Gary O’Neil hired by Ipswich Town on three-year deal upon return to Premier League | OneFootball

Ollie Whitmore, Chief football news reporter

Strasbourg manager Gary O’Neil has joined newly promoted Ipswich Town on a three-year deal to make his return to management in the Premier League.

Kieran McKenna departed Portman Road on June 10th after winning three promotions since the 40-year-old was hired in 2021, becoming just the fifth manager to achieve back-to-back promotions from League One to reach the top flight.

O’Neil joining Town comes one and a half years since he was sacked by Wolves in December 2024, coincidently in the wake of a 2-1 defeat to his new employers. His new contract runs until the summer of 2029.

“It is an honour to be appointed Manager of this great football club,” O’Neil said in a statement to Town fans on the club’s official website.

“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.

“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.

“We all know the challenge ahead as we prepare for the season together and I’m excited to meet everyone and get to work.”

The English former midfielder led Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg to the semi-final of the Europa Conference League, where they were beaten 2-0 across both legs by Spanish top flight team Rayo Vallecano.

O’Neil also achieved an eighth-place finish by the end of the 2025/26 Ligue 1 season on 53 points, just one short of a return to the Conference League next season.

Before moving to France, he led both Bournemouth and Wanderers in the Premier League and secured 15th and 14th-place finishes in his first seasons with the two sides respectively.

Chairman Mark Ashton said: “He is a manager who has been on our radar for some time.

“Following a thorough and robust process, during which we met with a wide range of candidates, it became clear he was the leading candidate for the position.

“He is highly motivated, highly regarded, has an incredible attention to detail and tactical knowledge and is an excellent coach with a real track record of improving players.

“Despite being just a few years into his managerial career, he has already shown he knows what is required to succeed in the Premier League at both Bournemouth and Wolves, while also leading Strasbourg to a European semi-final.

“He brings a hunger and desire to succeed at the top level of the game and, with the full support of everyone at the club, I am excited to see what we can achieve together.”

Ipswich Town were relegated under McKenna in their first Premier League season since 2002, and have now called upon a proven top flight manager to keep them up going into the 2026/27 campaign.

O’Neil’s first league game in charge is against Sunderland on the 22nd of August, kicking off at 15:00.