French Ligue 1 club Strasbourg have appointed Gary O’Neil as their new head coach, following the departure of Liam Rosenior, who has joined Chelsea on a long-term deal.
The 42-year-old Englishman returns to management after being dismissed by Wolverhampton Wanderers in December 2024, with the club sitting in the Premier League relegation zone at the time. O’Neil was previously in charge of Bournemouth, where he earned widespread praise for defying expectations and keeping the club in the top flight.
Across his managerial career, O’Neil has taken charge of 88 Premier League matches, bringing significant top-level experience to Strasbourg.
The Ligue 1 side confirmed that O’Neil would oversee his first training session on Thursday, before leading the team in their French Cup trip to Avranches on Saturday. The terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Speaking after his appointment, O’Neil expressed his excitement at taking on the role:
“I am proud to join this incredible club and I can’t wait to get started. We have a squad of very high quality and clear, ambitious objectives for the season. My priority is to work hard with the team and give everything for the success of the club.”
O’Neil’s appointment comes just one day after Chelsea confirmed Rosenior on a six-year contract, a move that sparked frustration among sections of the Strasbourg fanbase. Supporters have voiced concerns over the multi-club ownership model, with the club having been owned by BlueCo, Chelsea’s parent company, since 2023.
Despite the off-field controversy, Strasbourg are currently enjoying a strong season. The club sit seventh in Ligue 1 and have already qualified for the knockout stages of the UEFA Conference League.