Gary O’Neil is enjoying much happier times after getting sacked by Wolves, with his spell at Strasbourg going swimmingly so far.
Gary O’Neil got the chop at Wolves back in December 2024 following a disastrous start to the season.
He left Wolves languishing in the relegation zone, four points adrift from safety.
The writing had been on the wall for him for weeks before Fosun finally took decisive action, with Vitor Pereira replacing him.
On January 7, O’Neil finally returned to football management, replacing Liam Rosenior at Strasbourg after he left for Chelsea – and it’s been a cracking start for him so far.
Gary O’Neil thriving in France with Strasbourg after Wolves failure
Eyebrows were raised when word of O’Neil’s move to France became public knowledge.
Undoubtedly, it was a move that carried risk, given how bad things were at the end of his spell at Wolves.
His reputation took a real battering.
So to take over a club where he does not speak the language was bold, but his decision has paid off so far.
| Gary O’Neil at Strasbourg so far |
| Wins – 5 |
| Draws – 1 |
| Losses – 2 |
| Goals scored – 22 |
| Goals conceded – 10 |
He’s taken eight games so far, and has claimed five victories, one draw and two defeats. Those defeats came against Paris Saint-Germain and Le Havre.
His side have scored 22 goals and conceded just 10.
There have been some real statement performances from O’Neil’s side, including most recently a 3-1 win over Lyon, a 3-1 win over Monaco and a 4-1 victory over Lille.
He also had a 6-0 victory in his very first game against Avranches in the cup.
O’Neil looks to have chosen the right project
It’s great to see O’Neil enjoying a great start with Strasbourg.
The decision by Wolves to sack him was right, and probably even overdue. But he was never the awful manager that a lot of people made him out to be.
Yes, he made a lot of mistakes. But the problems at Wolves, as we all know by now, run far deeper than who is in the dugout.
O’Neil’s best wasn’t good enough, but he’s now enjoying a new chapter and already showing people that he is in fact a decent coach.
And credit to him, because he has definitely taken a risk.
But clearly, all that time out of the game after his sack by Wolves provided him with the clarity to make the right decision for him.
Wolves did actually want him back after sacking Vitor Pereira. But O’Neil declined Wolves, feeling the project lacked direction.
Hopefully he’ll now rebuild his reputation, and we may eventually see him back on English shores at some point.
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