Ex-Wolves boss Gary O'Neil linked with stunning Premier League return nine months on from sacking
Former Wolves manager Gary O’Neil has been linked with a surprise job
Wolverhampton Wanderers have had a difficult start to the new Premier League season. Twelve months ago, it was a similar story - just with another face in the dugout at Molineux.
Previous manager Gary O’Neil also saw his Wolves side sat rock bottom after five games last campaign, where they would remain until match week 9 before finally winning a first game of the season on match week 11 against Southampton.
The 42-year-old was ultimately sacked on 15 December 2024 with the Old Gold still sat dangerously in 19th, four points from safety following a home defeat against Ipswich Town, after which O’Neil threw multiple of his own players under the bus.
It would prove to be the right decision to part ways, as Vitor Pereira came in and instantly turned things around. The Portuguese connected with the players and inspired a rise up the table which included a six-game winning streak and survival being secured with five matches to spare.
O’Neil has found himself out of work since December after his rising stock no doubt took a hit following a difficult final season at Wolves. He has now been linked with a return to management at a former club.
Gary O’Neil linked with West Ham United job
According to reports by Caught Offside, O’Neil is one of the names who has been linked with replacing Graham Potter at West Ham United, should Potter be relieved of his duties at the London Stadium.
The report states that a change has ‘become inevitable’ as the Hammers have lost four of their opening five Premier League fixtures, also finding themselves knocked out of the Carabao Cup in the second round by Wolves and boasting one solitary win at Nottingham Forest.
Nuno Espirito Santo is cited as the name ‘most commonly linked’ with the job, capable of ‘stabilising’ things in east London, while O’Neil is quoted as a ‘lower cost’, ‘less disruptive’ option though he is said to be ‘less proven at this level’. Former West Ham boss Slaven Bilic, who left the club in 2017, is the third name linked with succeeding Potter as per the report.
Hammers fans have reportedly been disillusioned with Potter and his management style for some time and it is widely believed that he is one of the most likely names to be sacked first this season.
O’Neil had fine start in management before tough final season at Wolves
O’Neil’s difficult final season at Wolves went some way to derailing his fine growing reputation within management over the two years prior. Notoriously always taking tough jobs, this ultimately came back to bite O’Neil at Molineux.
His first job in management came in the 2022/23 season with Bournemouth, when he was thrust into the hot-seat after the dismissal of Scott Parker within a month of the club’s return to the Premier League. The Cherries looked like huge relegation candidates at the time but O’Neil led them to a 15th-placed finish and survival in what would be his only season at the club.
O’Neil then took over at Molineux after Julen Lopetegui walked out due to disputes with the board just days before the beginning of the new season. Another very tough job to walk into, O’Neil led Wolves in his first campaign to a season spent mostly in upper mid-table before eventually finishing 14th.
A former West Ham player from 2011-2013, O’Neil was part of the last Hammers squad which won promotion back to the Premier League 13 years ago. There is certainly sentimental value in appointing him as manager. Both O’Neil and the Hammers are in need of a lucky break to turn things around, so it remains to be seen if links with the 42-year-old continue to intensify as the pressure ramps up on Potter.