Gary O’Neil is back in the Premier League, named Ipswich Town’s new manager on a three-year deal after the club triggered a £4.3m release clause in his Strasbourg contract.
The 43-year-old replaces Kieran McKenna, who stepped down this month despite leading Ipswich to promotion by finishing second in the Championship – their second top-flight rise under his tenure after three promotions in four seasons.
“Gary O'Neil returns to Premier League as Ipswich manager after leading Strasbourg to Conference League semi-finals.”
O’Neil left Wolves in December 2024 and spent just six months in France, having joined Strasbourg in January. He guided the Ligue 1 side to eighth place and a historic run to the Europa Conference League semi-finals, where they lost to Rayo Vallecano. That performance convinced Ipswich’s hierarchy, who had long admired O’Neil, to move for him.
“It is an honour to be appointed manager of this great football club,” O’Neil said. “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 will be joined at Portman Road by coaches Tim Jenkins and Neil Critchley, who worked with him at Strasbourg. Former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær had also been in the running for the job.
O’Neil’s relationship with Ipswich chief executive Mark Ashton dates back to his playing days at Bristol City, where Ashton was chief executive while O’Neil was a midfielder. O’Neil also played for Norwich, one of Ipswich’s fiercest rivals, and started his career at Portsmouth.
“I have managed three teams, and they have all had a similar style,” O’Neil 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 is to get enough points.”
McKenna, 40, had led Ipswich from League One to the Premier League but departed amid speculation linking him to other jobs. O’Neil, who previously spent 10 months at Bournemouth and kept Wolves up before a difficult start to last season, now faces the challenge of keeping Ipswich in the top flight.
“This club is not looking to just achieve safety, the aim is to grow and achieve more,” he added. “It has been in Europe before and won in Europe. It is a big, big football club that can do special things.”