McKenna leaves Ipswich a month after gaining promotion from the Premier League

Kieran McKenna will leave his role as manager of Ipswich Town after five seasons, the club said on Wednesday, with the 40-year-old leaving a month after securing promotion to the Premier League.

The club said McKenna had decided to take a break despite guiding Ipswich back to the top with a second-place finish in the Championship in May.

“It has been an absolute privilege to lead this club,” McKenna said in a statement.

“Over the past five seasons, we have been on an incredible journey that has provided so many of the best experiences of my professional and personal life.”

McKenna oversaw one of the most successful periods in the club’s history, guiding Ipswich to three promotions in four years, including two promotions to the Premier League during his tenure.

“When you have the connection we have built at this club, there is never a good time to say goodbye,” he said.

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“After being promoted to the Premier League for the second time last season, with another memorable final day at our stadium, and after reflecting on the past few weeks, I believe this is the right time for me to step aside.

“I do this with great pride in the incredible progress we have made and with enormous hope and optimism for the future of the club.”

McKenna worked as a youth coach at Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United before taking on a first-team coaching role at United under Michael Carrick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

He took charge of Ipswich in December 2021 when the club were in League One, and were promoted in his first full season in 2022-23. He followed that up by guiding them to a second-place finish in the Championship a year later, returning Ipswich to the Premier League for the first time since 2001.

Published on June 10, 2026