When a Premier League club appoints a new manager, the decision can define an entire season – and sometimes the club's trajectory for years. Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace have both made such choices this summer, turning to two French-based managers with recent success: Gary O'Neil, the former Bournemouth and Wolves boss, and Pierre Sage, the Ligue 1 manager of the year.
Gary O'Neil, 43, has signed a three-year deal with Ipswich after leaving Strasbourg, where he had been in charge since January. He replaces Kieran McKenna, who stepped down after leading Ipswich back to the Premier League for the second time – they finished second in the Championship last season, one year after being relegated. O'Neil's previous Premier League spells include keeping Bournemouth up in 2022-23 before a 10-month stint at Wolves that ended in December 2024. At Strasbourg, he guided the club to eighth place in Ligue 1 and the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League, where they lost to Rayo Vallecano. He will be joined by assistant coaches Tim Jenkins and Neil Critchley, who worked with him in France.
“Gary O'Neil returns to the Premier League as Ipswich manager; Pierre Sage takes over at Crystal Palace. We explain their backgrounds and what to expect.”
Pierre Sage, 47, takes over at Crystal Palace on a three-year contract, replacing Oliver Glasner, who stepped down after two and a half years. Glasner won the FA Cup in 2025, plus the Community Shield and Conference League, meaning Palace will play Europa League football in Sage's first season. Sage joined Lens 12 months ago, leading them to a second-placed finish in Ligue 1 and the club's first Coupe de France in their 120-year history. His Lens side played a distinctive, aggressive style: they made 426 high turnovers in the 2025-26 season, producing 69 shots and seven goals from those situations, and averaged 51.9% possession while favouring direct attacks and fast breaks over long spells on the ball.
For Ipswich fans, O'Neil's appointment brings Premier League experience and a philosophy he says is about expressing themselves on the ball while focusing on getting enough points. He has a prior relationship with Ipswich chief executive Mark Ashton, who was at Bristol City when O'Neil played there. For Palace supporters, Sage's high-pressing, counter-attacking style offers continuity with Glasner's approach but with a distinct French influence. Both appointments underline the growing trend of clubs looking to Ligue 1 for managerial talent.
Q: Why did Ipswich choose Gary O'Neil? A: O'Neil had been on Ipswich's radar for some time, partly because of his connection with chief executive Mark Ashton. He also impressed with his work at Strasbourg, leading them to a European semi-final, and his previous Premier League survival experience at Bournemouth and Wolves was seen as valuable for a promoted club.
Q: What style does Pierre Sage bring to Crystal Palace? A: Sage's Lens side were built on aggressive pressing and quick transitions. They made a league-leading number of high turnovers, often turning them into immediate goal-scoring opportunities, and had a clear identity focused on regaining possession high up the pitch rather than dominating possession.
Q: What did Gary O'Neil achieve at Strasbourg? A: In his brief spell from January, O'Neil led Strasbourg to eighth place in Ligue 1 and took them to the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League, the club's first last-four appearance in a European competition. He also reached the semi-finals of the Coupe de France.
Both managers now face the challenge of preparing for the 2026-27 season. Ipswich will aim to establish themselves in the Premier League, while Palace – now in the Europa League – will look to build on the trophy-laden legacy left by Oliver Glasner. The transfer window and pre-season will be critical as O'Neil and Sage implement their ideas.