As Wales failed to qualify for Euro 2024, Cardiff City has welcomed back midfielder Aaron Ramsey for pre-season training. Ramsey, the Wales captain, was among the players who officially returned to duty at Hensol to begin preparations for the upcoming season. Although both Ramsey and fans would have preferred to be competing in the Euros, a former teammate of his from Ninian Park is still heavily involved in the tournament, but with the England team.
Former striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink recently celebrated on the England bench as they advanced past Slovakia in the last-16 match. Hasselbaink has been a part of Gareth Southgate’s coaching staff since March of last year, forming a connection with Southgate during their time at Middlesbrough. Despite his current role with the England team, Hasselbaink previously played for Cardiff and scored memorable goals for them in FA Cup competitions.
Hasselbaink’s impressive performances for Cardiff included scoring against Wolves and making appearances in the final. He spent one season with the Bluebirds before moving on, scoring nine goals in 44 games. Additionally, former Cardiff goalkeeper Martyn Margetson recently marked his 100th game as England’s goalkeeping coach. Margetson has had two coaching spells with Swansea City and has a long history of experience in Welsh football.
Cardiff supporters were surprised by Hasselbaink’s return to England after spending some time away from international football following his retirement from playing in 2017. However, he has since made a name for himself as a coach and is considered one of Southgate’s most trusted assistants.
As Ramsey continues to train at Hensol ahead of the upcoming season, he remains optimistic about what lies ahead for both himself and Cardiff City. Despite not qualifying for Euro 2024, Ramsey knows that this season presents an opportunity to build on their progress and make strides towards achieving success on the field.
In conclusion, while Wales may have missed out on qualifying for Euro 2024, it doesn’t mean that there won’t be any exciting moments involving former Welsh players this summer. With Hasselbaink and Margetson both heavily involved with England’s team and Ramsey continuing his training at Cardiff City, there are plenty of reasons to look forward to what lies ahead this season!
