McKenna expected to sign long-term contract at Ipswich Town

Kieran McKenna is set to end speculation over his future and sign a new long-term contract at Ipswich Town.

McKenna, 38, has become one of the most highly regarded coaches in English football after leading Ipswich back to the Premier League for the first time since 2002.

The hugely impressive job he’s done at Portman Road — in his first managerial position — has understandably drawn admirers from other clubs interested in prising him away.

He was considered a frontrunner to replace Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea while he was linked to a return to former club Manchester United as well as Brighton & Hove Albion as a replacement for Roberto De Zerbi.

Ipswich finished as runners-up in 2023/24 to become the first team since Southampton in 2012 to go from League One to the top flight in back-to-back seasons.

He previously spent five years at Manchester United, first as Under-18s coach and then as part of Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s backroom staff.

He was appointed head coach at Ipswich in 2021, succeeding former boss Paul Cook with the East Anglia side 12th in League Two.

McKenna led Ipswich to a second-placed finish in his debut season in charge at Portman Road before repeating the feat in 2023/24 to earn automatic promotion to the top flight.

The Loughborough sports science graduate began his career in coaching with Tottenham Hotspur as head of performance at the club’s academy.

He later oversaw the club’s journey to the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup in 2016 before leaving to become Manchester United U18 coach.

Ipswich are looking forward to life back in the top flight with the fixtures for the 2024-25 Premier League season set to be confirmed next month.

(Julian Finney/Getty Images)