Latest news with #Barry-Murphy
Wales Online
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Cardiff City star being eyed by 12 Championship clubs as European interest emerges
Cardiff City star being eyed by 12 Championship clubs as European interest emerges Cardiff City are facing a big turnover of players this summer Alex Robertson of Cardiff City (Image: Cardiff) Reports claim up to 12 Championship clubs are keeping tabs on Cardiff City's Alex Robertson this summer. The midfielder signed for the Bluebirds last year but his first season in south Wales unfortunately ended in relegation. Brian Barry-Murphy is the man now at the helm at Cardiff City Stadium and Robertson will know his new boss well, having worked with him during their respective times at Manchester City. Robertson has been putting in extra training in his native Australia, training with new Portsmouth signing Adrian Segecic. He was filmed on Joner Football's YouTube channel doing some drills. When asked by the host of the channel about his stint at Cardiff, Robertson said: "Good, really good." Robertson's future could be the subject of speculation though, with The News in Portsmouth stating that the former City starlet will have talks with Barry-Murphy this coming week. The News report that a dozen second-tier outfits are keen on the midfielder, with one of the three relegated sides from the Premier League included in that list. Former club Pompey are said to be in the mix, with European and MLS interest also cited. Article continues below Robertson still has three years left on his Cardiff contract. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community. Barry-Murphy is set to revamp the Bluebirds squad in the coming weeks, with the new man hoping to put his stamp on things after arriving from Leicester City. Michael Reindorf has already left for Newport County on loan, while Roko Simic is also edging towards the exit door in the Welsh capital. "My belief is the smaller the squad, within reason, the more it aligns to having a culture of improvement and players having a strong opportunity to play," Barry-Murphy said when asked about the summer window. "It allows the younger players the opportunity to grow and play. If we have too many players and they don't play then it's a contradiction to the way I see it. "So have a strong squad from the players who are here, then complement it with the players coming through from the academy and the younger ones. Article continues below "Then, adding quality then means we can be specific on what it looks like to have an elite team in this division." Players will be heading to the exit door next week. All nine out-of-contract stars will be leaving for good, while the two loan players they had last season, Will Alves and Sivert Mannsverk, have returned to their parent clubs. Four will return to the fold from their respective loan stints away - Eli King (Stevenage), Joel Colwill (Exeter City), Ryan Wintle (Millwall) and Ryotaro Tsunoda (KV Kortrijk).
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Transfer ploy Cardiff City would be 'daft' not to use as Brian Barry-Murphy's major skill emerges
Transfer ploy Cardiff City would be 'daft' not to use as Brian Barry-Murphy's major skill emerges We spoke to the Manchester Evening News' Manchester City correspondent for insight into the new Cardiff City boss New Cardiff City manager Brian Barry-Murphy (Image: Cardiff City FC ) We are now just over a week into Brian Barry-Murphy's Cardiff City tenure, however Bluebirds fans could still be forgiven for not knowing a huge deal about what to expect from the Irishman over the coming season - or three, for that matter. The 46-year-old penned a three-year contract in the Welsh capital, a sizeable commitment from the club and the first three-year managerial contract they've handed out in a decade since the days of Malky Mackay. Some might believe it to be something of a gamble and, of course, the appointment comes with risk, but the Cardiff board believed he was the right man to start this new project. After two years at Rochdale, three years heading up Manchester City's academy coaching team and a brief spell on Ruud van Nistelrooy's Leicester City coaching staff, Barry-Murphy starts this new challenge with the immediate task of getting back into the Championship at the first time of asking very much top of the agenda. We spoke to the Manchester Evening News' Manchester City correspondent, Simon Bajkowski, for insight into the new Cardiff boss, having covered his three-year stint with the Premier League giants' youth sides. