Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Gary O'Neil left Wolverhampton Wanderers in December 2024
ByNick MashiterFootball reporter- Published6 minutes ago
Ipswich Town have named former Wolves and Bournemouth boss Gary O'Neil as their new manager.
The 43-year-old replaces Kieran McKenna, who stepped down from the Portman Road post earlier this month.
O'Neil has signed a three-year deal with Ipswich after leaving Strasbourg, where he has been in charge since January.
He guided the French side to eighth place in Ligue 1 last season and reached the Europa Conference League semi-finals, where they were beaten by Rayo Vallecano in their first last-four appearance in a European competition.
"It is an honour to be appointed manager of this great football club," said O'Neil, who will be joined by coaches Tim Jenkins and Neil Critchley after working with them in France.
"I have followed the progress the club has made over the last few years closely, and to now have the opportunity to lead Ipswich Town in the Premier League is something I am hugely excited by.
"There is a strong vision and ambition at this club and I am fully aware of the responsibility that brings, given how much it means to its supporters and to the community of Ipswich and Suffolk.
"We all know the challenge ahead as we prepare for the season together and I'm excited to meet everyone and get to work."
Former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had also been in the running for the Ipswich job.
BBC Sport reported Ipswich's interest in O'Neil earlier this month and he has long been admired by the club's hierarchy.
Former midfielder O'Neil played at Bristol City when Ipswich chief executive Mark Ashton held the same role at Ashton Gate.
Strasbourg had initially been confident of keeping him following his January arrival, but this appointment marks O'Neil's return to the Premier League - having left Wolves in December 2024.
McKenna, 40, stepped down despite leading Ipswich back to the top flight by finishing second in the Championship last season.
He took charge of the Tractor Boys in 2021 and led them to three promotions in the past four seasons, two of which have taken the club into the Premier League.
McKenna was linked with the Fulham job after Marco Silva's departure, but quit Town to take a break from the game and spend more time with his family.
Ipswich open their Premier League campaign at home to Sunderland on 22 August.
Analysis: O'Neil will be backed as Ipswich target survival
O'Neil returns to the Premier League after 18 months away.
The Tractor Boys accelerated their process at the start of last week, also considering Solskjaer, but O'Neil has been in their thoughts for a long time.
He had been seen as the ideal replacement for McKenna and there was internal expectation he would be the one to come in.
Ipswich were braced for McKenna's departure, whether it was to another club or not, and had prepared accordingly.
Talks with O'Neil advanced quickly on Thursday although, like any manager, he sought assurances and clarity over recruitment and Ipswich's spending power.
Those questions were answered, although Strasbourg and owners BlueCo wanted him to stay in France.
He had positive conversations with Behdad Eghbali, Chelsea's co-owner and the majority shareholder of BlueCo, the consortium which owns both the Blues and Strasbourg.
Eghbali was keen to keep O'Neil but, with budgets tight and an acceptance it would be difficult to replace Chelsea-bound Emmanuel Emegha and Valentin Barco, the decision was perhaps made a little easier.
Town are expected to spend to strengthen the squad for their Premier League return and the target is survival, ensuring they compete with the bottom six.
Ipswich feel they are better equipped for the top flight this season than two years ago, after McKenna led them to successive promotions from League One.
O'Neil will be backed and, having seen his time at Bournemouth and Wolves cut short, he has the perfect opportunity to re-establish himself in the Premier League.
