Bournemouth have sacked Gary O’Neil, despite the head coach winning 10 out of his 34 Premier League games to keep the Cherries in the Premier League. O’Neil, 40, was sacked less than seven months after being appointed as the club’s permanent manager after a successful spell as interim boss.
Bournemouth, promoted to the Premier League in 2022, sacked Scott Parker in August after three successive defeats, including a 9-0 loss to Liverpool. O’Neil took the reins in August and had an immediate impact, remaining unbeaten in his first six games. He was made the club’s permanent manager during the World Cup break in November. He went on to guide the South Coast club to 15th in the Premier League.
In a statement Bournemouth owner Bill Foley said:
“This has been a difficult decision,
“It has been made with great consideration to best position ourselves ahead of the coming season.
“Gary will go on to have a long career as a head coach or manager, but we feel that, at this moment in time, a change is in the best interests of this football club.”
Bournemouth have stated that they will announce O’Neil’s successor “imminently”.
Former Rayo Vallecano boss Andoni Iraola is thought to be the club’s preferred choice.