Rio Ferdinand confirms his biggest Premier League surprise and manager of 2023

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has heaped praise on Wolves boss Gary O’Neil, hailing his “brilliant” work so far this season.

O’Neil took over at Molineux less than a week before their first game of the season after former manager Julen Lopetegui parted ways by mutual consent due to “differences of opinion on certain issues”.

As a result, many pundits were tipping Wolves for relegation but they are set to end the year 13 points clear of the bottom three, having won their last three league games against Chelsea, Brentford and Everton.

And Ferdinand has been hugely impressed by O’Neil’s impact at Molineux, claiming it has been the biggest surprise of 2023. “I would say Gary O’Neil at Wolves,” Ferdinand told TNT Sports.

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“They sacked their manager and I had Wolves to go down based on last season’s form. The way he has come in and galvanised the club with Shaun Derry and everything behind the scenes, it’s been great with what they have done and they’re playing some really good football.

“A few decisions have gone against them and they could have more points on the board and they are doing really well.” And while Ferdinand praised O’Neil as one of the standout coaches, he ultimately named Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp as his manager of the year.

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“I think Gary O’Neil [has stood out], I had Wolves as relegation candidates at the beginning of the season,” he added. “I think Gary O’Neil has come in and done fabulously well, him and Shaun Derry have been brilliant and changed things around there.

“Unai Emery has been magnificent [at Aston Villa] as well. [Roberto] De Zerbi at Brighton is doing magnificent things there, but Klopp for me is the big one with the way he’s turned the team around.

“Last season they were way off it and fell off, but now they are top of the league and looking like title challengers again. [Ange] Postecoglou has changed the dynamic of that club [Tottenham] and I have been down to the training ground and it’s impressive with what he has done, but he still needs time. But for me, it’s Klopp with the way in which he’s turned it round so much.”

Former Premier League midfielder Jermaine Jenas, meanwhile, did pick the Wolves boss as his manager of the year, adding: “I will balance it out and go with Gary O’Neil on the basis of how tough the job was when he took it on.”

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