Gary O'Neil facts for kids
O'Neil warming-up for West Ham United in 2012
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 18 May 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | Beckenham, England | ||
| Height | 1.73 m | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Portsmouth | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2000–2007 | Portsmouth | 174 | (16) |
| 2003 | → Walsall (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2004 | → Cardiff City (loan) | 9 | (1) |
| 2007–2011 | Middlesbrough | 109 | (10) |
| 2011–2013 | West Ham United | 48 | (3) |
| 2013–2014 | Queens Park Rangers | 29 | (1) |
| 2014–2016 | Norwich City | 51 | (0) |
| 2016–2018 | Bristol City | 33 | (1) |
| 2018–2019 | Bolton Wanderers | 29 | (3) |
| Total | 489 | (35) | |
| National team | |||
| 2001–2002 | England U19 | 8 | (0) |
| 2002–2003 | England U20 | 7 | (0) |
| 2003–2004 | England U21 | 9 | (0) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2022–2023 | AFC Bournemouth | ||
| 2023–2024 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | ||
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Gary Paul O'Neil (born May 18, 1983) is an English football manager and former player. He was most recently the head coach for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers.
As a midfielder, O'Neil played in 214 Premier League games. He scored 16 goals between 2003 and 2016. He played for clubs like Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, West Ham United, and Norwich City. He also played in the Football League First Division or EFL Championship for several teams. These included Walsall, Cardiff City, Queens Park Rangers, Bristol City, and Bolton Wanderers.
His first job as a manager was with AFC Bournemouth. He helped them finish 15th in the 2022–23 Premier League. However, he was later dismissed before the next season. In August 2023, he became head coach for Wolverhampton Wanderers. He was sacked from this role in December 2024.
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
Starting at Portsmouth
O'Neil was born in Beckenham, London. He grew up in Downham. He made his first team debut for Portsmouth at just 16 years old. This was on January 29, 2000. It was a game against Barnsley in the First Division.
In the 2000–01 season, O'Neil became a regular starter. In the final game, Portsmouth needed to win to avoid being relegated. They won 3–0, and O'Neil scored his first professional goal. In the 2002–03 season, Portsmouth won the First Division title. This meant they were promoted to the Premier League.
Loan Spells and Premier League Debut
To get more experience, O'Neil was loaned to Walsall in 2003. He then returned to Portsmouth due to injuries on the team. He made his Premier League debut in November 2003. He scored two goals in a big 6–1 win against Leeds United.
In 2004, he was loaned to Cardiff City. He scored one goal there. After returning to Portsmouth, he became a regular player. He even scored against big teams like Manchester United and Liverpool.
Becoming a Key Player
O'Neil was an important player for Portsmouth in the 2005–06 season. He often played in central midfield. He helped the team avoid relegation from the Premier League. In the 2006–07 season, he continued to be a regular player. Portsmouth finished 9th, which was their best Premier League finish at that time.
Moving to Middlesbrough
On August 31, 2007, O'Neil joined Middlesbrough. The fee was around £5 million. He scored his first goal for Middlesbrough in October 2008. He played 119 games for the club and scored seven goals in total.
Time at West Ham United
O'Neil moved to West Ham United on January 25, 2011. He signed a two-and-a-half-year contract. He made his debut in the League Cup semi-final. His 2010–11 season ended early due to an ankle injury.
He scored his first goal for West Ham in February 2012. He was a key player when the team won promotion to the Premier League. This happened after they beat Blackpool in the Championship play-off final. He left West Ham in June 2013.
Queens Park Rangers and Other Clubs
On August 7, 2013, O'Neil joined Queens Park Rangers. He reunited with his former manager, Harry Redknapp. He scored his first goal for them in January 2014. He helped QPR win promotion to the Premier League in 2014. However, he was sent off in the final game.
After QPR, O'Neil played for Norwich City from 2014 to 2016. He then joined Bristol City in 2016. He scored one goal for Bristol City. He left the club in 2018.
His last club as a player was Bolton Wanderers. He joined them in August 2018. He played over 30 games and scored three goals. He won the Player of the Year award from the club's supporters.
International Appearances
Gary O'Neil played for England at various youth levels. He was the captain of the England Under-20 team in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship. He also played nine games for the England Under-21 team.
Managerial Career
Early Coaching Roles
In August 2020, O'Neil started his coaching career. He became an assistant manager for Liverpool's under-23 squad. In February 2021, he joined AFC Bournemouth as a senior first team coach. He helped the team get promoted to the Premier League in 2021–22.
Leading AFC Bournemouth
On August 30, 2022, O'Neil became the caretaker manager for Bournemouth. This happened after the previous manager was dismissed. His first game was a 0–0 draw. He got his first win in the next match, a 3–2 victory. His team went unbeaten for four more games. He was even nominated for Premier League Manager of the Month.
In November 2022, O'Neil was appointed as Bournemouth's permanent head coach. He signed an 18-month contract. In April 2023, his team secured their place in the top league. They won five out of seven matches. Despite this success, Bournemouth dismissed O'Neil on June 19, 2023.
Managing Wolverhampton Wanderers
On August 9, 2023, O'Neil became the head coach of Wolverhampton Wanderers. He signed a three-year deal. His first game was a close loss to Manchester United. The referees' manager later apologized to O'Neil for a wrong call in that game.
On September 30, 2023, Wolves beat Manchester City. This made O'Neil only the second English coach to defeat Manchester City under Pep Guardiola. In January 2024, O'Neil led Wolves to a 2–0 victory over West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup. This was Wolves' first win against West Brom since 2011.
On December 15, 2024, O'Neil was sacked by Wolverhampton Wanderers. At that time, Wolves were 19th in the league. They had won only two games in the 2024–25 season. Vítor Pereira took over as manager.
Personal Life
Gary O'Neil married Donna Guerin in 2006. They have two daughters and a son. His son has acted on TV shows and joined AFC Wimbledon's academy in 2023.
Honours and Achievements
Portsmouth
- Football League First Division: 2002–03 (Champions)
West Ham United
- Football League Championship play-offs: 2012 (Winners)
Queens Park Rangers
- Football League Championship play-offs: 2014 (Winners)
Norwich City
- Football League Championship play-offs: 2015 (Winners)
See also
In Spanish: Gary O'Neil para niños
