New Delhi: Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers have decided to part ways with head coach Gary O’Neil after a poor start to the season was made worse by an injury time defeat to newly promoted Ipswich Town. The Englishman leaves the Midlands club after taking over just before the start of last season, months after being replaced by Andoni Iraola at former club Bournemouth.
The 41-year-old departs with the club embroiled in a relegation battle, as Wolves currently sit 19th in the league table following last night’s defeat. Under O’Neil, they had shipped in 40 goals already in just 15 games till now, the worst in the league and the club’s hierarchy took the call after successive defeats to fellow struggling sides, West Ham and Ipswich Town. The club had been backing the manager for a while now and it seems like their patience finally ran thin.
BREAKING: Wolves sack head coach Gary O’Neil 🚨 pic.twitter.com/P38AxDJnEf
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 15, 2024
The former Bournemouth boss took over from Julen Lopetegui last season and guided the club to a respectable 14th place finish, steering them away from the relegation battle. However, he couldn’t do the same this term as his side could only muster two wins from their first 16 Premier League games of the season. Back-to-back victories over Southampton and Fulham last month had O’Neil nominated for November’s manager of the month award but heavy defeats to Everton and Bournemouth piled the pressure on him once again.
Last weekend’s game against West Ham, which was built as the ‘El Sackico’ in the media, was expected to be the last game for the manager that lost and Wolves’ defeat to former manager Lopetegui seemed to be the end for O’Neil. However, the club continued to back the manager in the hopes of a change in fortune. The Ipswich game was reported to be the make or break one for the 41-year-old and following the injury time defeat to the Tractor Boys, his fate was sealed.
Potential replacements for Gary O’Neil at the Molineux
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is in attendance today at Molineux.#wwfc #itfc pic.twitter.com/THlXyRGYKq
— Wolves Fancast (@wolvesfancast) December 14, 2024
Gary O’Neil becomes the third Premier League manager to face the boot this season following the sackings of Manchester United’s Erik Ten Hag and Leicester City’s Steve Cooper. Wolves really need a home run with their next manager if they are to survive the drop from this stage in the season. The midlands club have failed to bring in an exciting manager since former boss Nuno was sacked, which makes this next appointment even more crucial.
Several competent names are currently out of work and the club have a good base to choose from. Established Premier League managers like David Moyes and Graham Potter are available to call upon should they be interested. Out of box yet inspiring choices are also available in the form of former Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic, former Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand and Portuguese manager Sérgio Conceição.
One surprising name that is being linked with the job is former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who is reportedly the odds on favourite to be named the next Wolves boss. This seems to be stemming from the fact that he was at Molineux for the Ipswich Town game. However, it’s being reported that the Norwegian was there in support of close friend and Ipswich manager, Kierna McKenna and because his son is a big Ipswich fan. That doesn’t stop the rumor mill from spinning though and Ole is being seen as the frontrunner for the job by the bookies.
Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers have decided to part ways with head coach Gary O’Neil after a poor start to the season was made worse by an injury time defeat to newly promoted Ipswich Town. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
