Gary O'Neil has been named Ipswich Town's new manager on a three-year deal, returning to the Premier League after leaving Ligue 1 side Strasbourg. The 43-year-old replaces Kieran McKenna, who stepped down earlier this month despite leading the Tractor Boys to the top flight for a second time by finishing second in the Championship last season.
O'Neil's appointment ends a swift pursuit by Ipswich, who had also been in the running for former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær. BBC Sport reported Ipswich's interest in O'Neil earlier this month, and he has long been admired by the club's hierarchy — in particular chief executive Mark Ashton, who worked with O'Neil during his playing days at Bristol City.
“Gary O'Neil signs three-year deal as Ipswich manager after leaving Strasbourg, replacing Kieran McKenna.”
Ipswich paid Strasbourg a fee believed to be worth €5m (£4.3m) including add-ons, despite O'Neil having two years left on his contract. He had joined the French side in January after leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers in December 2024, and guided them to eighth place in Ligue 1 last season as well as the Europa Conference League semi-finals, where they were beaten by Rayo Vallecano in their first last-four appearance in a European competition.
O'Neil will be joined at Portman Road by coaches Tim Jenkins and Neil Critchley, with whom he worked in France. "It is an honour to be appointed manager of this great football club," said O'Neil. "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."
He added: "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."
O'Neil's return to the Premier League follows a 10-month spell at Bournemouth that ended in June 2023 and his departure from Wolves in December 2024. He is clear about his approach. "I have managed three teams, and they have all had a similar style," he said. "I am willing to adapt, but I have things I am not willing to adapt — things that I am very keen on. I want my team to express themselves on the ball."
The real focus, he said, is to get enough points. "This club is not looking to just achieve safety, the aim is to grow and achieve more. It has been in Europe before and won in Europe. It is a big, big football club that can do special things."
McKenna, 40, took charge of Ipswich in 2021 and led them to three promotions in the past four seasons. O'Neil now faces the task of building on that momentum as Ipswich prepare for life back in the Premier League.