West Ham United are reportedly contemplating a move for Gary O’Neil amid uncertainties surrounding a potential deal for Ruben Amorim.
According to a report by HITC, Gary O’Neil is the subject of interest from West Ham United. The Hammers are scouring the market for a manager amid uncertainties surrounding the future of David Moyes. And with the move for Ruben Amorim not set in stone, they have set their sights on the 40-year-old Wolverhampton Wanderers boss.
Gary O’Neil has taken no time to build his reputation as an exceptional up-and-coming manager. A native of Beckenham, he spent his professional career as a footballer with several clubs, representing well-known outfits like Middlesbrough, Portsmouth, and West Ham United before hanging up his boots in 2019.
The 40-year-old entered the coaching sphere in 2020, joining the Liverpool under-23 side as Barry Lewtas’s assistant. He continued working as part of the backroom staff until his first job as a manager in 2022, serving Bournemouth by being in the coaching staff of Jonathan Woodgate and Scott Parker.
O’Neil replaced Parker as the Bournemouth boss early in the 2022/23 season and guided the Cherries to safety. However, the Premier League club parted ways with him last summer, with Andoni Iraola replacing him. But the Englishman did not remain a free agent for long, with Wolverhampton Wanderers snapping him up after Julen Lopetegui departed from Molineux before the 2023/24 campaign began.
O’Neil has been excellent as the Wolverhampton Wanderers manager, with the Black Country outfit in contention to finish in the top half of the Premier League table. That has brought the focus on the 40-year-old and his tactical ability. He has now emerged as a target for West Ham United.
West Ham might part ways with David Moyes after the 2023/24 season ends, with the board ready to put him on the chopping block. Several managers have thus emerged on West Ham’s radar, with Ruben Amorim being the top target. However, a move for the Sporting CP boss will unlikely see the light of day.
Gary O’Neil has thus emerged as an alternative to the Portuguese manager, with other candidates, including Julen Lopetegui, also featuring on their wishlist. So, it will be interesting to see if the 40-year-old Wolverhampton Wanderers manager becomes West Ham’s top target to replace Moyes.
