Strasbourg have agreed to appoint Hugo Oliveira as their new manager, the club confirmed following reports from L’Équipe. Oliveira, currently managing Famalicao in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, was favoured over Wilfried Nancy for the role and will replace Gary O’Neil, who departed for Ipswich Town after a six-month spell in Alsace.
Strasbourg will pay a transfer fee exceeding €2 million to Famalicao to secure Oliveira’s services, with the 47-year-old still under contract with the Portuguese club. He is expected to arrive in Strasbourg on Sunday and will lead his first training session on Monday.
Oliveira’s career has included roles as an assistant manager to Marco Silva at Fulham, Everton, Watford, and Hull City. Prior to that, he served as a goalkeeping coach at Benfica. This appointment marks his return to a head coaching position after successfully guiding Famalicao to a fifth-place finish in the Portuguese top flight this season.
The move comes after a period of instability for Strasbourg, who saw O’Neil leave for England. Oliveira’s experience working under Silva, a highly-regarded coach known for his tactical flexibility, suggests Strasbourg are seeking a similar approach. His appointment is intended to provide stability and a clear tactical direction for the club moving forward. There has also been speculation, reported by some sources, linking Oliveira with a potential move to Chelsea in the future, though this remains unconfirmed.