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community. Bajkowski believes Barry-Murphy would be "daft" not to tap into his Man City connections this summer, with Cardiff doubtless having to bring in a few new bodies to address key weaknesses in the side over the coming months. They will likely seek some loan additions to bolster the squad. However, Bajkowski is a firm believer that Cardiff fans are likely to see the biggest positive coming from Barry-Murphy working on the players already in situ, believing the Bluebirds head coach has a real skill in making players better - a criticism which has been levelled at the Cardiff coaching teams of recent years. Article continues below Here is what Cardiff fans can expect from Brian Barry-Murphy.... 1) What can Cardiff City fans expect from a Brian Barry-Murphy side? Hopefully, a team that plays good football and plays for each other. Part of his attraction to City when he was at Rochdale was his total commitment to positive football, and his young City teams scored plenty of goals and always looked to play on the front foot. Obviously blind copies don't work but you'd expect Cardiff to look more like Pep Guardiola's City do with passing out from the back and looking to dominate possession in order to create chances and score goals. 2) How did he evolve during his time at Manchester City? I think Brian arrived at City as an idealist and left as a pragmatist. Something that is often forgotten about City's football is that it is fundamentally about winning rather than pretty football. Having won praise for his work at Rochdale despite them being relegated and then taking the Under-21s job at City, he better came to appreciate the balance between development and winning - and how important the latter is for the former. He also grew to learn what it takes to succeed as a Guardiola player, which is actually more about attitude and application than footballing ability. All of this brought the tactical and man-management aspects of his coaching on. 3) What can we expect from him in the press? Is he outspoken and honest or more reserved? Cardiff fans should enjoy listening to his press conference answers, with his answers open, honest, and informative. He was a sponge at City soaking up every single thing that Guardiola did as much in the press conference room as on the training pitch, so there may be the odd mind game in there but generally he says it as it is. At City, he was honest enough to admit when players were challenging his ability to coach and openly called out changes to the Under-21 format that he didn't like. 4) Presumably he would have had a hand in transfers for the academy while at City. Can you give us some insight into his transfer strategy and/or ability to improve players? He was obviously involved in transfers at City but there was also a big recruitment team that covered the academy so his remit was more coaching. Each season and also within them, there would be first-team needs that had to be prioritised in terms of developing individual players. That meant that as well as preparing his teams for matches, there would be specific work with individuals on certain skills - such as pressing off the ball - that would be incorporated into the games. Often, that individual work would be more important in terms of improving players for the first team. 5) Do you expect him to lean on his City connections in the transfer window? He would be daft not to. City obviously have a network of their own clubs that they like to send on loan to but the chance to have a club in a competitive league where the manager knows their football intrinsically is definitely appealing. There have been a few loans in recent years down the leagues in England that really haven't worked out, so it could be mutually beneficial if Barry-Murphy can get some of City's youngsters to shine in senior football. 6) Finally, Lee Riley has been appointed his assistant. He is a bit of an unknown quantity. Could you give us some information on him and what he is likely to bring to the setup and project? Article continues below Lee moved across from Rochdale as Brian's trusted lieutenant and continued in that role before staying at the club last year when Brian left. Every coach needs a No.2 they can trust and bounce ideas off in order to work better and Lee should make Brian a better coach. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.
