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Kieran McKenna makes decision to step down as Ipswich manager after five seasons at the club

Kieran McKenna makes the decision to step down as Ipswich Town manager after five seasons at the club, it has been announced.

As per Lyall Thomas, McKenna “won’t be joining Fulham”, but he added that “more updates are expected on his future in due course”.

David Ornstein meanwhile said McKenna is to “take time away from management and Ipswich are protected financially if/when makes return with contingency planning already started and now accelerates”.

CLUB STATEMENT:

Kieran McKenna will step down as Ipswich Town Manager this summer after five seasons at the club.

Kieran has made the decision to take time away from football management having been at the forefront of one of the most successful eras in Ipswich Town history, leading the team to three promotions in the last four years, two of which have taken the Blues to the Premier League.

He leaves Portman Road following the second of those promotions to the top-flight, which once again sparked joyous scenes of celebration and highlighted a connection between the club and its supporters which has grown significantly during his five years in charge.

Kieran’s fierce dedication and unmatched work ethic represents all the club stands for and he departs with the best wishes and gratitude of all at Ipswich Town for a contribution that has created memories which will last a lifetime.

Kieran McKenna said: “It is with a mixture of gratitude, pride, sadness and contentment that I have decided to step down from the honour of managing this historic football club.

“When you have the connection that we have built at this club there is never a good time to say goodbye. However, having achieved a second promotion to the Premier League last season, with another memorable final day in our stadium, and after reflection over the last couple of weeks, I feel this is the right time for me to step aside. I do so with great pride at the incredible progress we have made and with huge hope and optimism for the future of the club.

“To manage this club has been an absolute privilege. Over the last five seasons we have been on an incredible journey that has brought so many of the best experiences in my professional and personal life.

“After giving so much to the role over the previous five seasons, I now look forward to taking a break from management and dedicating some time to my family, who have been with me every step of my career so far.

“There are so many people I would like to thank who have played their part in this journey. Firstly, to Mark Ashton and the Board for giving me the opportunity, at 35 years old, to manage such a massive football club, and for the unwavering support and trust they have shown ever since. To my coaching staff and all the wonderful staff at Portman Road and our Playford Road training centre, who work tirelessly to progress the club in every way. To all of the players who have represented the club with professionalism and passion over the past five years.

“Most importantly, thank you to the amazing fans and supporters of Ipswich Town. You have followed this football club through wonderful highs and difficult lows. I will be forever grateful for the way that you welcomed myself and my family, both to the football club and to the county of Suffolk. I will cherish the memories that we have shared together for the rest of my life.

“Ipswich Town will always have a special place in our hearts.”

In a video message, Kieran McKenna said: “Hi. I just wanted to speak directly to all the supporters and everyone involved with Ipswich Town to let you know that I’ve made the really difficult, really emotional decision to step down from the honour of leading this incredible football club.

“It’s been an amazing four and a half seasons. Now it’s been an incredible journey. We’ve lived some of the best experiences of my professional life and some of the best experiences in my personal life as well.

“It’s been an honour and a privilege, course, three promotions and all those things, but honestly, every single day it’s been an honour to represent this football club and I’ve done it in the best way that I possibly could.

“Of course, there’s never a good time to say goodbye, especially when you’ve built the connection that we have at this football club.

“There’s no good time to leave, I don’t believe. And that’s why this decision is a difficult one. But all I can say is I’ve reflected on it um quite a lot over last period.

“I’ve spoken with the club over the last couple of weeks as well and it just feels like the right time for myself and for my family and for the football club as we finish one chapter with another incredible promotion and celebration at Portman Road and in the town and embark now on an exciting season and a brilliant future for the club. It just feels like the right time.

“So it’s a few things I’d like to say. It’s of course some massive thank yous.

“First and foremost, uh a big thank you to the board led by Mark Ashton for giving me the opportunity at 35 years old, was a really big decision from them to appoint a manager so young to a club this big.

“And I’ll be forever grateful for that and for the support and trust that they’ve put in me ever since. And I’ve tried to repair that in every way.

“Of course, to the staff. Martin and Charlie. But to the brilliant coaching staff who have been with me, to all the wonderful staff at Portman Road, to the staff at Playford Road who do a fantastic job and have been behind me and the players every day, a big, thank you. Of course, to the players who we all love and depend on. Yeah, we’ve had some amazing players here. I look forward to catching up with so many of them now. And the commitment and the dedication they’ve shown to me and shown to us as a club is something that I’m so, grateful for.

“And I think most importantly to the supporters from the minute that I came to this club and to this area with my family, you’ve taken me to your hearts. We’ve become part of the community and yeah, it’s been an incredible journey. We’ve shared experiences that will live with me forever, will live with me for a lifetime.

“Yeah, we’ve been through some highs and some lows, but for sure a lot more highs and yeah, we’ve enjoyed a really special relationship and I appreciate the support that you’ve given me and you know, I’ll be forever grateful for that. I have a lot of optimism and belief that the future of this club is a really bright one.

“And then it’s just for me to say thank you again. It’s time now for me to take a break. I’ve given everything to this role for a lot of seasons now and a lot of years.

“My family have been with me and supported me every step of the way, not just here, but over many, many, many years now. So I really look forward to taking some time with them, a chance to enjoy and reflect on the brilliant experiences that we’ve had and then to really look forward to the future as well.

