Gary O'Neil is back in the Premier League. The 43-year-old has been appointed manager of Ipswich Town, signing a three-year deal that will take him through to 2029. He takes over from Kieran McKenna, who stepped down after leading the Tractor Boys to promotion from the Championship for the second time in four seasons. Ipswich paid Strasbourg a fee of around 5m euros (£4.3m) to release O'Neil, who had two years left on his contract in France.
O'Neil arrives with a varied CV. He previously managed Bournemouth (2022-23) and Wolves (2023-24) in the Premier League, and most recently took charge of Strasbourg in January 2026. In his half-season there, he guided the French club to eighth place in Ligue 1 and a semi-final appearance in the Europa Conference League, where they lost to Rayo Vallecano. O'Neil will be joined by coaches Tim Jenkins, Neil Critchley and Ed Ames, who all worked with him at Strasbourg.
“Ipswich appoint Gary O'Neil as manager; explainer on his background and what it means for the Premier League.”
The appointment marks the end of a quick search for Ipswich. McKenna, 40, had been in charge since 2021 and led the club from League One to the Premier League via three promotions in four seasons. He announced his departure earlier in June 2026, triggering interest in several candidates including former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. But Ipswich's hierarchy – led by chief executive Mark Ashton, who previously worked with O'Neil at Bristol City when he was a player – moved quickly to secure their preferred target.
For UK readers, this matters because Ipswich are back in the Premier League after a one-season absence, and O'Neil's track record suggests he knows how to keep a club up. At Bournemouth he avoided relegation, and at Wolves he kept the team competitive before being sacked in December 2024. His time at Strasbourg also showed he can manage in European competition and develop a coherent style. O'Neil said in his first interview: "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 challenge is clear: Ipswich "are not looking to just achieve safety, the aim is to grow and achieve more."
Q: Who is Gary O'Neil? O'Neil is a former midfielder who played for Portsmouth, Norwich, Bristol City and others. He began his managerial career at Bournemouth in 2022, keeping them in the Premier League, then moved to Wolves. After leaving Wolves in December 2024, he spent six months at Strasbourg before joining Ipswich.
Q: Why did Kieran McKenna leave Ipswich? McKenna stepped down earlier in June after leading Ipswich to promotion. The sources do not give a specific reason, but he had been linked with other jobs and chose to depart after five years. He took charge in 2021 and led the club from League One to the top flight, achieving three promotions in four seasons.
Q: How much did Ipswich pay for O'Neil? The fee is believed to be 5m euros (£4.3m) including add-ons. Strasbourg were keen to keep him but Ipswich triggered his release clause.
What happens next? O'Neil will begin pre-season training with Ipswich in July 2026, preparing for the Premier League campaign. The club have also appointed a new backroom staff. The immediate task is to build a squad capable of staying in the top division, with the added ambition of pushing towards European football again – Ipswich have played in Europe before and won the UEFA Cup in 1981.