Ipswich Town have announced the appointment of former Bournemouth and Wolves boss Gary O’Neil as their new manager.
O’Neil has left his role with Strasbourg, who he led to the Conference League semi-finals last campaign, to take charge of the Tractor Boys ahead of their Premier League return.
Ipswich saw long-serving boss Kieran McKenna step down earlier this month after overseeing a runner-up Championship finish in 2025-26, which came after they were relegated from the top flight the previous season.
During over five years at Portman Road, McKenna oversaw 222 matches across all competitions, winning 106 of those (D60 L56), averaging a win percentage of 47.3%.
O’Neil has now been tasked with following in his footsteps and keeping the club in the top tier for successive campaigns for the first time since 2000-01 and 2001-02.
Having penned a three-year contract, O’Neil said: “It is an honour to be appointed manager of this great football club.
“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.”
“Belief is a big factor.”
Gary O’Neil has delivered his first message to everyone connected with Ipswich Town. pic.twitter.com/lqrpkGuHvr
— Ipswich Town (@IpswichTown) June 23, 2026
O’Neil’s first managerial job saw him keep Bournemouth in the top flight against the odds in 2022-23, though he was then sacked as the Cherries appointed Andoni Iraola.
He then took the reins at Wolves and oversaw an encouraging 2023-24 season in which they finished 14th in the Premier League and reached the FA Cup quarter-finals.
However, a poor start to 2024-25 saw him dismissed, and his Strasbourg team missed out on a top-seven Ligue 1 finish and European qualification by a single point last term, after he succeeded Liam Rosenior in January.
