Ipswich Town has officially signed Gary O’Neil to a three-year contract running until the summer of 2029, stepping in after the sudden departure of Kieran McKenna following automatic promotion, according to a report by The Guardian. The 43-year-old takes charge of a newly promoted squad preparing for only its second top-flight campaign in 25 years. The club confirmed the official hiring announcement on Tuesday, formalizing the succession plan after McKenna stepped down earlier this month to take a break from management.
O’Neil’s first Premier League match leading the Tractor Boys is scheduled for August 22, 2026, against Sunderland. He arrives at Portman Road following a highly successful six-month tenure in France with Strasbourg. O’Neil took over the Ligue 1 side from Liam Rosenior in January 2026 and guided them to an eighth-place finish.
During his time in France, O’Neil led Strasbourg to the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League. This marked the very first time the French club had reached the final four of a European competition. Prior to his move abroad, O’Neil established a track record of keeping English clubs clear of the relegation zone, successfully maintaining top-flight status for Bournemouth during the 2022/23 campaign and Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2023/24.
O’Neil becomes the 20th permanent manager in the club’s 90-year history and will bring his established backroom staff to Portman Road, consisting of assistants Tim Jenkins, former Blackpool manager Neil Critchley, and Ed Ames.