Former Arsenal duo Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey are set for amanagerial showdown on the final day of the Championship season.
Wilshere was announced as interim head coach of Norwich City on Tuesday after the second-tier club sacked Johannes Hoff Thorup.
Ramsey, meanwhile, became Cardiff City’s caretaker manager on Saturday following the Welsh side’s decision to part ways with Omer Riza.
Norwich host Cardiff on the last day of the season – May 3 – meaning that the former Arsenal teammates will now face each other as managers.
Wilshere and Ramsey, who played together in Arsenal’s midfield, know each other incredibly well due to their long stints at the Emirates.
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Ramsey played for Arsenal from 2008 to 2019, scoring 64 goals and providing 60 assists across 369 games in all competitions.
Wilshere was an Arsenal player between 2008 and 2018, conjuring up 14 goals and 28 assists in 197 matches.
They won back-to-back FA Cups together at Arsenal under the management of Arsene Wenger in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
Wilshere, 33, played for West Ham, AFC Bournemouth and Danish side AGF after leaving Arsenal, hanging up his boots three years ago.
Ramsey, 34, featured for Juventus and Nice – and also spent time on loan at Rangers – following his north London exit before he moved to Cardiff.
Ramsey’s caretaker role at Cardiff marks his first stint in football management but Wilshere has a little more experience.
Wilshere managed Arsenal U18s from 2022 to 2024 before he moved to Norwich as a first-team coach last year.
The game between Wilshere’s Norwich and Ramsey’s Cardiff at Carrow Road looks set to be crucial to the Welsh side’s survival hopes.
There are only two fixtures remaining in the Championship and Cardiff are second bottom as they look to avoid relegation to League One.
Ramsey was left ‘proud’ of Cardiff’s first performance under his management on Monday as they drew 1-1 against Oxford United.
But the Welshman is adamant that he wants to resume his playing career once Cardiff find a permanent boss and when he’s returned from injury.
‘I am just taking these three games,’ he said. ‘I’m still recovering from a hamstring operation, I’m still in the middle of rehab and I’m focused on getting back to full fitness.
‘This is a role where it’s going to be an intense 10 days now then I can relax and get back into my rehab. I’m just looking at the next two.’