Wikipedia

Kieran McKenna

Kieran McKenna(born 14 May 1986) is an English-born Northern Irish professionalfootballmanagerand former player, who is the manager ofPremier LeagueclubIpswich Town.

Kieran McKenna
McKenna in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth (1986-05-14)14 May 1986(age 38)
Place of birth London,England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Ipswich Town(manager)
Youth career
1997–2001 Enniskillen Town United[2]
2001–2002 Ballinamallard United
2002–2009 Tottenham Hotspur
International career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2005 Northern Ireland U19 5 (0)
2005–2007 Northern Ireland U21 7 (1)
Managerial career
2015–2016 Tottenham Hotspur U18
2016–2018 Manchester United U18
2021– Ipswich Town

Born in London, McKenna was raised in Northern Ireland and played youth football forEnniskillen Town UnitedandBallinamallard Unitedbefore joiningTottenham Hotspurin 2002. McKenna represented Northern Ireland at both under-19 & under-21 level before a hip injury curtailed his playing career.

After studyingsports scienceat Loughborough University, McKenna coached Tottenham Hotspur andManchester Unitedat under-18 level, and also worked as a first-team coach and assistant manager at Manchester United before being appointed as manager of Ipswich Town in 2021.

Early life

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McKenna was born in London,[3]and was raised in the Northern Ireland county ofFermanagh.[4]

Playing career

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McKenna began his footballing career as a youth team player at Northern Irish sidesEnniskillen Town UnitedandBallinamallard United.[5][2]He joinedTottenham Hotspuras a youth player in 2002, after signing a scholarship contract with Spurs.[6]

McKenna representedNorthern Irelandat bothunder-19andunder-21level. He was made captain of Northern Ireland's under-19s side at the2005 UEFA European Under-19 Championshipby coachMal Donaghy.[6]In 2009, at the age of 22, McKenna retired from playing due to an ongoing hip injury which prevented him from making a senior first-team appearance for Tottenham.[5]

Coaching career

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Early roles and development

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After retiring from playing, McKenna started his career in coaching while studying asports sciencedegree atLoughborough University.During his time studying, McKenna spent time as a youth coach atTottenham Hotspur,Leicester City,Nottingham Forest,and Canadian sideVancouver Whitecaps.

Tottenham Hotspur

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Upon graduating from Loughborough University, McKenna was hired as the Head of Academy Performance Analysis at Tottenham Hotspur.[7]He was offered the role of Academy Coach atLiverpool,[5]but remained at Spurs, coaching various age groups at theTottenham Academy set-up,before being placed in charge of Tottenham Hotspur's under-18s side.[8]During his tenure at Tottenham, McKenna guided the under-18s to the semi-final of theFA Youth Cupin 2015.[5]

Manchester United

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In August 2016, McKenna left his role at Tottenham to join the academy set-up atManchester United,becoming the club's under-18s manager.[9]In his second season in charge of the under-18s, McKenna guided Manchester United to the Premier League Northern Division title.[5]

Along with former United playerMichael Carrick,McKenna was promoted to the first-team coaching staff and replacedRui FariaasJosé Mourinho's assistant manager, ahead of the2018–19 Premier League season.[10][11]

Following a poor start to the 2018–19 season, Mourinho left United on 18 December 2018, and was replaced the next day by former United strikerOle Gunnar Solskjær,who was appointed ascaretaker manager,[12][13]and retained both McKenna and Carrick in their coaching positions.[13]McKenna was retained in his role by interim managerRalf Rangnickfollowing Solskjær's departure as United manager in November 2021.[7]

Managerial career

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Ipswich Town

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2021–22 season

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On 16 December 2021, McKenna was appointed as manager ofLeague OnesideIpswich Town,signing a three-and-a-half-year contract. He officially took charge on 20 December, alongside his assistant Martyn Pert.[14]McKenna's first game in charge of Ipswich saw his side win 1–0 againstWycombe WanderersatPortman Road.[15]McKenna's first away game in charge was a 4–0 win againstGillingham.[16]

McKenna's arrival saw a quick upturn in Ipswich's form, winning seven of his first ten games in charge, keeping sevenclean sheetsin the process. Under McKenna, Ipswich went 11 matches unbeaten through February and March, including setting a new club record for not conceding a goal, surpassing the previous record of 547 minutes.[17]Despite the improvement in form, Ipswich failed to reach the League One play-offs, eventually finishing in 11th place in League One. Ipswich ended the 2021–22 season with a 4–0 home win againstCharlton Athleticon 30 April.[18]

2022–23 season

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McKenna celebratesIpswich Town's promotion to theEFL Championshipin 2023

During the 2022–23 season, McKenna was awarded theEFL League One Manager of the Monthaward for March 2023 as his side maintained their automatic promotion push.[19]On 29 April 2023, Ipswich secured promotion to theEFL Championshipafter beatingExeter City6–0 at home.[20]He was later awarded the Manager of the Month award for April.[21]

Ipswich finished the season in second place in League One to gain automatic promotion to the EFL Championship, following a 19-game unbeaten run.

