PL News: McKenna signs four-year deal at Ipswich
We have some good news for Ipswich fans
Kieran McKenna has signed a new four-year contract to stay as the manager of Ipswich Town, following the club's remarkable rise to the Premier League.
We are delighted to announce that Manager Kieran McKenna has signed a new long-term contract at Portman Road.
— I(P)SWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) May 30, 2024
The 38-year-old's new agreement at Portman Road was confirmed a week after it seemed likely he might decline the club's offer.
McKenna had been linked to the managerial vacancy at Brighton and was shortlisted by Chelsea to replace Mauricio Pochettino. However, he withdrew from the race for the Stamford Bridge role on Sunday.
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Under McKenna's leadership, Ipswich achieved consecutive automatic promotions, propelling them from League One to the Premier League for the first time since 2002. This success has made the former Manchester United assistant first-team coach one of the most highly-regarded and in-demand managers in English football.
Guiding the Tractor Boys to promotion from the Championship and finishing just one point behind champions Leicester earned McKenna the League Managers Association's Manager of the Year award.
He beat out Manchester City's Pep Guardiola, who secured a record fourth successive top-flight title, and Arsenal's Mikel Arteta for the accolade.
McKenna secured a second-place finish in the Championship. Ipswich were the top scorers in the division with 92 goals, finishing ahead of Leeds United and Southampton, despite their significantly larger budgets after relegation from the Premier League the previous season.
The new contract will make McKenna one of the highest-paid managers in the Premier League, just a year after he led Ipswich to promotion from League One to the Championship. It also provides security for Ipswich.
The Tractor Boys have managed their success with aplomb. This recognises that interest in their manager would follow and have now avoided any unnecessary distractions.
The unified front shown by McKenna and chief executive Mark Ashton at the League Managers Association dinner last week, where McKenna received the Manager of the Year award, highlighted their commitment to maintaining business as usual during this period.
Not a new situation for Ipswich
McKenna was close to joining Crystal Palace before Oliver Glasner was appointed in February, and Brighton's interest was evident. This was before Roberto de Zerbi's departure was announced.
Although there were allegedly plans for McKenna to leave Portman Road this summer regardless of promotion, dwindling options and a new deal on the table made it crucial for him to decide, avoiding any unrest within the club amidst the widespread interest and speculation surrounding him.
Some of the best reaction
You can see of the reaction from the Blue Monday - Ipswich Town Podcast by watching the video below.
Marcus, another Ipswich fan, added: "When we failed to go up in 2021-22, after McKenna joined in December 2021, there was a degree of confidence the club could build. This involved setting the philosophy and culture while challenging at the top of League One. It was deemed better rebuilding in League One than struggling in the Championship. Since then, we have only improved. The last two seasons have been amazing, and I am so happy that McKenna will take us into the Premier League. If he can secure safety, then I think he deserves a ststue at the ground. He probably is destined for a 'bigger' club eventually but he needed to stay here for now."
