Gary O'Neil, who was formerly a coach at the Liverpool Academy, has taken another job in the Premier League and will come up against the Reds this season as a result
18:23, 23 Jun 2026
Gary O'Neil during a Europa Conference League game between Strasbourg and Rayo Vallecano.
Gary O'Neil during a Europa Conference League game between Strasbourg and Rayo Vallecano.(Image: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
Former Liverpool U21s assistant coach Gary O'Neil, who worked alongside Barry Lewtas for six months in that role, has returned to the Premier League with Ipswich Town.
O'Neil had been at Strasbourg since January, when he replaced Liam Rosenior, who had moved to Chelsea. But with Kieran McKenna having stepped down recently, the 43-year-old has made the switch to Portman Road.
A former teammate of Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes at Portsmouth, O’Neil also knew FSG CEO of football Michael Edwards on the south coast. Edwards worked as an analyst for Harry Redknapp at the time.
O'Neil was previously in charge of Wolves and Bournemouth in the Premier League. With the Cherries, he was fired by Hughes and replaced by Andoni Iraola.
While most viewed that as a harsh dismissal at the time, Hughes felt that Iraola was the right appointment to take Bournemouth to the next level.
That proved to be correct, of course, and Iraola has made the move to Anfield this summer. He took the Cherries into European competition for the first time last term.
Gary O'Neil when Everton beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 at Goodison Park on December 4, 2024
Gary O'Neil when Everton beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 at Goodison Park on December 4, 2024(Image: Jack Thomas - WWFC/Wolves via Getty Image)
"Obviously it helps a lot when on the other side of the table there is someone who you have already worked with," Iraola said of his relationship with Hughes in his first interview as Liverpool head coach.
"We were one year together [at Bournemouth]. But in this case, I would say it's about the club, it's about Liverpool — it's what really attracted me. I think now I am looking forward to getting all the information.
"I'm talking to everyone so I can understand better the club, everything that happens outside the pitch.
"We still have time, we still have one month until we really start working with the players, but I would like to use this month also properly to arrive here in the proper way.
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"I think you don't need a lot of things to get attracted by Liverpool. Liverpool is Liverpool.
"But obviously the atmosphere, the supporters, the club, the players, the chance for me to coach top-level players, the chance to fight for titles. I think it cannot be more attractive than this. It's difficult to find it. So, really excited to start, yes."
Iraola will take charge of his first game as Liverpool boss in the US around a week after the World Cup final. The new Premier League season begins on the weekend of August 22 and 23, with the Reds taking on Newcastle at St James' Park.