Brian Barry-Murphy tasked with helping Cardiff City bounce back from relegation

Cork's Brian Barry-Murphy has been appointed as new head coach of Cardiff City.

He left his role as first-team coach at Leicester to take up the reins and signed a three-year contract with the League One club.

Cardiff City Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Brian Barry-Murphy as First Team Head Coach.

The 46-year-old has signed a three-year deal with the #Bluebirds, which runs until the summer of 2028.#CityAsOne — Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) June 16, 2025

Cardiff finished bottom of the Championship last season and appointed Aaron Ramsey as interim manager for the final three games of the season after sacking Omer Riza.

The son of GAA icon Jimmy Barry-Murphy, he broke through as a player with Cork City before moving in 1999 to Preston North End. His career took him to the likes of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury and Rochdale, where he began his coaching career at Rochdale in 2019.

ELITE

He subsequently moved on to become head coach of Manchester City's elite development squad. That meant the 46-year-old has worked with some well-known figures in recent seasons.

Man United legend Ruud Van Nistelrooy recruited him when he took over at Leicester at the end of December tasked with helping them avoid the drop, but they couldn't turn the tide with the Foxes who never looked like staying up in the Premier League.

Before that, Barry-Murphy was involved with Man City, helping to bring academy talent through to Pep Guardiola's first-team squad.

Brian Barry-Murphy chatting with Pep Guardiola.

He won back-to-back Premier League 2 titles in his first two seasons there, with Liam Delap since developing into one of the most highly-regarded young strikers in England, albeit with Ipswich before a recent transfer to Chelsea.

Cardiff owner Vincent Tan said: "Throughout the interview process, Brian showed a huge passion for our club because he believes in what we're trying to do.

He brings enthusiasm, vibrancy and an exciting outlook on what today's football is, while looking to play an attacking style that our fans are sure to enjoy."

Eight managers have come and gone at Cardiff over the past four turbulent years but relegation to existing in League One for the first time in 22 years has prompted a rethink on direction.

The Corkman’s record for blooding young players, as manager of Rochdale, assistant at Leicester City, and in charge of Manchester City’s development squad, attracted the Bluebirds’ hierarchy.

Former Manchester City academy director Mark Allen, who led Cardiff’s managerial appointment sub-committee interviewing candidates such as Aaron Ramsey for the past six weeks, knew first-hand of Barry-Murphy’s strengths from their time working together.

Irish internationals Callum Robinson and Callum O’Dowda are expected to be among the departures as the club resets for the new campaign.

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