Heath In, Ramsay Out for Loons' 10th Anniversary Match
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Minnesota United is set to roll out the red carpet for a gathering of club VIPs arriving in the Twin Cities for Wednesday's 10-year anniversary match. But only one of the two previous head coaches will be at Allianz Field when the Loons face Atlanta United. Adrian Heath, the club's first permanent manager, has confirmed his attendance, while Eric Ramsay, who departed in January for West Bromwich Albion, will stay in his native United Kingdom with his young family.
MNUFC released a list of former players expected to join the celebration, though it made no mention of either coach. The distinguished group includes Ozzie Alonso, Ike Opara, Romain Metanire, Bakaye Dibassy, Jan Gregus, Jerome Thiesson, Collin Martin, and Abu Danladi. Several key members of the club's all-decade team still play for Minnesota: Michael Boxall, Wil Trapp, Joaquin Pereyra, Bongi Hlongwane, and Anthony Markanich. Other notable alumni now with different clubs—Christian Ramirez, Dayne St. Clair, Robin Lod, Hassani Dotson, and Tani Oluwaseyi—are also on the alumni roster but not all are scheduled to appear. Like Ramsay, some instrumental former players such as Emanuel Reynoso, Darwin Quintero, and Kevin Molino will not be in attendance.
Ramsay's absence is less surprising given the timing. He left the Loons on his own accord in January, accepting the head coaching job at West Bromwich Albion, ending a two-year tenure in Minnesota that included friction with Chief Soccer Officer Khaled El-Ahmad. Ramsay was under contract through the 2026 season when he departed weeks before MLS preseason. A return trip to the U.S. would have involved complicated logistics, and the invitation may have come too soon after his exit. Breakups can be hard, and time often helps smooth things over.
Heath's relationship with MNUFC has been more obviously strained. After seven years on the job, the Englishman was fired with two games left in the 2023 season. He felt he deserved to finish the regular season, and the Loons missed the playoffs under interim coach Sean McAuley. That dismissal led to an estrangement that only began to thaw in April, when owner Bill McGuire invited Heath to attend a match against LAFC. Heath's first return to Allianz Field was low-key—he sat in the suite level, and the visit only became public after he mentioned it on a radio show. "Enjoyed coming back," Heath told the St. Paul Pioneer Press afterward. "About time. … Enough water has passed under the bridge."
Both Ramsay and Heath led the Loons to success but never to a trophy. Heath guided Minnesota to four straight MLS Cup Playoffs from 2019 to 2022 and reached the U.S. Open Cup final in 2019. Ramsay made the postseason in both of his years (2024 and 2025) and advanced to the Open Cup semifinal in 2025. "Two great coaches," said current Loons head coach Cameron Knowles after a 1-1 draw at Real Salt Lake on Saturday. "A lot of similarities in some senses, and certainly differences, as well."
Knowles, who was hired as a video analyst by Heath in 2021 and later served as interim head coach between the two tenures, spoke warmly of both men. "Really grateful for the opportunity from Adrian Heath … to see how the club, year on year, just continued to get better and better, the record of making the playoffs and the Western Conference final (in 2020), the run in the Open Cup," Knowles said. "I mean, the success that he had with the team, and the way that he was able to, with a lot of quality players, get them all in sync, have some really good runs and continue a sustained success over his tenure."
Heath, a former high-level attacker in England and Spain, brought an offensive-minded style to Minnesota and was never afraid to speak his mind. Ramsay, 31 years younger, was in many ways his polar opposite. He turned to coaching early in life and built teams around a methodical, stout defensive backbone. In his first head-coaching job, he was courteous with reporters and needed time to find his voice. "I think you see … the success we had over the last two years with Eric and with Dennis (Lawrence) on his staff," Knowles added. "Two great coaches: a really clear way in which we played, and a group that was galvanized in terms of grinding out results. Really enjoyed the time with them."
Wednesday's anniversary match will be a moment to reflect on the club's first decade, a journey marked by coaching changes, playoff runs, and the enduring support of fans. Heath's presence signals a reconciliation that many supporters will welcome, while Ramsay's absence reminds everyone that even in celebration, the passage of time and personal decisions shape the narrative.
Article commentary
Minnesota United's 10-year anniversary match offers a natural moment to reflect on the club's evolution from an expansion team to a consistent playoff contender. The contrasting attendance of its two former head coaches—Adrian Heath present, Eric Ramsay absent—underscores the different ways relationships with clubs can end and how time can heal or maintain distance. Heath's return is particularly noteworthy. Fired with two games left in 2023, he felt a sense of injustice that kept him away for over a year. His decision to attend now, after a private invitation from owner Bill McGuire, suggests a thawing of tensions. The quote "enough water has passed under the bridge" is telling—it acknowledges that while the parting was painful, the club's history includes achievements worth celebrating. Heath's legacy is strong: four straight playoff appearances, a Western Conference final in 2020, and an Open Cup final in 2019. For a club that had never tasted postseason success before his arrival, that record is foundational. Ramsay's absence, by contrast, feels more practical than emotional. He left voluntarily for a job in England, and his departure was recent enough that logistics and family considerations likely played a bigger role than any lingering animosity. Still, the fact that his name wasn't mentioned in the club's list of invitees—only Heath's was confirmed—hints at the delicate nature of his exit. The acrimony with Chief Soccer Officer Khaled El-Ahmad, combined with his early departure before the 2026 season, may have left a bitter aftertaste. Time will tell if Ramsay eventually returns for a future milestone. What makes this anniversary compelling is the way it highlights the club's identity. Under Heath, Minnesota United was known for high-scoring, attacking soccer and a strong personality at the helm. Under Ramsay, the team became more defensively disciplined and methodical. Both approaches yielded regular season success but no silverware. The Loons remain a club that consistently reaches the playoffs but has yet to break through to win an MLS Cup or U.S. Open Cup. That narrative—of being a perennial contender without a trophy—is a central theme of the first decade. Current head coach Cameron Knowles, who worked under both men, offers a unique perspective. His praise for both coaches suggests that the club's culture has been shaped by a blend of offensive flair and defensive grit. Knowles himself is now tasked with taking the next step, and the anniversary serves as a reminder of the high standards set by his predecessors. Ultimately, the 10-year celebration is about more than individual coaches. It's about the players, fans, and community that have built a soccer culture in the Twin Cities. The list of returning alumni—from Alonso to Danladi—represents the journey from the club's NASL days to its current MLS standing. Heath's presence adds a layer of emotional closure, while Ramsay's absence is a quiet acknowledgment that not all departures are meant to be revisited. As the Loons look ahead to the next decade, this anniversary offers a chance to honor the past while focusing on the unfinished business of winning a championship.