Wolves manager, Gary O’Neil is set to be offered a fresh contract at the end of the season Sporting Director Matt Hobbs has revealed. The Englishman took over at the West Midlands club just three days before the start of the season, and has made a big impression at Molineux and guided his side to 10th place in the Premier League, despite fears of relegation at the start of the season.
Wolves Manager Gary O’Neil Promised Fresh Contract
English Coach’s Hot Start at Wolves has Drawn Attention
Fresh from a surprise sacking at Bournemouth, who he had done well to keep from relegation, Gary O’Neil was parachuted into the Black Country just three days before the start of the season and five days before Wolves’ season opener against Manchester United.
Former Spain and Real Madrid coach, Julen Lopetegui had been at the club’s helm at the end of the 2022/23 season, and had impressively guided them from relegation candidates to mid-table safety.
However, the Spaniard’s relationship with the board broke down over transfer budget negotiations, as the side’s Chinese owners, Fosun International sought to cut their cloth to avoid breaching profit and sustainability regulations. Lopetegui agreed to see the side through pre-season whilst interviews were held for his replacement.
The former Cherries boss was far from any fans’ first choice, but his first game, an unfortunate 1-0 loss to the Red Devils, hinted at a fresh attacking philosophy being embedded at the club. Working on something of a shoestring, the former Premier League journeyman-turned-manager has acquitted himself very well in the Black Country, and whispers of him being in contention for the England job post-Southgate might be overdoing it, but equally are not without some merit.
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Is Gary O’Neil the Best Wolves Manager Since Nuno?
The Wanderers sit in 10th place in the Premier League, within a sniff of the European places, but at the start of the season many pundits had them down as relegation fodder. Losing Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho, Adama Traore and Raul Jimenez in the summer window suggested to many the side, which had struggled for goals at the best of times, had lost what little firepower it could call on.
Yet O’Neil’s coaching of Matheus Cunha, Hwang Hee-Chan and Pedro Neto has created a formidable forward three. While the latter of the three has suffered numerous sever injuries in recent years and been limited to 18 league appearances, he already has two goals and nine assists.
Wolves have already notched 40 goals this season: nine more than the entirety of last season, and have done the double over Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as claiming a famous win against Manchester City.
The English coach has a 45.5% win rate, surpassed only marginally by Nuno Espirito Santo and Kenny Jackett. It’s worth bearing in mind that Jackett managed the club in League One, where they were big fish in a small pond.
Similarly, Nuno’s figures were helped by a Championship season and a protracted Europa League qualification campaign against minnows like Crusaders and the Faroe Islands’ champions, Torshavn. You would have to go back to the Wolves side of the 1950s, under Stan Cullis to find a better win-rate.
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A New Contract for Wolves Boss
The South London-born coach was initially appointed on a three-year contract, but given the circumstances of his arrival and his relatively low stock at the time, it is fair to assume that he was not on a huge wage. A fresh contract at the end of this season will doubtless bump up his pay packet and warn off would-be suitors.
Giving a lengthy interview, Sporting Director Matt Hobbs reflected on the likelihood of a new contract:
“That’s naturally where this is going, he’s done well enough to have that conversation.”
On other sides looking at this manager, Hobbs was forthright: “they should be looking at him.”
He continued:
“Gary is unbelievably meticulous. His attention to detail is incredible and his work ethic is incredible. His staff, not just him, are a big part of it as well.
“I saw him linked to the England job. I get it. When we met him, we thought there might be something special about him. He has not done anything to go away from that.”
There have been no sounds from O’Neil’s camp that he is looking to leave, nor has there been well-reported interest from other clubs, but if the Englishman continues on his upward trajectory, it will be hard for bigger sides to ignore his potential.
