Strasbourg has tapped Englishman Gary O’Neil as its new manager, marking the 42-year-old’s first foray into international coaching. O’Neil, previously a BBC consultant, brings a 20-year playing career as an attacking midfielder to the French club.
A Premier League Veteran Heads to France
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O’Neil’s appointment signals a fresh start for Racing Club de Strasbourg following Liam Rosenior’s departure.
- gary O’Neil, 42, is the new manager of Racing Club de Strasbourg.
- He previously served as a consultant for the BBC and had a 20-year playing career in England.
- O’Neil has managed in the Premier League with Bournemouth and Wolverhampton.
- He draws inspiration from rugby league coach Matt Peet and emphasizes tactical intelligence.
“We are very happy to welcome gary O’Neil to the club,” declared Mark Keller,president of the club,on the RCSA website.
From Portsmouth to the Premier League
Born in Beckenham, south of london, O’Neil began his career at Portsmouth, a port city in southern England. He then embarked on a lengthy career across England, with a brief loan spell at Cardiff, Wales. Over two decades, he played for clubs including Bristol, Norwich, Walsall, West Ham, Queens Park Rangers, and Middlesbrough, navigating between the Premier League and the Championship.
O’Neil amassed 214 Premier League appearances (scoring 16 goals and providing 15 assists) before finishing his playing career in the Championship with bolton, in the suburbs of Manchester.While he earned nine appearances for England’s hopefuls between 2003 and 2004, he never made it to the Three Lions senior squad.
A Short, and Turbulent, Managerial History
O’Neil takes the reins in Alsace as the club navigates the aftermath of Liam Rosenior’s exit and the complexities of multi-ownership. His managerial CV is still developing, mirroring Rosenior’s experience when he arrived at RCSA in the summer of 2024. O’Neil began his coaching career within the liverpool academy before taking on head coach roles at Bournemouth and Wolverhampton.
He initially joined Bournemouth as an interim manager at the end of August 2022, before being officially appointed.He successfully kept the Cherries in the Premier League, finishing 15th with a five-point cushion above relegation. However, four consecutive defeats at the end of the season cost him his position. He then moved to Wolverhampton in the summer of 2023, guiding them to a 14th-place finish in the Premier League, but was dismissed in December of the following season. During his time with Wolves, he managed 63 matches (20 wins, 32 losses), averaging 1.13 points per league game.
“He is a very good technician, very good at organizing sessions, capable of reacting to a change in circumstances during the match,” an observer of the English championship told The team recently. “Maybe he needs to learn a little more self-control. But I’m sure he can do a very good job in Strasbourg.”
Inspired by a Different Sport
Currently a premier League consultant for the BBC, O’Neil has spent time since his last coaching role developing his management skills. He told The Guardian he sought inspiration from the Wigan warriors rugby league team and their coach, Matt Peet. “He was impressed with how involved the Wigan players were in their preparation. These experiences led him to think about how to create his own in his next club,” the Guardian explained.
“I wasn’t fast, I wasn’t strong (…). My intelligence was invaluable to me after football, especially when it came to becoming a coach… My greatest asset as a player was my keen tactical sense,” O’Neil admitted on Sky Sports in 2023. A serious ankle injury in 2011 prompted him to consider a career in coaching, as he shared with The Guardian last year.
