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Ipswich Town have named former <\/b>Wolves<\/b><\/a> and <\/b>Bournemouth<\/b><\/a> boss Gary O’Neil as their new manager. <\/b><\/p>\n The 43-year-old replaces Kieran McKenna, who stepped down from the Portman Road post<\/a> earlier this month.<\/p>\n O’Neil has signed a three-year deal with Ipswich after leaving Strasbourg, where he has been in charge since January.<\/p>\n The French side have received a fee believed to be worth 5m euros (\u00a34.3m) including add-ons as O’Neil had two years left on his contract.<\/p>\n He guided Strasbourg to eighth place in Ligue 1 last season and reached the Europa Conference League semi-finals, where they were beaten by Rayo Vallecano in their first last-four appearance in a European competition.<\/p>\n “It is an honour to be appointed manager of this great football club,” said O’Neil, who will be joined by coaches Tim Jenkins and Neil Critchley after working with them in France.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n “We all know the challenge ahead as we prepare for the season together and I’m excited to meet everyone and get to work.”<\/p>\n Former Manchester United<\/a> boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had also been in the running for the Ipswich job.<\/p>\n BBC Sport reported Ipswich’s interest in O’Neil earlier this month<\/a> and he has long been admired by the club’s hierarchy.<\/p>\n Former midfielder O’Neil played at Bristol City when Ipswich chief executive Mark Ashton held the same role at Ashton Gate.<\/p>\n Strasbourg had initially been confident of keeping him following his January arrival, but this appointment marks O’Neil’s return to the Premier League – having left Wolves<\/a> in December 2024 and a 10-month spell at Bournemouth<\/a> that ended in June 2023.<\/p>\n He added: “I have managed three teams, and they have all had a similar style.<\/p>\n “I am willing to adapt, but I have things I am not willing to adapt – things that I am very keen on. I want my team to express themselves on the ball.<\/p>\n “The real focus is to get enough points.<\/p>\n “This club is not looking to just achieve safety, the aim is to grow and achieve more. It has been in Europe before and won in Europe. It is a big, big football club that can do special things.”<\/p>\n McKenna, 40, stepped down despite leading Ipswich back to the top flight by finishing second in the Championship last season.<\/p>\n He took charge of the Tractor Boys in 2021 and led them to three promotions in the past four seasons, two of which have taken the club into the Premier League.<\/p>\n McKenna was linked with the Fulham<\/a> job after Marco Silva’s departure, but quit Town to take a break from the game and spend more time with his family.<\/p>\n Ipswich open their Premier League campaign at home to Sunderland<\/a> on 22 August.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n