The former Bournemouth and Wolves manager Gary O’Neil is on a three-man shortlist to become the new Strasbourg head coach if Liam Rosenior joins Chelsea.
The French club are set to make a decision on Monday as Chelsea move towards appointing Rosenior, who meets with Chelsea on the same day.
Strasbourg have always insisted that Rosenior will not sign any contract at Chelsea until they themselves have in place a suitable replacement to him for their own head coach position, and out-of-work O’Neil is among three names on a shortlist which is being whittled down to two before a decision is expected to be made on Monday.
O’Neil, who is understood to be keen on the Strasbourg job, earned his first managerial job in 2022 when he took over at Bournemouth, following a journeyman career which saw him play in the capital for two London clubs in QPR and West Ham, as well as for the likes of Middlesborough and Bolton Wanderers.
The 42-year-old has previously expressed a desire to get back into management since being sacked by Wolves in December 2024.
Strasbourg club president Marc Keller and sporting director David Weir will be involved in the final decision of whether to appoint O’Neil or an alternative candidate.
The two directors of the Alsace-based club are currently in London ahead of talks with Chelsea and Rosenior of the Englishman potentially becoming the permanent successor to Enzo Maresca, who left Stamford Bridge on New Year’s Day.
In the Blues’ first game after the Italian’s departure, Calum McFarlane, the head coach of Chelsea’s under-21 squad, led the senior side to a 1-1 draw with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Enzo Fernandez snatched a late equaliser in stoppage time after Tijjani Reijnders’ opener.