At the end of the 2022–23 season, McKenna signed a new four-year contract, extending his stay at Portman Road until 2027.[22]

2023–24 season

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McKenna is thrown into the air by hisIpswich Townplayers after promotion to thePremier Leaguein 2024

Ipswich started the2023–24 seasonwell and a run of four wins and a draw saw McKenna pick up theEFL Championship Manager of the Monthaward for September.[23]He won the award for a second time in March 2024 as Ipswich won four of their five matches in March as Ipswich maintained their automatic promotion push.[24]

McKenna was named as theEFL Championship Manager of the Seasonfor the 2023–24 season as Ipswich finished second in theEFL Championshipto win promotion to thePremier League.[25][26][27]McKenna's Ipswich side accumulated 194 points and scored 193 goals over two seasons as they became the first club since Southampton in 2012 to secure back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League.[28][29]

Despite being approached by fellow Premier League sidesChelseaandBrighton & Hove Albion,[30]McKenna signed a new four-year contract with Ipswich until 2028.[31]

2024–25 season

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McKenna lost three games in a row for the first time, after a home defeat toLiverpool,an away defeat toManchester City,and then losing on penalties toAFC Wimbledonin the League Cup. Ipswich picked up their first point of their Premier League campaign with a 1–1 draw withFulham.[32]His winless run with Ipswich stretched to nine games, after they fell to a home defeat toEvertonon 19 October.[33]This was Ipswich's worst start to a season since 2018–19.[34]McKenna's Ipswich then hit the bottom three of the league for the first time that season following a 4–3 loss toBrentford.[35]McKenna picked up his first win in thePremier Leaguein a shocking 2–1 away victory on 10 November againstTottenham Hotspur,bringing Ipswich out of the relegation zone. This was Ipswich's first top flight win since April 2002.[36]

Reception

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Following McKenna's arrival as Manchester United's under-18s manager,Indy Boonen,who was a teenage player for United at the time, praised McKenna by stating,"He changed everything. The way we trained was how the opponent played on the Saturday. If you played againstWest Brom,you trained how they are and focused on their weaknesses. "[5]

Jim Magilton,theIrish Football Association's elite performance director, agreed with Boonen's appraisal of McKenna commenting,"He is a meticulous planner yet every session is spontaneous. Nothing is set in stone. He adjusts the session to how the players are and gets what he wants out of the session. Everything is linked and game related. Nothing is for show – it has to be about the game."[5]

Personal life

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McKenna is married and has two children.[37]

Since his childhood, McKenna has been a supporter of Manchester United, with reports claiming that his love for the club influenced his decision to leaveTottenham Hotspurfor the Red Devils in 2016.[5]

McKenna also playedGaelic footballfor the minors of theEnniskillen Gaelsclub.[38]In 2024, McKenna was given aHonorary Doctorateby theUniversity of Suffolk.[39]

Managerial statistics

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As of match played 24 November 2024[40]
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
P W D L Win %
Ipswich Town 20 December 2021 Present 144 76 43 25 052.78
Total 144 76 43 25 052.78

