Gary O'Neil appointed Ipswich Town manager on three-year deal

Ipswich Town have named former Wolves and Bournemouth boss Gary O'Neil as their new manager.

The 43-year-old replaces Kieran McKenna, who stepped down from the Portman Road post earlier this month.

O'Neil has signed a three-year deal with Ipswich after leaving Strasbourg, where he has been in charge since January.

The French side have received a fee believed to be worth 5m euros (£4.3m) including add-ons as O'Neil had two years left on his contract.

He guided Strasbourg to eighth place in Ligue 1 last season and reached the Europa Conference League semi-finals, where they were beaten by Rayo Vallecano in their first last-four appearance in a European competition.

"It is an honour to be appointed manager of this great football club," said O'Neil, who will be joined by coaches Tim Jenkins and Neil Critchley after working with them in France.

"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."

Former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had also been in the running for the Ipswich job.

BBC Sport reported Ipswich's interest in O'Neil earlier this month and he has long been admired by the club's hierarchy.

Former midfielder O'Neil played at Bristol City when Ipswich chief executive Mark Ashton held the same role at Ashton Gate.

Strasbourg had initially been confident of keeping him following his January arrival, but this appointment marks O'Neil's return to the Premier League - having left Wolves in December 2024 and a 10-month spell at Bournemouth that ended in June 2023.

He added: "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.

"The real focus is to get enough points.

"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."

McKenna, 40, stepped down despite leading Ipswich back to the top flight by finishing second in the Championship last season.

He took charge of the Tractor Boys in 2021 and led them to three promotions in the past four seasons, two of which have taken the club into the Premier League.

McKenna was linked with the Fulham job after Marco Silva's departure, but quit Town to take a break from the game and spend more time with his family.