Ipswich Town is back in the spotlight! Winner of the UEFA Cup in 1981, the team from the east of the Kingdom had completely disappeared from the radar at the start of the 21st century. Relegated to the lower level in 2002 then to League One (3rd English division) at the end of the 2018-2019 financial year, the Suffolk club will now return to the elite of English football after 22 years of absence. After having been at the top of the Championship standings for a long time and jostling with Leicester, Ipswich had to wait until the 46th and final day of the championship to validate its return to the Premier League without going through the play-offs box thanks to a victory against relegated Huddersfield (2-0).
A return to the forefront that bears the stamp of Kieran McKenna
Finishing one point behind the Foxes, the Tractor Boys achieved a feat as unpredictable as it was remarkable by achieving a double promotion in the space of two years. Before them, only players from Watford (between 1997 and 1999), Norwich (between 2009 and 2011) and Southampton (between 2010 and 2012) had achieved such a feat. A return to the forefront of which Kieran McKenna is far from being a stranger. Great architect of the crazy rise of the residents of Portman Road in the Premier League, the Northern Irish technician is well on his way to embodying the future of coaching in England. At the age of 38, the native of Coa is undoubtedly the revelation of this 2023-2024 financial year, as evidenced by his honorary title of best coach in English D2 and is not ready to stop there.
A professional midfielder, who played for Tottenham between 2002 and 2009 and made a few appearances with the Northern Ireland youth teams, Kieran McKenna never had the opportunity to break through at the highest level, the fault of one chronic hip problem which forced him to abruptly end his football career at the age of 22. Far from having finished with the world of football and eager to take his revenge, the Northern Irishman quickly switched to a life as a coach by training in the profession with the U18s of Tottenham, Leicester and Nottingham Forest before being propelled into the deep end at Manchester United where he played as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s assistant. After three years spent assisting the Norwegian coach, dismissed by the Red Devils in December 2021, the Northern Irishman decided to take a new step in his young career by joining the ranks of Ipswich Town, then in the third division.
Three Premier League clubs vie for Northern Ireland coach
A choice which quickly paid off for Kieran McKenna as well as for the east of England team. Failing to make the play-offs in 2022, the Northern Irish manager had to wait until the second year of his mandate to lift the Tractors Boys to the Championship before obtaining a second consecutive promotion, ensuring them a resounding return to the Premier League. Striking and promising results from a young coach renowned for his very offensive style of play (best attack in the Championship with 92 goals scored in 46 games), and his ability to reveal young players like Brandon Williams, ex-resident from Old Trafford who became an executive with the Tractor Boys, or even the Jamaican Omari Hutchinson. New coach in vogue across the Channel, Kieran McKenna is attracting the interest of many Premier League leaders.
A time announced in the viewfinder of Brighton to replace Roberto De Zerbi, whose departure was recorded recently, the 38-year-old technician also saw his name circulated on the side of Manchester United with a view to compensating a potential departure of Erik Ten Hag in the event of defeat in the FA Cup final against Manchester City on Sunday. An ideal destination for him when we know that he remains a very big fan of the Mancunian team. But according to the British press, Chelsea seem to have a head start on their competitors. Since the recent ousting of Mauricio Pochettino, Kieran McKenna is the Blues’ big favorite to take over the reins of the first team. Under contract with the residents of Portman Road until June 2027, the Northern Irish coach wants to be ambitious but does not rule out the possibility of extending the pleasure with Ipswich. As such, the Daily Mail reveals that negotiations should be initiated this week between the main person concerned and his management so that he can decide on his fate. Note that if Chelsea wish to go all the way, the London club will have to spend around €5 million to secure his services.
