AARON RAMSEY is set to follow in the footsteps of ex-team-mate Mikel Arteta and start his coaching badges.
The ex-Arsenal midfielder, 32, played alongside Arteta for five years in the Gunners midfield
Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta were team-mates and central midfield partners for Arsenal
And Ramsey has been highly impressed with how the Spaniard has adapted to life in management.
SunSport exclusively revealed last summer that the Football Association of Wales would offer Ramsey and Gareth Bale places on their coaching courses.
Ramsey, who made his third Cardiff debut in the Championship 2-2 draw at Leeds on Sunday, says he intends to focus on his playing days.
But, unlike Bale who is enjoying his retirement, has opened the pathway to a career in the dugout when he retires.
Ramsey said: “It’s still early days for me, but I’m definitely going to do my coaching badges now that I’m back home and I’m able to do that on my doorstep.
“I’ll definitely do them over the next few years, but that’s just in case one day I do decide to go into it.
“I still feel like I’ve got a lot more years to play yet. That’s what I’m fully focused on.”
Ramsey always knew Arteta, who led Arsenal to a Community Shield penalty shootout triumph over Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday, would go on to become a manager.
The 41-year-old undertook his coaching badges with the FAW and the pair discussed the Welsh course as players.
Ramsey spent 11 years at the Emirates between 2008-2019 and won the FA Cup three times including two match-winning goals in 2014 and 2017.
The Wales captain added: “Arsenal are in good hands with Mikel.
“I played with him and you could see his intensity and the way that he talked about the game, the way he saw the game, that he was destined to become a manager.
“To be able to learn as an understudy to one of the best managers of all time in Pep Guardiola has given him a lot of insight and knowledge that not many people would have.
“Having said that, he has brought in his own style Arsenal, put his own take on it.
“That mixture is only going to be good for Arsenal and help them to win a few things.”
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