Wolves Part Ways with Gary O’Neil

Wolverhampton Wanderers have announced Gary O’Neil’s exit as the first-team manager.

O’Neil had been under significant pressure since the onset of the season, with Wolves managing to secure their first win of the season only in November against bottom-placed Southampton.

“We appreciate all the effort, dedication, and hard work Gary put into his time at the club, and we wish him and his team the best for the future,” said chairman Jeff Shi as Wolves announced O’Neil’s departure.

With 12 defeats in 18 matches across all competitions, O’Neil criticized the club for not replacing key players but also called out his squad after the 2-1 loss to Ipswich Town, claiming that some were making unacceptable errors for Premier League standards.

When O’Neil joined from Bournemouth in August 2023, he was seen as a clever acquisition and had a strong debut season, earning a new contract and substantial praise for finishing 14th. However, he ultimately failed to sustain that positive trend.

Since the summer transfer window of 2023, Wolves have sold notable players including Matheus Nunes, Ruben Neves, Nathan Collins, Conor Coady, Raul Jimenez, Pedro Neto, and Max Kilman. O’Neil expressed his disappointment regarding the choice to replace seasoned Premier League talents with younger players.

Matheus Cunha was brought in from Atletico Madrid, but he has been joined by several inexperienced players at this level, with O’Neil candidly admitting that he felt they were not ready to compete.

Wolves will now embark on the search for a new manager, who will aim to maximize the potential of the squad and steer the team clear of the relegation zone.