Published 07:59 5 Jan 2026 GMT

Gary O'Neil Named on Shock Club's Shortlist Minutes Before MOTD Appearance

O'Neil appeared on Match of the Day alongside ex-Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given on Sunday night.

Ryan Smart

Former Wolves manager Gary O'Neil has been placed on a club's managerial shortlist - with reports emerging while he was appearing on Match of the Day.

Former Portsmouth, West Ham and Middlesbrough midfielder O'Neil has been out of work since being sacked by Wolves in December 2024.

He held talks over a return to the club in November following Vitor Pereira's sacking but decided to pull out of the race, with the job instead going to Rob Edwards.

Prior to taking over at Wolves in 2023, O'Neil spent a season in charge of Bournemouth, meaning his entire managerial career to date has been in the Premier League.

But that may be about to change.

According to talkSPORT's Ben Jacobs, the 42-year-old is a leading candidate to take over at French Ligue 1 side Strasbourg if Liam Rosenior leaves the club.

Rosenior is expected to become the new manager of Chelsea, who parted company with Enzo Maresca on New Year's Day.

The 41-year-old will have a formal job interview with the Blues this week, as per Sky Sports, and is set to be appointed as manager 'barring any last-minute issues'.

BlueCo, the consortium which owns Chelsea, also has control of Strasbourg, and Rosenior has impressed with his work at the French club.

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He qualified them for European football for the first time in their history for this season, with Strasbourg competing in the Conference League.

They finished just four points away from the Champions League places.

Strasbourg currently sit in seventh place this season, and finished top of their Conference League group with five wins and a draw from six matches.

Journalist Ryan Taylor adds that O'Neil is expected to hold talks with the Strasbourg hierarchy on Monday, with former Manchester United coach Eric Ramsay also under consideration.

Ramsay is now head coach of MLS side Minnesota United, having left Old Trafford in 2024 to pursue managerial opportunities.

Featured Image Credit: BBC

Topics: Football, Premier League, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Ligue 1

Ryan Smart

Ryan is a Journalist for SPORTbible who specialises in football, Formula 1, cricket and darts coverage. As a lifelong Preston North End fan, he's sadly still waiting to watch his team play in the Premier League. He has previously written for GiveMeSport, SPORF and the Lancashire Post.