Brian Barry-Murphy: Style of play, background and playing career

Following relegation to League One, Cardiff City have turned to Brian Barry-Murphy to help guide them back to the second tier.

The Bluebirds started the 2024/25 season off with Erol Bulut as manager but made a quick change, handing Omer Riza the job on an interim basis before appointing him permanently in December.

Riza managed just 10 wins with the Bluebirds and with relegation looming the hierarchy turned to Aaron Ramsey to try and preserve their Championship status.

Unfortunately for Ramsey he couldn't keep his boyhood club in the division and Cardiff will now go in a different direction under Brian Barry-Murphy.

Brian Barry-Murphy background

Previous roles

After finishing his lengthy playing career at Rochdale, Brian Barry-Murphy was chosen to take over from Keith Hill as first-team manager on an initial temporary basis in 2019.

He kept Rochdale in League One, winning six of their last 11 league matches and again repeated the feat the following campaign guiding his side to 16th.

It wasn't to be in 2020/21 however with Rochdale relegated to League Two after a six-year stay in the third tier. Despite relegation, the former Bury midfielder emerged with credit and it wasn't long before he was in the running for more jobs.

Taking over from Enzo Maresca as coach of Manchester City's Elite Development Squad, Barry-Murphy took charge of a team that had just cruised to the PL2 title.

Liam Delap was named Player of the Season but he would go in search of first-team minutes for the following campaign and this left the Irishman having to inject new talent into the team.

The 46-year-old did just that - with Oscar Bobb and James McAtee playing starring roles - City scooped a second consecutive PL2 title.

Barry-Murphy's third season in charge of the Elite Development Squad was another winning one, but it would be his last as he left the club with a coaching role at Leicester City coming in December 2024.

Professional playing career

• Cork City (1995-1999)
• Preston North End (1999-2003)
• Southend United (2002)
• Hartlepool United (2002)
• Sheffield Wednesday (2003-2004)
• Bury (2004-2010)
• Rochdale (2010-2018)

League One - 2025/26 Outright Winner

(Odds to display when market is available)

Philosophy and style of play

Barry-Murphy earned plaudits for the approach that his team adopted during his time at Rochdale.

It would always be tough taking over a struggling squad but the Irishman left a unique stamp on the team that also yielded relative success for multiple seasons.

Calvin Andrew played under Barry-Murphy at the Dale and recalled the moment he found out his former manager would join Manchester City.

"When I found out he was going to City, I thought it was the best place for him because that is how he tries to play football," said Andrew.

"Some of the goals we scored that season were reminiscent of Premier League games where we kept the ball for 30 or 40-odd passes and then tapped it into the back of the net because of the movement and bravery.

He used to talk about players always being available for the ball and that is an easy thing to say as a manager, but Brian would break it down to a fine art.

"Brian brought in a certain level of not being afraid to make mistakes and a bravery in the players, especially the defenders, to receive the ball under pressure, not be flustered and be able to play through overloads and into the difficult areas."

There was a certain culture created at Rochdale with emphasis on each player knowing their exact role.

Players were encouraged to be brave in possession - particularly in defensive areas - with the aim to drag their opposition out of position in order to move the balls through to the attacking third.