I Had to Take the Leap” – Kieran McKenna Breaks Silence on Leaving Man United as Ipswich Gamble Pays Off in Stunning Fashion
Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Revolution: From Old Trafford Coach to Premier League Boss
Kieran McKenna made the leap from Manchester United to Ipswich Town in December 2021 — and he’s since delivered on every promise made upon his arrival at Portman Road.
The Northern Irishman took his first step into senior management after leaving his coaching role at Old Trafford, replacing Paul Cook as Ipswich manager when the club were struggling in 11th place in League One, ten points off the play-off spots.
Although the remainder of the 2021/22 season didn’t yield immediate results — Ipswich still finished 11th — McKenna’s impact soon became clear. The following campaign saw a dramatic turnaround as the Tractor Boys secured automatic promotion to the Championship with a second-place finish.
But the rise didn’t stop there.
McKenna guided Ipswich to back-to-back promotions, clinching another top-two finish in the Championship and sealing a historic return to the Premier League in 2024 — their first time back in the top flight since 2002. The achievement cemented McKenna’s status as a modern club legend.
McKenna’s First Words at Ipswich
Speaking after his appointment in 2021, McKenna described Ipswich as the ideal club to begin his managerial journey.
“It feels like the right time, project and club to make my first step into first-team management,” he told the BBC. “Leaving a club like Manchester United was obviously a difficult decision, but I strongly believe in the opportunity to build something here.”
And build something he did.
Managerial Record at Ipswich (via Transfermarkt):
Games: 173
Wins: 81
Draws: 48
Losses: 44
Win Rate: 46.82%
While the results weren’t instant, McKenna’s long-term vision and coaching quality quickly became evident. Ipswich, a club that had been stuck in League One since 2019 and seemingly far from its former glories, began to show signs of genuine progress under his guidance.
Building a Premier League Side
McKenna took over a squad that included players like Conor Chaplin, Wes Burns, Luke Woolfenden, Cameron Burgess, and captain Sam Morsy — all of whom would later play for Ipswich in the Premier League. He added key signings like Leif Davis and Nathan Broadhead, helping the team rise through the ranks of English football.
More than just the personnel, McKenna introduced a modern, attacking style of play that quickly won over fans and pundits alike. His clear tactical identity and man-management helped shape Ipswich into one of the most exciting stories in English football.
A Return to the Top — and a Tough Challenge
Although Ipswich’s Premier League return in 2024/25 ended with a 19th-place finish, the campaign was far from a failure. Considering where the club had been just three years earlier, McKenna’s work has been nothing short of transformational.
By taking a bold step away from Manchester United to lead a struggling League One side, McKenna bet on himself — and won. His belief in the Ipswich project has been completely vindicated, and his name is now firmly etched in the club’s modern history.
