https://www.myjoyonline.com/gary-oneil-wolves-name-former-bournemouth-boss-as-julen-lopetegui-successor/-------https://www.myjoyonline.com/gary-oneil-wolves-name-former-bournemouth-boss-as-julen-lopetegui-successor/

Former Bournemouth boss Gary O'Neil has been announced as the new manager of Wolves, replacing Julen Lopetegui on a three-year deal.

Lopetegui's exit from Molineux was confirmed on Tuesday - just three days before the 2023-24 Premier League season begins.

O'Neil led Bournemouth to 15th last season but was sacked on 19 June.

"Gary's a highly motivated young coach with strong principles," said Wolves' sporting director Matt Hobbs.

"It's an opportunity to do something different with an up-and-coming British coach and from the people we met, Gary was clearly the right person."

The 40-year-old is Wolves' fourth manager in just over two years.

His first assignment will come on Monday when Wolves travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.

Several candidates were considered as Lopetegui's replacement but O'Neil was the preferred option after his presentation during the interview with the Wolves hierarchy left a strong impression.

Hobbs added: "His attention to detail, thoroughness and history of developing players impressed us - he's worked with both young and experienced players.

"The detail he showed with his tactical work, including against us last year, gives you confidence about the work he and his staff put into every game.

"He's very forward thinking, very driven, like he has a point to prove because he did a great job at Bournemouth."

As a player, O'Neil made more than 450 appearances for clubs including Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, West Ham, QPR and Norwich.

He took up his first coaching role in August 2020, when he became assistant manager with Liverpool's Under-23s. He joined the coaching set-up at Bournemouth under former manager Jonathan Woodgate in February 2021.

The Cherries named O'Neil as interim boss following the sacking of Scott Parker after a 9-0 defeat against Liverpool in August 2022.

He was made the permanent manager in November, signing a one-and-a-half-year contract with the option to extend by a further 12 months, after picking up 13 points from 11 Premier League games to guide the south coast club from 17th to 14th.

During his time at Vitality Stadium, O'Neil managed the team for a total of 27 matches in all competitions, winning 11, drawing 6 and losing 10 - departing with a win ratio of 40.74%.Lopetegui took charge of 27 games at Wolves during the same period, winning 10, drawing 6 and losing 11.

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