“So that’s what’s next for me. I look forward to following the club’s progress and Ipswich Town will always have a really special place in my heart now and in the heart of my family. So all the best and up the Town.”

Town Chairman, Mark Ashton, said: “The job Kieran has done at this football club over the last five years is simply incredible.

“When I first spoke to Kieran prior to appointing him, I knew we would be getting an extremely bright, hugely driven coach who craved the opportunity to make his own mark on a football club as a manager. To say he has done that is an understatement.

“Achieving three promotions in four seasons, in what is your first role as a manager, is an achievement which means Kieran is now rightly discussed in the same breath as the legends of this club. The mark he, his staff and his players have made on Ipswich Town and its community will live forever. It has captured a generation.

“It’s been a true honour to stand side-by-side with Kieran over these five years and watch him grow and achieve so much. I know just how much of himself he has given to his job and he should be incredibly proud of all he has achieved. I know I am.

“Like so many, I am of course gutted that our journey together has come to an end, but I understand and respect the decision he has made after five incredibly intense years.

“Kieran will be greatly missed but he and his family leave us with our immense gratitude for all he has done. He will always be welcome at Portman Road.

“Thank you for everything, Kieran. It’s been an absolute pleasure.”

Kieran was appointed Town Manager in December 2021, having previously assisted the likes of Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during his time coaching at Manchester United.

After a promising first six months at Portman Road, during which he installed a playing style that would ultimately lead the club to considerable success, Kieran oversaw his first promotion as Town Manager in 2022/23. Having competed at the top of League One throughout the campaign, an unstoppable surge saw the Blues win 13 of the final 15 games of the campaign to earn automatic promotion, scoring 101 league goals along the way.

A return to the Championship saw continued success, with the Blues ultimately becoming just the fifth team to secure back-to-back promotions from the third tier to the Premier League. It was achieved against the odds and against teams in receipt of parachute payments, as Town finished second to champions Leicester City, winning 28 of the 46 league games and losing just six.

The promotion saw Kieran win the prestigious LMA Manager of the Year Award, presented to him by legendary former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

Kieran and his team secured memorable victories at Premier League level, notably away at Tottenham Hotspur and at home to Chelsea, and though relegation followed in 2024/25, the Blues entered the 2025/26 campaign with consistency and a desire to immediately return to the top-flight.

That success arrived in May 2026 and came at the end of a season where the Blues overcame challenges along the way and secured two victories over Norwich City, earning a first East Anglian Derby victory in 16 years at home in October 2025 before winning at Carrow Road for the first time in two decades in April of this year.

Having managed 222 Town games, Kieran leaves his role having won 105, with his sides scoring nearly 400 goals during this period. Many of these games and goals will live with supporters for the rest of their lives.

All at Ipswich Town are extremely grateful for Kieran’s hard work and dedication during his time as manager and wish both him and his family the very best for the future.

Here’s how fans reacted as Kieran McKenna makes the decision to step down as Ipswich manager after five seasons at the club…

@andyjfc_: Well then 😭 Thankyou for everything Kieran. Given everything and turned the club fully around 💙

@Ben_L_Hicks: You fucking what bruvva

@kevin_itfc: Goes with best wishes no one could have imagined what we achieved

@ITFC_Alex: Absolutely gutting news for Ipswich Town. But if it’s for family reasons, go well Keiran. I hope everyone is ok. You will always be a Town legend 💙🤍💙

@Michaelballs77: Greatest times I have seen at Portman Road. Thanks for the memories, hopefully we will see you again one day. Whole hearted thanks from Suffolk

@clivemaskell: I wish Kieran the best of luck in the future and respect his decision, I can only assume personal life is bigger than football at the moment for him. He goes with giving us some of the best years of memories since the heady days of the 80’s 💙🤍 #gutted #itfc

@GeorgieITFC: Get this man a statue what a journey he has taken us on as a family footballing community he broke the records and continued to show us the determination and grit from all of us as a community thank you

@danjb90: Best manager of my lifetime and it will be a long time until anyone comes close to that. What he’s given us as Ipswich fans is a feeling most people my age never knew was possible. Gutted. But respect the decision to leave us on a high in the best position possible to build

@tractor_welsh: 💔😭 “Thank you Kieran” just seems so inadequate for the unbelievable joy you have brought our Club. Absolutely gutted but wishing you all the best for the future. You will always have a special place in Ipswich history. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🚜💙⚽️

@lizziebat4368: Can’t tell you how much respect I have for Kieran. Sad to see him go but no doubt about him going down in ITFC history #itfc

@followthetowen:
We will be a very appealing club to manage I would think.
Premier League ✅
State of the art training ground open in the next month ✅
Very well backed club with lots to spend this summer ✅
Club on the up with stadium redevelopments coming very soon ✅
#itfc

@mtemple80: Imagine this is going to be a huge recruitment setback. We know we’ve struggling with doing business early for positions we need, and now to attract players vs other prem clubs whilst in turmoil will hinder. Lets hope Ashton can move fast and its not a dinosaur #itfc

@russclaydon: Wow. Was expecting to hear he was staying put despite the noise, but if anyone deserves a break it’s Kieran McKenna. What a job he has done putting #itfc back on the map. Another name to add to the club’s legendary managers and grateful to have experienced his time at the helm

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