Gary O’Neil has been appointed as Ipswich’s new manager.
O’Neil has been chosen to replace Kieran McKenna, who left the club after guiding them back to the Premier League, citing a desire to spend more time with his family.
He has signed a three-year contract at Portman Road.
“It is an honour to be appointed manager of this great football club,” O’Neil told 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.”
O’Neil was one of the top candidates to take the job following McKenna’s resignation, along with former Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior.
O’Neil replaced Rosenior as Strasbourg head coach in January when the latter moved to Stamford Bridge, guiding the club to an eighth-place finish as they missed out on European qualification last season.
The 43-year-old made 51 appearances for Ipswich’s archrivals Norwich between 2014 and 2016.
‘Get enough points’ – O’Neil sets out survival target
Ipswich boss Gary O’Neil speaking in his first press conference:
“There are a lot of similarities to how my teams have played and what Ipswich have done. We will find ways to be more adaptable, I think.
“I’ve obviously managed three teams now and they’ve all had a very similar style but to different degrees of how much we have the ball and how much risk we take. I’m willing to adapt certain things, but I have things that I won’t adapt and that I’m very, very keen on. I want my teams to have the ball, I want us to express ourselves with the ball.
“But, it is the Premier League. There are some big hitters in it and there are some games that you have to adapt a bit and you try and be clever and you try and pick your moments. I think the real focus this year is let’s get enough points. Let’s get enough points. Let’s still look like a good football team, let’s be well coached, let’s be together, let’s be hard working.
“But come the end of the season, the only thing that most people are going to care about is how many points we put on the board.”
Busy pre-season awaits O’Neil
Analysis from Sky Sports’ Adam Williams:
Gary O’Neil arrives at Portman Road with a busy few weeks on his agenda before Sunderland come to town on Saturday August 22 for the Premier League season-opener.
Ipswich’s squad needs bolstering, both in terms of depth and pedigree, for the top flight challenge ahead after experiences of two seasons ago. Despite a significant number of new arrivals that summer after back-to-back promotions from League One and the Championship, Kieran McKenna’s side finished well below the line and second from bottom after only four wins all term.
O’Neil’s experience at having to do similar tasks upon his arrival at both Bournemouth and Wolves, with considerably less of a transfer window available on both occasions, should give Ipswich fans optimism.
But there is no escaping that he will need a decent start from an opening set of fixtures that include a trip to Man Utd and Liverpool at home in their first three games, to not only give them a platform, but also to win over supporters who will still be lamenting McKenna’s departure.
Pragmatism might not necessarily be that exciting in the first instance, but Ipswich will need plenty of it if they are to be competitive and have a fighting chance of survival.
Ipswich’s opening 2026/27 Premier League season fixtures
August
22: Sunderland (h) – 3pm
29: Man Utd (a) – 3pm
September
5: Liverpool (h) – 3pm
12: Crystal Palace (a) – 3pm
19: Everton (a) – 3pm
