Ipswich Town has officially hired Gary O’Neil as its new manager, securing the 43-year-old on a three-year agreement. O’Neil takes over from Kieran McKenna, who departed the Portman Road club earlier this month. Before accepting this position, O’Neil served as the manager of Strasbourg, having taken that role in January 2024. During his tenure in France, he guided the team to an eighth-place finish in Ligue 1 and a semi-final appearance in the Europa Conference League.
O’Neil will be joined at Ipswich by coaches Tim Jenkins and Neil Critchley, both of whom worked alongside him at his previous club. Expressing his enthusiasm, O’Neil noted the strong vision held by the club and acknowledged the significance of the role to the Ipswich and Suffolk community. He arrives back in the Premier League 18 months after his stint at Wolverhampton Wanderers concluded.
The club had also considered former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for the vacancy. However, Ipswich leadership, including chief executive Mark Ashton, had long favored O’Neil, with whom Ashton had worked during their time at Bristol City. Despite pressure from Strasbourg’s ownership to remain in France, O’Neil secured necessary assurances regarding recruitment and budget before finalizing the move. His predecessor, McKenna, stepped down to prioritize time with his family after achieving back-to-back promotions for the team. Ipswich plans to bolster its roster as it prepares for its Premier League opener against Sunderland on 22 August.
