Kieran McKenna, the new manager of Ipswich Town, stated that he left Manchester United because the Portman Road position was “the right offer at the right time.”.
He turned on the opportunity to coach one of the biggest teams in the world to take the helm of the League One team’s promotion push.
On Saturday, McKenna, 35, witnessed the Suffolk team’s potential up close in the grandstand.
Over 29,000 people flocked to Portman Road to witness the Tractor Boys’ match against Sunderland. He called Saturday’s support “fantastic” in reference to his initial thoughts.
“It was great to see,” he continued. I think the team played pretty well, especially in the first half. I really enjoy the team’s commitment, aggression, and approach.
They aren’t ready to give up on the season just yet; they are still on the hunt for anything this year. That is absolutely great. I thought it was great how the players and spectators connected; the players enjoyed the new loudness and the audience, and the supporters supported the team. We must utilize that.
But why did the highly regarded coach leave Old Trafford to take the helm of Ipswich? was the first question posed to him.
“It goes without saying that I have a strong attachment for Manchester United, which is widely known. The club is great to work at, and I was a fan when I was younger. I’ve had nothing except positive connections with owners, employees, players, and managers throughout my career.
“I was happy there and I saw a future there, but the ambition all along was make the step to eventually get the chance to lead a team in my own right, to lead a football club.”
McKenna on the Old Trafford field
McKenna on the Old Trafford field
Regards: PA Images
“I knew the club’s history and heritage when Ipswich first contacted me, so I was aware of that, but I was also aware of the ownership and investment that had been made in the club at the time.
“I had some excellent discussions about the direction I wanted to take it in with [chief executive] Mark Ashton, and we had very similar ideas about how that would be best accomplished, so it was a great fit.
“When Ipswich contacted, I was fully aware of the history and ownership of this property… I’m hoping for a great fit. I think the club’s profile fits me well, and I have faith in our ability to succeed.
He claimed that although he hadn’t been hunting for other work, he seized the moment when it presented itself.
“Over the years, I haven’t applied for anything. I believe that working for a team the size and scope of Manchester United made me extremely focused on the day-to-day operations of the organization. I gave the club my all, striving to improve it every single day.
“I don’t think seeking for other jobs would have been appropriate given the responsibility I had there. I always believed that if I worked hard and improved as a coach, the perfect football team would ultimately come looking for me, and happily, that turned out to be the case with Ipswich. The offer was made at the ideal moment.”
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“It seems like the appropriate club”: Following a depressing FA Cup draw, Paul Cook was fired as manager of Ipswich Town, and McKenna was named the new manager.
Additionally, he took action to allay supporters’ worries that he is unprepared for the difficulties that lie ahead.
He claimed that because of his time spent in the academy, he was already acquainted with a large number of the playing group and that he had spent the past few days keeping up with the team’s recent performances. He said that he already knew exactly what the team’s advantages and disadvantages were, as well as the actions he would take to strengthen them.
“Of course, as soon as you get here, you realize how much this place means to people, what an amazing club it is, and how passionate the fan base is.
The team has had a challenging start to the season, but we still believe that it is possible. We want to get better and produce results, so we’re going to concentrate on enhancing the team’s performances as soon as we can in the hopes that that will lead to success. Given the caliber of the team, I believe we can string together some wins. Let’s see where we stand in a few months.”
Jim Magilton as Ipswich Town’s manager
Regards: PA Images
The incoming manager added that he would be getting in touch with a former Blues great to get suggestions on how to move the team ahead.
McKenna collaborated briefly in the Northern Ireland setup with Jim Magilton, the former Town manager.
Prior to his three-year tenure as manager, Magilton played for eight years at Portman Road and was, according to him, “very much on my call list”.
“I had the good fortune to collaborate with him for a brief while while he was with the Northern Ireland under-21 team, but we have also kept in touch through other channels over the years. I like his firm and he’s a really excellent individual to work for.
“I know his history with this club and the success that he had and I’ll definitely be making contact with him and looking to tap into his experiences here and get his opinion, his expertise on how he sees the club going forward.”
McKenna also took action to allay any suspicions that he was only going to be at Ipswich temporarily.
I’ve put in enough effort to elevate my coaching career to a very high level. I’ve had executive positions in the Premier League and Champions League. At thirty-two, I worked as a Champions League coach and adored it,” he remarked.
“That’s definitely an aspiration to be back at that level as a manager and of course the ultimate goal, the ultimate dream is to do that with Ipswich Town.”
However, McKenna is a realist as well, and he realized that success would require more than just talking.
“It is understandable that there are expectations here. Although we believe we are a large club, nothing in this league is certain. It doesn’t guarantee anything, but there are other large clubs in the division that feel, and their fans feel, like they belong in a higher division.
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