due to Aaron Ramsey performance against Chasetown Ramsey was nominated for the Player Of The Round award, eventually losing out to Coventry City F.C. Michael Mifsud. Aaron Ramsey went on to make Aaron Ramsey first career league start three weeks later in a 3–1 win over Queens Park Rangers F.C. and began to establish himself in the first team making several more starts in the Cardiff side. Aaron Ramsey made a total of 22 appearances during the season, Aaron Ramsey first full season of professional football, and played in five of the club's six FA Cup matches, including the final, becoming the second youngest player to play in an FA cup final after Curtis Weston, who played in the 2004 FA Cup Final for Millwall F.C..

Following Ramsey's impressive performance in the 2–0 FA Cup quarter-final win over Middlesbrough F.C. it was revealed that Manchester United F.C. manager Sir Alex Ferguson had talked to Cardiff boss Dave Jones to inquire about Ramsey, who were later joined by Arsenal F.C. and Everton F.C. in following Aaron Ramsey progress. Ramsey grew up a Manchester United fan as Aaron Ramsey looked up to fellow Welshman Ryan Giggs as well as Roy Keane. Cardiff Chairman Peter Ridsdale told the BBC that Arsenal's bid of £5 million up front had been accepted. Arsenal's bid did not include a loan clause that would allow Ramsey to stay at Cardiff for another season. Cardiff City assistant manager and former Arsenal player and coach Terry Burton, who was credited for having brought through Ramsey, also helped recommend Aaron Ramsey to Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, having retained a longstanding connection to the club. During the transfer negotiations, Burton also advised that Ramsey join Arsenal, citing the similarity between the player and the club's overall style of play. The move was completed on 13 June 2008 on what is said to be a long-term contract. The main reason Aaron Ramsey chose Arsenal ahead of the other clubs that pursued Aaron Ramsey signature was the approach of Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, who flew Aaron Ramsey and Aaron Ramsey family to Switzerland to talk about the plans Wenger had for Aaron Ramsey and Aaron Ramsey potential future with Arsenal. Wenger described Ramsey as "a player with a fantastic engine, good build, good technique and good vision".

Ramsey made Aaron Ramsey competitive debut for Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round against FC Twente on 13 August 2008 and Aaron Ramsey league debut a month later against Blackburn Rovers F.C. on 13 September 2008, marking it with an assist to Emmanuel Adebayor for Arsenal's fourth and Adebayor's third. On 23 September 2008 Aaron Ramsey completed 90 minutes in Arsenal's third round Football League Cup game against Sheffield United F.C. where Aaron Ramsey added two more assists to Aaron Ramsey season's tally, setting up Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela, which Arsenal won 6–0. Aaron Ramsey scored Aaron Ramsey first goal for the club in their 5–2 victory away against Fenerbahçe S.K. in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League by shooting a long range shot which hit the left post and went in, becoming the fifth youngest scorer in Champions League history, and only the second player born in the 1990s to score a Champions League goal.

Ramsey was named amongst host of young players poised to shine in 2009 by Fifa.com.
On 1 July 2009, Ramsey signed a new long-term contract at Arsenal.

International

Ramsey made 11 appearances for the Welsh Under-21 side, from 2007-2008. On 19 November 2008 Ramsey was given Aaron Ramsey debut start with the senior Welsh side, in a friendly against Denmark national football team.

Personal life

As a child Aaron Ramsey attended Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni in the Caerphilly County Borough. Before turning to football, Ramsey was a keen rugby player and as a schoolboy Aaron Ramsey played as a winger for Caerphilly R.F.C.s youth development programme, where Aaron Ramsey was approached by scouts from Rugby league side St Helens RLFC after playing in a youth match against them. Aaron Ramsey lived with Aaron Ramsey parents, Marlene and Kevin, and Aaron Ramsey brother, Josh, until moving to London. Ramsey is bilingual, fluent in both Welsh_language and English.

Honours

Cardiff
- Runner-up
- - FA Cup: 2008 FA Cup Final

Arsenal
- Winner:
- - Amsterdam Tournament: Amsterdam Tournament 2008
- - : FA Youth Cup 2008-09

Club career statistics