Ipswich Town have appointed Gary O'Neil on a three-year deal after Kieran McKenna stepped down earlier this month. The club have paid Strasbourg a reported 5m euros (£4.3m) including add-ons for a coach who arrives with Premier League experience and a clear survival brief. Ipswich open their Premier League campaign at home to Sunderland on 22 August.
The size of the job at Portman Road
O'Neil does not inherit a comfortable start. Ipswich's last five results read one win and four defeats, a run that shows how quickly the mood around the club has shifted since McKenna's exit. O'Neil's last Premier League job ended with Wolves 20th, so there is no shortage of pressure on him to get the basics right quickly.
The appointment also comes with a clear sense of what Ipswich want from him. O'Neil told BBC Sport: "The real focus is to get enough points." He also said: "This club is not looking to just achieve safety, the aim is to grow and achieve more. It has been in Europe before and won in Europe. It is a big, big football club that can do special things."
Why Strasbourg made the move appealing
There is a reason Ipswich moved quickly. O'Neil guided Strasbourg to eighth in Ligue 1 last season, with 53 points, and they reached the Europa Conference League semi-finals in their first appearance at that stage. He also said: "I have managed three teams, and they have all had a similar style. I am willing to adapt, but I have things I am not willing to adapt - things that I am very keen on. I want my team to express themselves on the ball."
That is a useful fit for a club trying to reset without losing ambition. Ipswich have paid for a manager with Premier League experience and a recent record in France that is stronger than the fee might suggest. The job now is less about the announcement and more about what happens once the season starts on 22 August.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →