By the end, the case for retaining Gary O’Neil as Wolverhampton Wanderers manager had become as fragile as the team’s defensive record, with a league-high 40 goals conceded this season.
His sacking underscores the brutal and fast-paced nature of football management, where fortunes can shift dramatically in just a matter of months.
O’Neil’s departure marks him as the third Premier League manager to lose his job this season, following Steve Cooper at Leicester and Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.
Once heralded as one of Britain’s brightest managerial prospects, O’Neil now finds himself out of work after a tumultuous spell at Molineux.
Promising Beginnings, Painful Decline
O’Neil initially impressed many, particularly during his guest appearance on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football alongside Jamie Carragher, where he eloquently outlined his footballing philosophy.
Taking charge after Julen Lopetegui’s acrimonious pre-season exit, he briefly lifted Wolves’ spirits with impressive victories over top sides like Manchester City, Tottenham, and Chelsea.
For a time, there were murmurs that O’Neil could be a future England manager. But the turning point came in March, following Wolves’ painful FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Coventry City.
From that moment, the team’s decline was both swift and stark. With just three wins in 26 league matches, O’Neil’s position became untenable.
In recent weeks, he appeared a man resigned to his fate, with both his team’s performances and his public comments under increasing scrutiny.
A Club in Chaos
O’Neil’s sacking has not diverted attention from Wolves’ broader issues. The club’s owners, Fosun International, face their own share of criticism for decisions that have undermined stability.
The focus now shifts to their next managerial appointment, with questions over whether they waited too long to act.
Wolves’ struggles are rooted in more than just O’Neil’s tenure. Over the past three transfer windows, the club has sold over £240 million worth of talent, including key players like Pedro Neto and captain Max Kilman.
While the self-sufficiency model is admirable, the failure to adequately replace outgoing stars has left the squad severely depleted.
The defensive frailty, exacerbated by the sale of Kilman and the season-ending injury to Yerson Mosquera in September, has been particularly damaging.
The lack of experienced replacements has left Wolves’ backline in disarray, contributing to their woeful record.
Compounding matters, O’Neil’s tenure was marked by contentious VAR decisions, from his opening game against Manchester United to his penultimate match at West Ham.
Tactical Missteps and Backroom Unrest
While O’Neil’s coaching ability is widely acknowledged, his tactics, team selection, and squad management often puzzled the club hierarchy.
Concerns also extended to his backroom staff, including Tim Jenkins, Shaun Derry, and Ian Burchnall.
The appointment of Jack Wilson, Wolves’ first-ever set-piece specialist, epitomised the challenges.
Hailed as a coup when he arrived from Manchester City in July, Wilson lasted only three months. Following Wolves’ humiliating 5-3 defeat at Brentford, Wilson was sacked amid reports of divisiveness and clashes with staff.
That defeat at Brentford was a watershed moment, exposing the team’s vulnerabilities. Despite O’Neil’s tactical adjustments, including a return to a three-centre-back system, Wolves continued to leak goals, particularly from set pieces. For many fans, the writing was on the wall.
Missed Opportunities and Mounting Pressure
As early as November, Wolves had begun exploring potential replacements. Graham Potter, the former Chelsea and Brighton manager, was a leading candidate, while Carlos Corberán of West Bromwich Albion was also considered.
Yet, O’Neil survived, bolstered by a 2-0 victory over Southampton that bought him time.
A brief resurgence, highlighted by a stunning win over Fulham, hinted at a turnaround. But chaotic defeats to Bournemouth and Everton reignited doubts, with patience wearing thin among senior figures at the club.
A crushing 4-0 loss to Everton in December should have sealed his fate, but Wolves, out of respect for O’Neil’s earlier achievements, held off.
The tipping point came last week. Despite assurances from chairman Jeff Shi that the board was backing O’Neil, a loss to Ipswich Town proved the final straw.
The match ended in acrimony, with Rayan Aït-Nouri sent off after the final whistle and Matheus Cunha clashing with Ipswich staff. These incidents reinforced perceptions that O’Neil had lost control of the dressing room.
A Bitter End
O’Neil’s post-match comments after the Ipswich defeat only deepened the divide. He admitted, “The answer to the team’s problems is not in the dressing room,” a remark that further alienated him from his players.
While the club insists the comment was taken out of context, it signalled the end. Wolves made their decision later that evening.
Insiders describe O’Neil as dignified to the last, but his exit reflects the wider uncertainty surrounding Wolves. With 22 matches still to play, the focus now turns to his successor, with the hope of salvaging the season and avoiding relegation.
Looking Ahead
The next manager faces a daunting task, inheriting a fractured squad, a toxic atmosphere, and the weight of expectation from fans and owners alike.
Wolves’ decision to stick with O’Neil for as long as they did has raised questions about Fosun’s leadership and the timing of their interventions.
Despite these challenges, there remains optimism that Wolves can turn things around. The appointment of a seasoned manager with a clear vision and the ability to galvanise the squad will be critical.
For now, though, O’Neil’s sacking serves as a reminder of the precarious nature of football management and the fine margins that separate success from failure.
As the dust settles on this turbulent chapter, Wolves must act decisively to ensure their Premier League survival, a task that will demand both discipline on the pitch and strategic foresight off it. For Gary O’Neil, it’s a bitter end to a tenure that began with promise but ended in chaos.
