Aaron Ramsey has admitted he’d like to manage Arsenal or Wales in the future, confirming that he intends to go into coaching next.Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images

Former Arsenal player Aaron Ramsey announced his retirement from playing professional football earlier this month, but the ex-midfielder doesn’t plan to spend much time away from the sport.

Speaking in an interview last week, Ramsey confirmed that his intention is now to go into coaching, with his brief spell as an interim head coach at Cardiff City igniting his desire to pursue that new career path.

The obvious question was whether he hopes to manage former club Arsenal or the Welsh national team someday.

“That would be the dream,” Ramsey admitted (via The S*n). “I know there is a long way to go before then. It’s time to go into coaching now. 100 per cent.

“I managed Cardiff for a few games but that just made me realise it’s definitely the next step for me. That will be on the cards next.

“I’m really excited. I’ve had some coaching exposure around the Wales set-up, working with some unbelievable staff there and I’ve done some work with Cardiff’s u18s so I’ve been keeping myself busy.”

In the meantime, Ramsey took part in the London Marathon over the weekend, running the full 26.2 miles in three hours and 30 seconds.

Ramsey was completing the run on behalf of the It’s Never You charity, founded by his friends Ceri and Frances Menai-Davis after they lost their six-year-old son Hugh to cancer in 2021.

Ramsey’s run raised thousands of pounds, and donations to the cause are still possible here.

Arsenal fans will surely wish their former FA Cup winner all the best with the next steps in his career, and perhaps he’ll be back at the Emirates Stadium someday.