Kieran McKenna has signed a new four-year contract to continue managing Ipswich Town, following the club’s remarkable ascent to the Premier League.
The 38-year-old’s new deal at Portman Road comes a week after it seemed likely he would decline any new offer from the club.
McKenna had been linked with the vacant position at Brighton and was shortlisted by Chelsea as a potential replacement for Mauricio Pochettino, but he withdrew from the running for the Stamford Bridge job on Sunday.
“I am extremely proud to have signed a new contract with the club,” McKenna told Ipswich Town’s official website, external.
“We have enjoyed incredible success together over the last two seasons and I’m excited to have the opportunity and responsibility of leading this fantastic club into its first season in the Premier League in 22 years.”
Ipswich’s back-to-back automatic promotions, propelling them from League One to the Premier League for the first time since 2002, elevated former Manchester United assistant first-team coach Kieran McKenna to one of the most esteemed and sought-after managers in English football.
Leading the Tractor Boys to promotion from the Championship and trailing only one point behind title winners Leicester earned McKenna the prestigious League Managers Association’s Manager of the Year award. He outshone Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, who secured an English record fourth successive top-flight title, and Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta for this accolade.
Despite a squad primarily composed of players from their previous promotion from the third tier in 2022-23, McKenna guided Ipswich to a second-place finish in the Championship. They emerged as the division’s top scorers with 92 goals and surpassed both Leeds United and Southampton—two clubs with considerably larger budgets after their relegation from the Premier League the previous season.
During his two full seasons at Portman Road, Ipswich have triumphed in 56 matches, drawn 26, and suffered just 10 defeats out of 92 league fixtures.
“Success brings its own challenges and there has been considerable speculation in recent weeks,” said Ipswich chief executive officer Mark Ashton.
“For Kieran to have signed a new contract is a significant boost, heading into such an important campaign.”