Honours

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Manager

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Manchester United U18

Individual

References

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  1. ^"Kieran McKenna".Sports Mole.Retrieved21 May2024.
  2. ^ab"From Enniskillen to Old Trafford: the 32-year-old Fermanagh native who's Jose Mourinho's right-hand man".The42.ie.18 October 2018.Retrieved4 February2019.
  3. ^"Kieran McKenna".Ipswich Town F.C.Retrieved21 May2024.
  4. ^"Fermanagh man Kieran McKenna takes up Manchester United role".The Irish News.30 August 2016.Retrieved7 October2018.
  5. ^abcdefghiWho is Kieran McKenna? All you need to know about the Fermanagh man coaching Manchester United with Solskjaer,Belfast Telegraph,retrieved4 April2020
  6. ^ab"Anthony Martial, Kieran McKenna and how a career trajectory is not a smooth diagonal line to the stars".The Irish Times.
  7. ^ab"Who is Kieran McKenna? A look at Ipswich Town's new manager".East Anglian Daily Times.17 December 2021.Retrieved2 January2022.
  8. ^"Who is Kieran McKenna? Manchester United coach taking training with Michael Carrick".Sky Sports.18 December 2018.Retrieved4 February2019.
  9. ^Kilpatrick, Dan (29 August 2016)."Tottenham U18 boss Kieran McKenna joins Man United – sources".ESPN.Retrieved28 January2021.
  10. ^Jackson, Jamie (12 May 2018)."Manchester United assistant manager Rui Faria to leave Old Trafford".The Guardian.Retrieved15 July2018.
  11. ^"Manchester United coach Kieran McKenna subject of bold prediction".Manchester Evening News.4 July 2018.Retrieved7 October2018.
  12. ^"Jose Mourinho: Manchester United sack manager".BBC Sport. 18 December 2018.Retrieved18 December2018.
  13. ^ab"Ole Gunnar Solskjaer named Man Utd caretaker manager until end of season".BBC Sport.19 December 2018.Retrieved19 December2018.
  14. ^"Welcome Kieran McKenna".Ipswich Town FC. 16 December 2021.Retrieved16 December2021.
  15. ^"Ipswich Town 1–0 Wycombe Wanderers".BBC Sport. 29 December 2021.Retrieved30 December2021.
  16. ^"Gillingham 0–4 Ipswich Town".BBC Sport. 8 January 2022.Retrieved7 June2022.
  17. ^"Morecambe 1–1 Ipswich Town – Match Report".TWTD. 26 February 2022.Retrieved7 June2022.
  18. ^"Ipswich Town 4–0 Charlton Athletic".BBC Sport. 30 April 2022.Retrieved7 June2022.
  19. ^"Sky Bet EFL March Manager and Player of the Month winners!".www.efl.com.7 April 2023.Retrieved9 April2023.
  20. ^"Ipswich Town 6–0 Exeter City: Tractor Boys promoted to Championship with win".BBC Sport.Retrieved29 April2023.
  21. ^"Sky Bet EFL Manager and Player of the Month: April winners".www.efl.com.5 May 2023.Retrieved6 May2023.
  22. ^Jacob Henderson (16 June 2023)."Kieran McKenna signs new four-year contract".Ipswich Town FC.Retrieved16 June2023.
  23. ^ab"Boss wins Manager of the Month prize".www.itfc.co.uk.13 October 2023.Retrieved13 October2023.
  24. ^ab"KIERAN NAMED MANAGER OF THE MONTH".www.itfc.co.uk.12 April 2024.Retrieved12 April2024.
  25. ^ab"Kieran McKenna wins the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Season".EFL.14 April 2024.Retrieved14 April2024.
  26. ^"We Are Premier League!".Ipswich Town F.C. 4 May 2024.
  27. ^Grunill, Paul (4 May 2024)."McKenna guides Ipswich back to 'promised land'".BBC Sport.
  28. ^"Ipswich Town Premier League promotion parade sees fans pack streets".BBC News.6 May 2024.Retrieved8 May2024.
  29. ^"Ipswich Town promoted to the Premier League after 22 years away".Sky News.Retrieved8 May2024.
  30. ^Steinberg, Jacob (22 May 2024)."Chelsea contact Ipswich about Kieran McKenna as club step up manager hunt".The Guardian.Retrieved30 May2024.
  31. ^"Kieran signs new four-year deal".Ipswich Town F.C. 30 May 2024.Retrieved30 May2024.
  32. ^Oscroft, Tim (31 August 2024)."Ipswich Town 1–1 Fulham".BBC Sport.Retrieved12 September2024.
  33. ^"Results and Fixtures for Ipswich Town".
  34. ^"Paul Hurst sacked as Ipswich Town manager – with Lambert set to take over".25 October 2018.
  35. ^"Bees sting Ipswich late on as winless run continues".
  36. ^https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13250483/tottenham-1-2-ipswich-tractor-boys-shock-spurs-to-record-first-premier-league-win-of-season
  37. ^Ames, Nick (14 May 2023)."Ipswich's Kieran McKenna: 'It's more satisfying because it's not been easy'".The Observer.ISSN0029-7712.Retrieved14 May2023.
  38. ^"Big names show support for Fermanagh minors' ItsNotMinorItMatters fundraiser".Hogan Stand.29 March 2021.
  39. ^"Ipswich Town's Kieran McKenna awarded honorary degree".www.bbc.com.Retrieved21 October2024.
  40. ^"Managers: Kieran McKenna".Soccerbase.Centurycomm.Retrieved20 December2021.
  41. ^"Kieran Named Manager of the Month".Ipswich Town F.C.7 April 2023.Retrieved7 April2023.
  42. ^"Boss and Chappers Pick Up EFL Awards".Ipswich Town F.C.5 May 2023.Retrieved5 May2023.
  43. ^ab"McKenna beats Guardiola and Arteta to win LMA award".BBC Sport. 22 May 2024.Retrieved22 May2024.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related toKieran McKenna.
  • Profileat the Ipswich Town F.C. website
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