Kieran McKenna has resigned as the manager of Ipswich Town, bringing to an end one of the most successful chapters in the club's recent history. His departure comes just weeks after he had secured the team's return to the Premier League.
McKenna first took charge at Ipswich Town in 2021. Over the period that followed, he turned the club into one of the most upwardly mobile sides in English football, overseeing a remarkable run of progress on the pitch.
Under his management, Ipswich earned three promotions in the past four seasons. Two of those promotions carried the club up into the top flight, an achievement that underlined the speed of the rise he had led.
That recent return to the Premier League made the timing of his resignation all the more striking. Rather than continuing into the new top-flight campaign, McKenna has chosen to step away from the role at a high point for the club.
Explaining his decision, McKenna said he wants to take a break from the game. After several intense seasons of back-to-back promotion pushes, he indicated that he is stepping back from the demands of management for now.
He added that he wants to spend more time with his family, framing the move as a personal choice rather than a footballing one. The break gives him the chance to step out of the relentless rhythm of the professional game.
His exit leaves Ipswich Town searching for a new manager just as they prepare to compete again at the highest level of English football. The club now faces the task of building on the foundations McKenna laid during his time in charge.