Despite several reports linking Marcelo Bielsa to the vacant managerial position at Bournemouth, the Cherries on Sunday confirmed that Gary O’Neil would continue in the role but now permanently.

O’Neil has been in charge temporarily since the sacking of Scott Parker in August. The 39-year-old has helped steady the ship at the club with respect to the Premier League ranking and has been rewarded with a year-and-a-half contract at the Vitality Stadium.

He also has an option of a further year at the end of the initial one-and-a-half-year contract. His interim period gave the team 13 points from 11 games which put them safely in 14th position on the log.

Furthermore, O’Neil helped the club to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, and the hierarchy at the club are confident in his abilities and convinced enough to give him the permanent role. 

“We have been impressed with how he has conducted himself from the moment he joined the club and feel he has earned this opportunity to continue to take the team and the club forward,” Bournemouth chief executive Neill Blake said.

Neill Blake also spoke about O’Neil’s work rate on the training pitch and his diligence in getting the job done.

Gary O’Neil’s first game in charge on a permanent basis will be in the Carabao Cup on the 21st of November against Newcastle United.

His first Premier League game will happen six days after against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Meanwhile, his first job as a coach was with Liverpool U23s in 2020 as an assistant manager, while during his playing days, he played for the likes of West Ham, Norwich, Middlesbrough, Portsmouth, and QPR with over 450 matches under his belt.