Under the management of Kieran McKenna, Ipswich has clinched victories in their initial three matches upon returning to the Championship, displaying formidable strength.
Kieran McKenna, a Northern Irish football manager born on May 14, 1986, in London, UK, currently leads Ipswich Town in the EFL Championship. McKenna, standing at 1.75m (5 ft 9 in), resides in Ipswich with his wife and two children.
McKenna’s football journey commenced in his youth, playing for Enniskillen Town United and Ballinamallard United before transitioning to coaching. Following a brief stint in Tottenham’s first team, he pursued coaching, joining Spurs after a short study period at Loughborough University. Notably, McKenna’s coaching prowess earned him a role in Manchester United’s youth system during Jose Mourinho’s tenure, eventually joining the first team staff.
Linked with Mourinho’s path to senior football, McKenna’s recent triumph with Ipswich, securing a 1-0 victory against Queens Park Rangers and extending an unbeaten league run to 22 games, draws parallels to Mourinho’s acknowledgment of Sir Bobby Robson’s pivotal role in his career transition.
During his tenure with Ipswich, McKenna led the team to a record-breaking 98 points and 101 goals in League 1, with a notable defensive record of conceding only 35 goals, including a stretch of 15 games with just two goals conceded and nine consecutive clean sheets.
McKenna emphasizes collective teamwork, as evident in Ipswich’s performance, where standout players are minimal, promoting a cohesive unit approach.
McKenna’s estimated net worth is around $1.5 million, with a contract extending to 2027, although his salary remains undisclosed.
They scored 101 goals, lost only four games, and prospered with a sophisticated, dominant brand of football virtually alien to the third tier. More experienced heads had failed to reignite Ipswich, but McKenna, who turns 37 on Sunday, arrived with a plan in December 2021 and executed it perfectly. It is hard to think of a more exciting young manager working in the country.
“When you have a club of this size and history, the only one in a big county, there’s massive potential,” he says, sitting in his office at the Suffolk club’s training ground. “We’ve had really powerful momentum, incredible support, and it’s a great place to be. We know there’s a lot of hard work to do, but it’s nice to be in this position, and there’s a real chance to push onwards and upwards.”
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