Wales Online
6 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Brian Barry-Murphy's famous dad issued five-word response when asked about Cardiff City job
Brian Barry-Murphy's famous dad issued five-word response when asked about Cardiff City job The Irishman is completing his first week in the job after being unveiled as Cardiff City boss Cardiff City head coach Brian Barry-Murphy (Image: Cardiff City FC ) When Brian Barry-Murphy sought counsel from his father, the legendary Irish sportsman Jimmy, about the Cardiff City job, the answer he received was about as convincing as you can get: "Don't think twice about it". Barry-Murphy Snr. is a sporting icon on the Emerald Isle, having helped to deliver six All-Ireland titles as a player across both Gaelic football and hurling. A remarkable seven-time All-Star—five in hurling and two in football—his influence on the game extended well beyond his playing days. In 1995, he managed Cork's hurlers to Liam MacCarthy Cup success, returning for a second spell in charge from 2011 to 2015. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community. His legacy was brought back into the spotlight in 2022 when Roy Keane, appearing on Monday Night Football, named Barry-Murphy Snr. as his greatest sporting hero—leaving the Sky Sports panel momentarily lost for words. "Growing up in Ireland, the GAA was a big part of my life," said Keane. "Hurling—watching Jimmy Barry-Murphy playing for Cork—you know, brilliant sportsman." So it's fair to say, he is qualified to offer his opinion when his son needs advice in the sporting arena. And his response was unequivocally in the affirmative. Article continues below "I got advice [from his father] in the sense that he just told me to take the job," Barry-Murphy said. "He said: 'don't think twice about it'. "He was speaking about the stature of this club and where it is and what an opportunity it is to put the supporters and the club on a path to something completely different and that is why have come here. "A lot of how I work and how I try to bring people on this journey is down to what I witnessed from him growing up. I thought we could get away without mentioning him, but now that we have there was always an expectation based on my father's exploits, there was always an expectation in our household that we had to win and he had to win and had to be winning trophies. "That kind of stuff you become aware of it from a very young age so I have lived with that my whole life and get out of the spotlight of that." That winning mentality of which Barry-Murphy speaks has been sorely lacking in the Welsh capital for some years now. Indeed it's been a steady slide downwards since the relegation from the Premier League and the club's board hope that the Irishman's appointment signifies a meaningful directional shift in more ways than one. During the head coach's first press conference this week, he outlined with a real clarity how he wants to play and seemed extraordinarily confident that he would be able to deliver it. Admirable, but of course he will have to walk the walk after talking the talk. He does, however, have excellent schooling under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, where he spent three years as the head academy coach. Going there from Rochdale, where he was lauded for his style of play, but ultimately saw them relegated out of League One, taught him how to turn his philosophy into winning football – which Cardiff fans will hope to see at Cardiff City Stadium over the course of his three-year contract and beyond. "When you go somewhere like Man City you see how to turn that possession-based football into effective football where you have to serve the ball to a certain calibre of footballer who wanted it quicker," he said. "I always knew what I wanted to do, I didn't always know how to do it and that is what I got from Guardiola in terms of that training programme where you keep that ball for long periods, but for what reason? The longer you keep that ball the less effective you are at arriving at the last line of the opponents effectively. "We have the calibre of player here who can attack quickly and if you link it back to a Cole Palmer or an Oscar Bobb, if you spend loads of time keeping the ball at the back with those players by the time if comes to the last line, the opponents are really well structured and organised and it becomes quite a sterile, negative experience. "The way I have arrived as a coach and the way I want to see my teams play is to arrive much quicker and once we have arrived to finish attacks in a much more effective way. "That's something that has evolved over time and leaves me where I am today, it leaves me in a much more progressive way where a team can be more aggressive and it gives the supporters something that I know works and I know how it works based on where I have been and hopefully it will invigorate the Cardiff supporters. "It allows you to win. You can dodge that question as much as you want but really We are here to win and win often enough to achieve the objectives that we want." Barry-Murphy's most recent job was at Leicester City, an experience he says he "got a lot out of" even if Ruud van Nistelrooy's side did suffer Premier League relegation. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here. But it was his first step out into elite, senior football after leaving Man City — he also cites now-Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca as a huge help to him there — and now this will be his first head coach job since departing Rochdale in 2022. There is a risk, of course, but all appointments at this level, where these sorts of clubs find themselves, have risks attached. Some will take convincing, but Barry-Murphy wouldn't have it any other way. When asked if he felt he had something to prove as a head coach of a club the size of Cardiff, he replied: "That is the way you want it. "If you were in the background and not being judged and nobody had an opinion on you, that is fine for some people but not for me. I am fine about whatever opinion people have of me. Article continues below "My dedication is to the club and to the players so that they can train every day to win on a Saturday. I am fine about being judged on that. When I was a younger coach or manager I was quite protective about being judged on the result based on trying to justify what we do, nowadays it is fine because I have that experience: win, lose or draw you can say whatever you want, it is fine because I will have done everything I can during the week to give us the best chance to win."
