Ipswich Town are close to appointing Gary O’Neil as their new head coach to replace Kieran McKenna – but they almost hired a Manchester United legend instead.
McKenna shockingly announced he was stepping down as Ipswich boss last week, just a month after promoting the club back to the Premier League.
The former United assistant manager had been in charge of the Tractor Boys since December 2021 and said he was stepping down in order to spend more time with his family.
Fulham were closely linked with the Northern Irishman but have cooled their interest, with Ipswich due to receive £8million if McKenna joins another club within the next 12 months.
Don’t miss a World Cup moment
Lionel Messi’s hat-trick. Cape Verde’s heroics. Those Scottish fans.
It’s been a memorable World Cup so far – our daily newsletter helps you make the most of it. Sign up.
The likes of former Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior and Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard were linked with the vacancy at Portman Road, but it wasn’t long before O’Neil emerged as the frontrunner.
The former Bournemouth and Wolves boss has only been in the Strasbourg dugout since January, when he replaced the Stamford Bridge-bound Rosenior.
But talks between Ipswich and the French club are progressing well and once a compensation package is agreed, it is expected that O’Neil’s appointment will be announced next week.
However, it could have been very different, as The Athletic report that Ipswich nearly hired a man who worked closely with McKenna.
It is said that former United player and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was among the coaches the Suffolk club considered before turning to O’Neil.
Solskjaer has been out of work since getting sacked by Besiktas in August 2025 after just eight months with the Turkish giants, but has been consistently linked with a return to the Premier League.
One of the Red Devils’ greatest ever forwards, the Norwegian spent three years in Old Trafford dugout, with McKenna his assistant throughout that time.
The fixtures for the 2026/27 Premier League season were revealed on Friday, with Ipswich kicking-off their season at Portman Road against Sunderland on August 22.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.