Wolves Sack Gary O’Neil After Disastrous Start to the Season

Wolverhampton Wanderers have parted ways with head coach Gary O’Neil after a disappointing start to the 2024/25 season.

The 41-year-old, who took charge of Wolves in August 2023, leaves the club in 19th place, four points adrift of safety. Wolves’ 2-1 loss to Ipswich Town on Saturday marked their fourth consecutive league defeat and their 11th in 16 games.

In a statement on the club’s website, chairman Jeff Shi said, “We’re very grateful to Gary for all of his effort, dedication, and hard work during his time at the club, and we wish him and his team the best of luck for the future.”

O’Neil, a former Premier League midfielder with 214 appearances for clubs including Portsmouth, West Ham, and Norwich City, joined Wolves after departing Bournemouth in the summer of 2023. During his first season, he led Wolves to a respectable 14th-place finish in the Premier League, securing notable victories over Chelsea, Manchester City, and Tottenham, while also reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals.

However, Wolves have struggled in the current campaign, with just nine points and 40 goals conceded after 16 matches—their worst start to a top-flight season since 1983/84. That season marked the beginning of a dramatic slide that ended in relegation to the fourth tier.

While Wolves faced a challenging fixture list to start the season, playing Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Brighton among others, their form has worsened even against lower-ranked opposition. Losses to Bournemouth, Everton, West Ham, and Ipswich in recent weeks have left the team with a minus-16 goal difference, the second-worst in the league.

O’Neil’s departure signals Wolves’ intent to turn their fortunes around as they fight to avoid relegation.