Former Premier League boss replaces Liam Rosenior as new Strasbourg head coach

Gary O’Neil has replaced Liam Rosenior as manager of Strasbourg.

The Ligue 1 side confirmed the former Bournemouth and Wolves boss as been hired.

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O’Neil was the outstanding candidate following discussions with BlueCo, who own both Chelsea and Strasbourg.

O’Neil said: “I’m proud to join this incredible club and I can’t wait to start. Racing has a unique history, an extraordinary passion, great resilience and of course loyal supporters who want to see this team offer beautiful play and succeed.

“We have a group of high-quality players and clear and ambitious goals for the season. My priority is to work hard with the team and give everything for the success of the club. “

It comes after Rosenior confirmed his new role as Chelsea head coach on Tuesday following a successful 18-month stint at the Stade de la Meinau.

O’Neil has enjoyed a year-long sabbatical since being axed by Wolves in December 2024 despite having fared well during his time at Molineux.

Prior to that he led Bournemouth to Premier League survival in the 2022/23 campaign.

But the 42-year-old will now resurrect his managerial career in France.

O’Neil knows he will have huge shoes to fill after Rosenior’s heroics in Alsace.

Unfancied Strasbourg finished seventh in Ligue 1 last season and missed out on Champions League qualification on the final day.

Instead, they qualified for the UEFA Conference League – their first taste of European action since 2017 – and have impressed so far.

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Strasbourg finished top of the Conference League and are well placed to go deep in the competition.

Closer to home, Le Racing once again sit seventh in the table having picked up just one win in their last seven league games.

O’Neil’s remit will no doubt be to secure European qualification once again while continuing the development of the club’s young stars.

Like many of France’s top flight clubs, Strasbourg’s philosophy is to nurture their academy stars in the hope of selling them for big fees in the future.

That was typified by the summer sales of Dilane Bakwa to Nottingham Forest and Habib Diarra to Sunderland for £30million fees

In a Ligue 1 fixture against Metz in August, they became the first team in Europe’s top five leagues to feature a full line-up of players born in the year 2000 or later.

There will also be plenty of familiar faces for O’Neil to acquaint himself with upon his arrival.

Former Brighton duo Julio Enciso and Valentin Barco currently ply their trade at the club while ex-Chelsea full-back Ben Chilwell also lines up for the French side.

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Other Chelsea prospects in Mike Penders, Kendry Paez and Mamadou Sarr will also be available to O’Neil.