Wales Online
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
BBC Morning Live star bursts with pride after husband lands new Cardiff City job
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info TV and radio star Sarah-Jane Crawford has said she is "so proud" after her husband Brian Barry-Murphy was appointed the new head coach of Cardiff City. After weeks of speculation and a protracted recruitment process, the Irishman was finally unveiled as the man tasked with leading Cardiff's League One campaign next season, leaving his role as first-team coach at Leicester City in the process. Of course, such a move can be a real upheaval for a family, particularly one which is settled in Altrincham, three-and-a-half hours away from the Welsh capital. It would not have been an easy decision for Barry-Murphy and his family, however BBC Morning Live presenter Crawford's two-word response to the news on social media points to her excitement over her husband's new opportunity. On Instagram, Chloe Bamba, wife of the late, great, Sol, of course, tagged Crawford in a post about Barry-Murphy, stating: "SJ [Sarah-Jane] is a Bluebird!" To which Crawford replied: "So proud !!!" It is arguable that Crawford is more famous than her former Manchester City and Leicester coach husband, with whom she shares two daughters. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community Her media career began in October 2008 on BBC Radio 1Xtra, where she initially covered various shows. By April 2009 she hosted her own weekend breakfast slot, later progressing to weekend and weekday afternoons, launching the station's first book club and guest-hosting Radio 1's Surgery alongside Aled Jones. In October 2015, she bid farewell to 1Xtra to pursue opportunities in Los Angeles. In June 2018, Sarah‑Jane returned to UK radio by joining Hits Radio. She initially hosted weekday evenings before taking over the high-profile afternoon slot and the UK Chart Show. She remains a host on the station to this day. Parallel to her radio career, she built an impressive career in television. She began as a roving reporter for E4's T4 and MTV, covering major events such as the EMAs, The Xtra Factor on ITV2, and hosting the MOBO Awards and World's Strongest Man on Channel 5. She has also presented on E! Network, BBC, Channel 4, Disney Channel and ITV, including red‑carpet coverage of the Royal Wedding and BAFTAs. The 41-year-old is currently a regular face presenting VTs and hosting items for BBC One's Morning Live and Sunday Morning Live. Crawford transitioned to a vegan lifestyle in 2015, inspired initially by Beyoncé's 21-day challenge and educated further by influencer JME. This shift inspired her to launch Viappi in 2017, a vegan restaurant-finding and recipe app aimed at encouraging plant-based eating. She also frequently records voiceovers for brands like Nintendo and Max Factor She has also founded her own company, Clean Curls, which produces hair products. An advocate for body positivity and clean living, she collaborates with charities such as Teens Unite, the Environmental Justice Foundation, and campaigns focused on climate refugees. Barry-Murphy's wife isn't the only famous face in his family – far from it, in fact. Indeed, in Ireland, his father is sporting royalty. A dual-code icon for Cork, Jimmy Barry-Murphy helped deliver six All-Ireland titles as a player across both Gaelic football and hurling. A remarkable seven-time All-Star—five in hurling and two in football—his influence on the game extended well beyond his playing days. In 1995, he managed Cork's hurlers to Liam MacCarthy Cup success, returning for a second spell in charge from 2011 to 2015. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community. His legacy was brought back into the spotlight in 2022 when Roy Keane, appearing on Monday Night Football, named Barry-Murphy Snr. as his greatest sporting hero—leaving the Sky Sports panel momentarily lost for words. "Growing up in Ireland, the GAA was a big part of my life," said Keane. "Hurling—watching Jimmy Barry-Murphy playing for Cork—you know, brilliant sportsman." Speaking to the Irish Examiner after Keane's comments, Barry-Murphy, 70, admitted he was taken aback by the praise from one of Ireland's most formidable footballers. "It was very, very special. I was delighted actually," he said. "I was shocked—for somebody like Roy, who I have great admiration for, and he's probably our greatest ever sportsman to come out of Cork. "Himself and Denis Irwin were extraordinary. Denis is a Barrs man, of course, so I have to give him a mention. But Roy—it was a lovely thing to say and I really appreciate it, I must say."
