Gary O’Neil begins a new chapter with Ipswich Town, aiming to lead them through their latest top-flight challenge after returning to the Premier League following spells with Bournemouth and Wolves, where he guided Bournemouth to survival in his first full season in charge. Speaking on JioHotstar, Gary O’Neil spoke about his return to the Premier League, his growth as a manager and his ambitions with the club.
Ipswich Town’s new manager Gary O’Neil opened up about his return to the Premier League:
“When you’re going for a Premier League job, you know it’s going to be very competitive and Ipswich Town did a lot of work to find the right person, and I’m grateful they chose me. I’ve put a lot into my development since my last time in the Premier League. I took a step back, reassessed, and learned a lot. Going to France where I managed Strasbourg was a great experience and that helped me grow as a manager. I’m coming back much better than before and there’s unfinished business for me and for Ipswich Town. We have a point to prove, and I like that. I like the idea of building something here, competing against clubs with more Premier League history, and showing that we belong here in the top-flight. There’s a lot of work ahead, but I’m really excited to get started.”
On Ipswich Town’s rich history and his ambition to create his own legacy at the club:
“Ipswich Town is a club with incredible history and among the three Premier League clubs I’ve managed, this one has the most illustrious past. They have won the European Cup, FA Cup, and have triumphed in the Premier league as well. Some great managers have been here before me, and it’s an honour to follow them. But I don’t just want to be another name on the list. I want to leave my own mark and make the fans proud. I know what this club means to the people here. It’s more than just football; it’s a big part of the community. I’m excited to be part of that and I want to make everyone proud. I’m grateful to the club executives for this opportunity and now I’m ready to show that Ipswich Town belongs in the Premier League. We will attack the season with grit and determination and make sure people take notice of us.”
On the challenge of keeping Ipswich Town in the top-flight football:
“It’s going to take everyone to keep Ipswich Town in the Premier League and I’ve been in this position before and got it right twice. My first season as a manager with Bournemouth was a big moment. We managed to stay up, and that happened because we all pulled it off together – the fans, the staff, everyone. There was no panic after a loss, we stayed calm, stuck to the plan, and kept believing. I’ll be at the centre of that here at Ipswich and I’ll drive the same mindset every day. We need everyone pulling in the same direction and staying up as a newly promoted club is tough. It takes hard work and quality. But last season, Sunderland, and Leeds United both showed it can be done. More teams are managing it now and I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe we could do it too. I’m ready for the challenge.
On his tactical approach:
“Tactically, I don’t have a fixed approach. It’s about adapting to what the game demands. At Strasbourg, I made the players dominate possession and dictate the play in majority of the games and that’s how I like my teams to play. But, at Bournemouth, we had less of the ball, that was more about the players we had, not the plan. This season, here at Ipswich Town, we need to be flexible. There will be games where we go all out and attack, and others where we have to be smarter and respect the opposition. We need to pick our moments, take points from the big teams, and make sure we beat the sides around us. I have a clear idea of what I want, and I’ve shared it with the board. Now I need to show the players how we’ll make it work. This is a huge opportunity. I know the Premier League can be intimidating, but it’s the best league in the world. I want everyone to embrace the challenge, enjoy the fight, and remember that playing here is a privilege.”
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