Ipswich Town are close to appointing Gary O'Neil as their new head coach to replace Kieran McKenna, but they nearly hired Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer instead. According to The Athletic, Solskjaer was among the candidates considered by the Suffolk club before they turned to O'Neil.
McKenna's Shock Departure
McKenna announced he was stepping down as Ipswich boss last week, just a month after leading the club back to the Premier League. The former United assistant manager had been in charge since December 2021 and said he was leaving to spend more time with his family. Fulham were linked with the Northern Irishman but have cooled their interest. Ipswich are due to receive £8 million if McKenna joins another club within the next 12 months.
O'Neil Emerges as Frontrunner
Liam Rosenior and Steven Gerrard were also linked with the vacancy, but O'Neil quickly became the frontrunner. The former Bournemouth and Wolves boss has only been at Strasbourg since January, replacing Rosenior. Talks between Ipswich and the French club are progressing well, and once a compensation package is agreed, O'Neil's appointment is expected to be announced next week.
Solskjaer Considered
It could have been very different, however, as Ipswich nearly hired a man who worked closely with McKenna. Solskjaer, one of United's greatest forwards, spent three years in the Old Trafford dugout, with McKenna as his assistant throughout that time. Solskjaer has been out of work since being sacked by Besiktas in August 2025 after just eight months with the Turkish giants, but he has been consistently linked with a return to the Premier League.
Upcoming Season
The fixtures for the 2026/27 Premier League season were revealed on Friday, with Ipswich kicking off their season at Portman Road against Sunderland on August 22.
