Aaron Ramsey

Football player infobox


playername = Aaron Ramsey
fullname = Aaron James Ramsey
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1990|12|26|df=y
cityofbirth = Caerphilly
countryofbirth = Wales
height = height|m=1.78
weight = weight|kg=76
currentclub = Arsenal
clubnumber = 16
position = Centre midfielder
youthyears = 1999–2007
youthclubs = Cardiff City
years = 2007–2008
2008–
clubs = Cardiff City
Arsenal
caps(goals) = 16 (1)
02 (0)
nationalyears = 2005–2008
2007–
nationalteam = Wales U17
Wales U21
nationalcaps(goals) = 15 (2)
010 (0)
pcupdate = 14:06, 4 October 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 19:47, 10 October 2008 (UTC)

Aaron James Ramsey (born 26 December 1990 in Caerphilly) [cite news |title=Official Player Profile |url=http://www.cardiffcityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10335~39793,00.html |publisher=cardiffcityfc.co.uk |date=2007-08-22 |accessdate=2007-08-22 ] is a Welsh footballer, who plays as a central midfielder for Arsenal, but can also play on either wing or at fullback. Arsene Wenger described Ramsey as a player with a fantastic engine, good build, good technique and good vision [ [http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-opportunity-knocks-early-for-ramsey Wenger - Opportunity knocks early for Ramsey] , arsenal.com, accessed 13 August 2008.]

Cardiff City

After impressing in an Urdd tournament as a youngster he signed for Cardiff City, who beat off competition from Newcastle United. As a schoolboy at the age of eight working his way through the club's youth system, he eventually made his Cardiff City debut in the last home game of the 2006-07 Championship season, coming on to replace Paul Parry in the final minute of the 1-0 defeat to Hull City 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, [cite news |title=Jones hails record-breaker Ramsey |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/6607983.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2007-04-30 |accessdate=2007-04-30 ] 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. [cite news |title=Cardiff reject £1m bid for Ramsey |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/6244228.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2007-06-27 |accessdate=2007-06-27 ] 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 his future achievements, from Everton.

He made his first league appearance of the 2007–08 season on 6 October, when he came on as a late substitute for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in the 2-1 home win over Burnley. Ramsey signed his first professional contract in December 2007 [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/7165918.stm "Ramsey pens professional contract"] BBC Sport Retrieved on 11 February 2008] and went on to make his first full professional start for Cardiff on 5 January in the FA Cup against non-league side Chasetown replacing the suspended Stephen McPhail. An impressive performance from Ramsey saw him head in the second Cardiff goal as they went on to win 3-1. [cite news |title=Chasetown 1-3 Cardiff |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7163953.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2008-01-05 |accessdate=2008-01-05 ] Due to his performance against Chasetown Ramsey was nominated for the Player Of The Round award, eventually losing out to Coventry's Michael Mifsud. [cite news |title=Mifsud takes the vote |url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFACup/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2008/01/Potr_MifsudThirdRound.htm |publisher=TheFA.com |date=2008-01-14 |accessdate=2008-01-14 ] He went on to make his first career league start three weeks later in a 3-1 win over Queens Park Rangers and began to establish himself in the first team making several more starts in the Cardiff side. He made a total of 22 appearances during the season, his first full season of professional football, and played in five of the club's six FA Cup matches, including the final. In fact, he was the second youngest player to play in an FA cup final.

Following Ramsey's impressive performance in the 2-0 FA Cup quarter-final win over Middlesbrough it was revealed that Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had talked to Cardiff boss Dave Jones to enquire about Ramsey, joining Arsenal and Everton in following his progress. [ [http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/footballnation/cardiff-city-fc/2008/03/12/fergie-in-for-5m-rated-aaron-ramsey-91466-20611324/ "Fergie in for £5m rated Aaron Ramsey"] South Wales Echo Retrieved on 15 March, 2008] 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. [ [http://www.cardiffcityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10335~1325950,00.html Cardiff City - Ridsdale on Ramsey Move: Updated] ]

Arsenal

On 10 June 2008 it was confirmed that after meeting officials from Arsenal, Manchester United and Everton, Ramsey had decided to join Arsenal, who paid Cardiff City a total of £4.8 million for the player.cite news | first = Terry
last = Phillips
title = Arsenal claim discount on Ramsey deal
url = http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/cardiff-city-fc/2008/07/31/arsenal-claim-discount-on-ramsey-deal-91466-21440756/
publisher = South Wales Echo
date = 2008-07-31
accessdate = 2008-07-31] The move was completed on 13 June 2008 on what is said to be a long-term contract. The main reason he chose Arsenal ahead of the other clubs that pursued his signature was the approach of Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, who flew him and his family to Switzerland to talk about the plans Wenger had for him and his potential future with Arsenal.cite news | first = David
last = Dulin
title = Ramsey completes Arsenal switch
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/7445528.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2008-06-13
accessdate = 2008-06-13] Ramsey made his competitive debut for Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round against FC Twente on 13 August 2008 and his league debut a month later against Blackburn Rovers on 13 September 2008, marking it with an assist to Emmanuel Adebayor for Arsenal's fourth and Adebayor's third. On 23 September 2008 he completed 90 minutes in Arsenal's third round Carling Cup game against Sheffield Utd where he added two more assists to his season's tally, setting up Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela, which Arsenal won 6-0.

Personal life

As a child he attended Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni in Caerphilly. Before turning to football, Ramsey was a keen Rugby player and as a schoolboy he played as a winger for Caerphilly R.F.C.'s youth development programme, where he was approached by scouts from Rugby league side St Helens RFC after playing in a youth match against them. [cite news | first = David
last = Williams
title = Ramsey could have been RL star
url = http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/footballnation/cardiff-city-fc/2008/05/29/rambo-could-have-been-rl-star-91466-20993317/
publisher = Media Wales
date = 2008-05-29
accessdate = 2008-09-25] He grew up supporting Manchester United as he idolised fellow Welshman Ryan Giggs. His two other favourite players are Steven Gerrard and Roy Keane. He lived with his parents, Marlene and Kevin, and his brother, Josh, until moving to London. He now shares an apartment with rival club Tottenham Hotspur's player Chris Gunter who has helped him settle in London. Ramsey is bilingual, fluent in both Welsh and English.

Honours

;Cardiff
*Runner-up
**FA Cup: 2008

;Arsenal
*Winner:
**Amsterdam Tournament: 2008

Club career statistics

:"(correct as of 23 September 2008)" [cite news | title = Statistics
url = http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/stats?id=98681&cc=4716
publisher = Soccernet
accessdate = 2008-09-25]

References

External links

* [http://aaronramsey.awardspace.com Aaron Ramsey Official Website] Official Website
* [http://www.pbase.com/welshfootballnews/wales_france&page=all Aaron Ramsey photos - Wales U21 v France U21]
*soccerbase|id=46488|name=Aaron Ramsey
* [http://www.cardiffcityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10335~39793,00.html Aaron Ramsey profile] at Cardiffcityfc.co.uk
* [http://www.arsenal.com/first-team/players/aaron-ramsey Aaron Ramsey profile] at Arsenal.com
* [http://www.goal.com/en-us/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=733186 Goal.com profile]