West Brom can make clever manager decision by targeting 41-year-old with Wolves links | OneFootball

As the manager search goes on for West Bromwich Albion, they could make a clever decision by targeting ex-Wolves head coach Gary O'Neil.

West Brom find themselves at another pivotal crossroads after failing once more to secure Championship promotion.

After the sacking of Tony Mowbray in late April following a disappointing spell that delivered just five wins in 18 matches, the Baggies are again searching for a manager capable of reigniting their Premier League ambitions.

With play-off hopes dashed and the club preparing for another season in the Championship, the decision-makers at The Hawthorns must choose wisely, and Gary O'Neil could be exactly the kind of clever, if controversial, appointment they need.

Ex-Wolves boss Gary O'Neil could be an ideal fit for the West Brom vacancy

It appears that the first-choice of the Albion hierarchy and owner Shilen Patel is Tottenham coach Ryan Mason, but with the north London outfit still embroiled in a UEFA Europa League battle, there will be a wait to potentially talk to the 33-year-old.

And throwing O'Neil's name into the hat and casting aside club rivalry, it may be a rare opportunity for the Baggies to hire a manager with proven top-flight pedigree and a clear tactical identity.

O'Neil's ties to Wolves, West Brom's fiercest Black Country rivals, will be bound to raise eyebrows among the Albion fanbase. He was most recently in charge at Molineux, where he was dismissed in December 2024 after a rocky start to the Premier League season.

Nonetheless, his stint wasn't without merit. In fact, looking beyond the headlines reveals a manager who steered Wolves to periods of stability and promise.

O'Neil is not a man unfamiliar with pressure. His Premier League record of 25 wins, 16 draws and 47 losses over some two-and-a-half with Bournemouth and then Wolves totalled 91 points. This kind of CV is not easy to find in the current Championship market, and the Baggies would do well to consider substance over sentiment.

Should O'Neil get off to a strong start at The Hawthorns, if he were to be plumped for, his Wolves past would quickly fade from relevance.

Football supporters, though passionate, tend to forgive quickly when results go their way.

Gary O'Neil's managerial track record proves why he should be a top West Brom candidate

O'Neil's coaching abilities rose to prominence during his time at Bournemouth, where he took charge in difficult circumstances but managed to guide the Cherries to safety in the Premier League.

He oversaw a spirited campaign, delivering 10 wins and instilling a progressive tactical approach that kept Bournemouth in the Premier League, laying the foundations for their recent success achieved under Andoni Iraola.

While O'Neil's Bournemouth sacking was harsh at the time, he was able to prove himself as a manager who can get the most out of a limited squad, and Iraola has at least took the Dorset outfit even further this season having been backed by the ownership.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World in April, former Wycombe Wanderers captain and current EFL pundit Joe Jacobson believed that O'Neil would be an astute hire by West Brom, if that's a manager they would consider.

"Gary O'Neil has done a very, very good job, especially at Bournemouth," Jacobson told FLW.

"I thought he was excellent there and unlucky to lose his job.

"At Wolves, it was tough, but I think he is a very, very good manager, and that's exactly what West Brom need now: a freshness, someone with some fresh ideas, someone who's obviously very motivated and wants to prove himself again."

Looking at Albion's recent record in the Championship, Jacobson noted the stagnation, pointing out that the club has "spent a lot of money on players but not necessarily on bringing a lot of youth through," and that O'Neil's energy and modern approach could reinvigorate a squad that has underachieved.

What is possibly Gary O'Neil's biggest appeal is that he ticks boxes in the short term, while carrying the potential to grow and further develop in the long term.

He is someone who Albion wouldn't feel has to be replaced if promotion were to be achieved, and his reputation is strong enough to attract players to The Hawthorns.

More importantly, he is available now, having been out of work since his Wolves departure in December. O'Neil is likely to be eager to return to management, and while West Brom are the fierce rivals of his former employers, he will enter his next job with a point to prove.