Ipswich Town Nears Appointment of Gary O’Neil as Head Coach

Ipswich Town are closing on Gary O’Neil as their next head coach, with the club expecting confirmation of Kieran McKenna’s replacement in the coming days.

Local outlets the East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star report that personal terms with the 43-year-old are close to being agreed. An official approach to BlueCo, the ownership group of Strasbourg, is due to follow, and Ipswich are not expecting late complications as they move to finalise the appointment.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was also under consideration for the Portman Road job, but the club have turned decisively towards O’Neil, impressed by a coaching résumé that already spans survival battles in the Premier League and a deep run in Europe.

From relegation fights to European nights

O’Neil first stepped into the Premier League spotlight with Bournemouth in the 2022/23 season. Taking charge in difficult circumstances, he steadied a side widely tipped for the drop and guided the Cherries to safety, only to be replaced by Andoni Iraola at the end of the campaign.

He then moved to Wolves, where his tenure ended with his dismissal in December 2024. Talks over a surprise return to Molineux took place in November 2025, but O’Neil ultimately pulled out of the process, leaving his next step open.

That step took him to France. In just six months at Strasbourg, he made a sharp impact: a run to the semi-finals of the UEFA Conference League and an eighth-place finish in Ligue 1 underlined his growing reputation as a modern, adaptable coach capable of handling both domestic and European demands.

Backroom team already taking shape

Ipswich’s move for O’Neil is not just about a single appointment. The club expect him to arrive with familiar faces alongside him. Tim Jenkins and Neil Critchley, both part of his staff at the Stade de la Meinau, are anticipated to join him at Portman Road as part of a new-look backroom team.

For a club that has just lost McKenna, one of the most highly regarded young managers in the country, Ipswich are betting on another coach with a sharp tactical mind and a track record of navigating high-pressure environments. The next announcement from Portman Road is likely to show just how bold that bet will be.