Gary O’Neil has departed Strasbourg to become the new manager of Premier League side Ipswich Town, the clubs confirmed. The English coach has signed a contract with Ipswich that runs until 2029.
O’Neil arrived at Strasbourg in January to replace Liam Rosenior, who moved to Chelsea, but his tenure with the French club will be brief. Strasbourg and Ipswich Town reached an agreement that included a compensation fee for O’Neil’s release from his contract, which was originally set to expire in 2028.
During his time in France, O’Neil guided Strasbourg to the semi-finals of both the Europa Conference League and the Coupe de France – a first in the club’s European history. He had previously managed in the Premier League with Bournemouth and Wolverhampton. At Ipswich, he will face off against Pierre Sage, who recently moved from Ligue 1 to Crystal Palace.
Strasbourg will now begin the search for a new manager ahead of what is expected to be a challenging season, particularly with the anticipated departures of key players. Both Emanuel Emegha and Valentín Barco have already completed moves to Chelsea. This marks another instance of a Ligue 1 manager being lured to the English top flight, following Rosenior’s move to Chelsea earlier this year.
