Cardiff City have appointed Brian Barry-Murphy as their new head coach, with the 46-year-old leaving Leicester City to take charge following the Bluebirds’ relegation to League One.
Barry-Murphy has signed a three-year contract running until summer 2028, after talks between the two clubs concluded on Monday.
He will be joined by Manchester City academy coach Lee Riley as his assistant—Riley previously worked with him at Rochdale.
Cardiff owner Vincent Tan, who made the final decision, said Barry-Murphy was “the right man” to lead the club forward. His appointment ends the club’s lengthy search for a new manager, which began with the dismissal of Omer Riza shortly before relegation from the Championship was confirmed in April.
The club had also considered Charlton’s Nathan Jones and Wales captain Aaron Ramsey—who briefly served as interim manager—but Barry-Murphy emerged as the preferred candidate following advanced talks last week.
Cardiff paid compensation to Leicester for Barry-Murphy, who had joined Ruud van Nistelrooy’s staff at the King Power Stadium in December.
Prior to that, he spent three years as Manchester City’s under-23 coach, helping develop talents such as Cole Palmer.
Known for his focus on youth development, Barry-Murphy’s track record aligns with Cardiff’s strategy of integrating academy graduates as the club aims for a swift return to the Championship.
A former midfielder with Preston North End and Sheffield Wednesday, he returns to frontline management for the first time since his two-year spell in charge of Rochdale, where he was praised for promoting local talent and implementing an attractive style of play.