Former Reading FC stalwart Chris Gunter has been appointed to Aaron Ramsey’s coaching staff at Oxford United.
The 36-year-old, who made more than 300 appearances during an eight-year spell with the Royals, joins the League One club after beginning his coaching career with Wales’ youth teams and Cardiff City.
Gunter started his playing career at Cardiff City before joining Tottenham Hotspur. He later established himself as one of Reading’s most consistent performers, captaining the club and becoming a firm fans’ favourite before ending his playing career with spells at Charlton Athletic and AFC Wimbledon.
Since retiring, the former Wales captain has twice taken charge of the Wales Under-19s as head coach, served as assistant manager to Ramsey at Cardiff City and also led the Wales Under-17s.
He will now reunite with his former international team-mate at Oxford United, where former Arsenal star Ramsey was appointed head coach earlier this summer.
Announcing Gunter’s arrival, Ramsey said: “I’m delighted to bring Chris and Tom to the club to add to the already strong coaching staff we have in the building.
“Having worked closely with both, particularly Chris, I know the qualities they will bring. They’ll add fresh ideas, a huge amount of energy and an incredible attention to detail that will help drive us forward.
“I’m extremely pleased with the coaching team we’ve assembled. We have a really strong blend of people with experience at the club alongside exciting new voices, and together our responsibility is to create an environment where players can improve every single day.
“We want the training centre to be a place where standards are relentlessly high to give the players the best chance of being successful. If we can build an elite environment and establish the right habits, we’ll give the players a fantastic platform so they can perform on a Saturday.”
Oxford were relegated from the Championship last season and will face a tough test in League One having been placed under a transfer embargo.
