UMVA has learned that Ipswich Town is on the brink of securing Gary O’Neil as their new head coach, a move that could reshape the club’s fortunes.
After a whirlwind spell at Strasbourg, where O’Neil stepped in to replace a departing manager in January, negotiations have accelerated. Both clubs are hammering out a compensation deal, and insiders say a formal announcement could arrive as early as next week.
The race for the Portman Road job was fierce, with former Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior and Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard among the early favorites. Yet O’Neil’s recent success in France tipped the scales, propelling him to the forefront of Ipswich’s shortlist.
In a surprising twist, Ipswich reportedly flirted with another high‑profile candidate before settling on O’Neil. Former Manchester United striker‑turned‑coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was briefly in contention, despite being out of work since his abrupt dismissal by Besiktas last August.
Solskjaer, who spent three seasons at Old Trafford with his former assistant Steve McKenna, has been linked to a Premier League return, but the Suffolk club ultimately chose a different direction.
The upcoming 2026/27 season looms large, with Ipswich set to open their campaign against Sunderland on August 22 at Portman Road. Fans are buzzing with optimism that O’Neil’s tactical acumen will ignite a new era of ambition.
