Kieran McKenna has left his role as first-team coach at Manchester United to become the chief manager at Ipswich Town. Among other football news from Premier League today, we predicted that McKenna and Martyn Pert would soon leave Old Trafford. And now, from Manchester United we bring you correspondence of official football transfers – McKenna is the new Ipswich head coach.
McKenna retained his job at Old Trafford after the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who hired Pert, last month.
Still, the 35-year-old coach was looking to leave Old Trafford and had held talks with an ambitious League One side.
In fact, after these developments, Manchester United even granted McKenna permission to spread his wings, pursue his first management job.
And United have now confirmed that McKenna will succeed John McGreal at Portman Road.
Indeed, everyone at the club accepts that moving to Ipswich Town will be a great opportunity for the Northern Irishman.
Official Football Transfers – McKenna Is the New Ipswich Head Coach
McKenna has told Ipswich’s official website after signing a three-and-a-half-year contract: “I’d like to thank Mark Ashton and the owners for putting their faith in me and Martyn to take the club forward.
“Leaving a club like Manchester United was obviously a difficult decision, but I strongly believe in the opportunity to build something here.
“It feels like the right time, project and Club to make my first step into first-team management.
“For now, the focus for the team has to be on a huge game on Saturday. After that, I cannot wait to meet everyone and get to work.”
He added, to express gratitude, in a farewell statement on United’s official website: “It has been a great honour to work for Manchester United for the last five years. When I arrived as Under-18s lead coach in 2016, I had the privilege to work within a world-leading youth development system, coaching excellent talent in a truly fantastic environment.
“I’ll always be grateful to Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. I have learnt so much during the past four years and it was a pleasure to be part of such a dedicated group of staff. I would like to thank Ralf Rangnick, I have really enjoyed the short time I have worked with him and I really appreciate his understanding throughout this process.
“From the start of my coaching career, it has always been my ultimate ambition to move into football management and I now have a fantastic opportunity to do that at Ipswich Town, an amazing club with a fantastic history.”
“I want to thank the staff and players that I have worked with over the years and, of course, wish Ralf and this incredible club all the best for the future.”
