The club’s US owners have undoubtedly found what they were seeking for by giving McKenna his first senior managerial post.
At the age of 35, he was lured away from his position as first-team coach at Manchester United. In his first full season in charge, the Northern Irishman achieved promotion to the Championship and is on course to lead Ipswich back into the Premier League for the first time since 2002.
Despite a humiliating defeat to Leeds on December 23, they remain second in the table, which some believe may dampen the rising belief that Ipswich are ready for the Premier League.
For many Tractor Boys fans, the top division is a distant memory, but former striker Marcus Stewart, who scored 19 goals in the Tractor Boys’ fifth-place finish in the 2000-01 Premier League, believes something unique is occurring at the club anyway.
“I thought they’d be near the play-offs,” Stewart, now Yeovil’s head of player development, tells me.
“However, to be doing as well as they are right now is incredible.” They simply maintained their pace after promotion and did not make many changes to the squad.
“It would be an incredible achievement for Kieran to be in only his second full season as a manager and pushing for another promotion. Going up twice in your first two full seasons is definitely unprecedented.
“They are such a good side to watch and were unstoppable with the run they were on last season, then just carried that on.”
When Ipswich last played in the Premier League, McKenna was a teenager, and on-loan attacker Omari Hutchinson had not even been born.
He has, however, wasted no time in asserting his influence in his new post, having earned a tremendous reputation as a coach despite being forced to terminate his playing career at the age of 22 owing to a knee injury. He had already aided Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and Ralf Rangnick after moving to Old Trafford from his former post as manager of Tottenham’s U18s.
“I can remember doing my pro license with Kieran six or seven years ago and got to know him, he’s an impressive character,” Stewart said.
“He’s taken to management like a fish to water, and I couldn’t be happier for him.” He was a Spurs coach at the time I met him, and he came off as a very charming guy who was passionate about his work; you could feel his determination.
“You never know if someone will take to management; they can be excellent coaches but fail to make the transition.” He’s done it in an outstanding manner. He’s definitely built for it and has a bright future.”
Ipswich’s glory years, when Sir Bobby Robson led the club to an FA Cup success in 1978 and the Uefa Cup three years later, may still seem a lifetime ago.
Stewart, who was part of the team that qualified for the Uefa Cup under George Burley (before being relegated the following season), believes the club is now on the right course, even if it means McKenna will be pursued.
“I want him to succeed at the club, which is in just as good as a place as when George Burley was there in what were great times,” Stewart said.
“Who knows what will happen; he’ll be in high demand, but hopefully he’ll stick around.”
“Success, whether for a player or a manager, always attracts attention.” Hopefully, they will be promoted, and his stock will rise even higher; it would be ideal if he could keep the job for a long time.”
McKenna has been a breath of new air with his methodical approach and first-rate man-management skills, and Ipswich are soaring in style after falling short of expectations for so many years.
He pledged to “build something special” when he took over in December 2021, but even he couldn’t have predicted that the project would be this far along so quickly.
A slick offensive type of free-flowing football with relentless intensity and ruthlessness helped Ipswich finish second behind Plymouth in League One last season with a stunning 98 points – concluding the campaign with a 19-match unbeaten run.
Regardless of what transpired at Elland Road, this season is shaping up to be another spectacular one.
The takeover was also critical. Gamechanger 20 Ltd, who purchased the club from Marcus Evans in April 2021, promised to return the club to its previous glory – and they have delivered.
A slick offensive type of free-flowing football with relentless intensity and ruthlessness helped Ipswich finish second behind Plymouth in League One last season with a stunning 98 points – concluding the campaign with a 19-match unbeaten run.
Regardless of what transpired at Elland Road, this season is shaping up to be another spectacular one.
The takeover was also critical. Gamechanger 20 Ltd, who purchased the club from Marcus Evans in April 2021, promised to return the club to its previous glory – and they have delivered.