Wales Online
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Brian Barry-Murphy's Cardiff City transfer plan now clear as two assurances given
Brian Barry-Murphy's Cardiff City transfer plan now clear as two assurances given The new Bluebirds boss held court with the media on his third day in the job Cardiff City head coach Brian Barry-Murphy (Image: Cardiff City FC ) Brian Barry-Murphy might only be four days into his new job as Cardiff City boss, but the summer is well and truly under way and transfer plans will begin to move at a pace. In some ways, Cardiff are now playing catch-up, with a number of their League One rivals having made moves in the market. However, the Bluebirds enter this summer with a squad that should, on paper — I know, nothing is ever won on paper — be far too good for their divisional rivals. That being said, it's highly unlikely all of the players currently counted among the Bluebirds cohort will be contracted to the club when the transfer window shuts. That is arguably the biggest challenge which faces Barry-Murphy – deciding who should stay and who can be allowed to leave. Indeed Callum Robinson, Cardiff's top scorer last year, has been tentatively linked with a move away, the same goes for goalkeeper Ethan Horvath. While one suspects one-time England international Calum Chambers will have suitors in the Championship. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community Perry Ng, Yousef Salech, Callum O'Dowda, Alex Robertson and others are bound to have caught a few glances from admirers, too. But, laying out his transfer plan, Barry-Murphy said he has been given assurances that he is under no pressure to allow any of those players to leave. Indeed, he has been told the vast majority of this squad will be here come the end of the summer. "The key message I had was that there was no pressure to sell any player in the squad," he said. "A key process moving forward is, anything we want to improve in the club, I have the absolute support of the people at the top of the club to do that. That will be the mantra of pre-season and beyond. Article continues below "I'm really pleased with the squad and excited to start working with them next Monday. The most important factor for me was the assurance that a large number of this playing squad, which I know really well — players I've either worked with before or seen from the outside — are going to remain here. "Any players we lose are going to be on our terms, not because we have to sell players, and that's really important." He added: "We should be really clear from the start. The idea is that we want to do things on our terms. It's a really simple process. "All the players who have played for us have been really privileged to play for the club. They leave on our terms, if the club receives an offer that works for them. Not the other way around. That leads to a really simple process and it leaves the players really clear on what is best practice." Cardiff chairman Mehmet Dalman told WalesOnline recently the squad would have to be cut down, both because it is bloated in a number of areas and, as Barry-Murphy points out, room must be afforded the club's homegrown talent to flourish. "My belief is the smaller the squad, within reason, the more it aligns to having a culture of improvement and players having a strong opportunity to play," the new Bluebirds boss added. "It allows the younger players the opportunity to grow and play. If we have too many players and they don't play then it's a contradiction to the way I see it. "So have a strong squad from the players who are here, then complement it with the players coming through from the academy and the younger ones. Then, adding quality then means we can be specific on what it looks like to have an elite team in this division." Adding to recent academy graduates — Isaak Davies, Rubin Colwill, Joel Bagan, Cian Ashford and the like — are going to be more emerging youngsters. Ronan Kpakio, Joel Colwill, Dylan Lawlor, Tanatswa Nyakuhwa, Luey Giles and more are likely to be pressing their cases for spots in Barry-Murphy's senior squad come the start of the League One campaign. At the other end of the spectrum, there is the small matter of dealing with two very experienced players, who are locked in talks over a new deal, with their current contracts set to expire at the end of the month. Club captain Joe Ralls and Players' Player of the Season Andy Rinomhota are yet to decide their futures. While Barry-Murphy conveyed a real desire and clarity to his vision of bringing through young talent in his first press conference, it's important not to get carried away and realise that experience will be vital in League One. That is what both Ralls and Rinomhota would offer. And despite being in his first week in the job, the Bluebirds head coach wants to get those two particular cases resolved as a matter of urgency. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here. "I think there is an awareness from me about both of those players, in particular, I know Andy from when he was at Reading as a young player and I watched his career grow," he said of Rinomhota. Article continues below "Obviously Joe Ralls has a deep relationship with this club and has been so good over a number of years. "Out of respect for those guys, we have an obligation to deal with those things really quickly and promptly. I will be having those discussions over the next few days. Then it's a process of communicating that with our supporters as quickly as possible, that will be the best way to move that forward."
