Ipswich and a managerial punt that has almost got them back in the big time

(Portman) Journey to the Promised Land

When Ipswich Town last competed in the Premier League, they suffered a 5-0 defeat against Liverpool, with goals from Nicolas Anelka and Michael Owen. At that time, Holly Valance topped the UK charts with her debut single “Kiss Kiss,” and the current Ipswich manager, Kieran McKenna, was just 16 years old. It was an age when it was not uncommon for teenage boys in his hometown of Fermanagh and beyond to take a secret but keen interest in the Kylie-lite Bhangra-pop style of the artist formerly known as Flick from Neighbours. Over the past 22 years, many things have transpired, including Holly’s transformation into a staunch right winger and Kieran’s heartwarming evolution into one of the most talented young managers in the United Kingdom.

In December 2021, McKenna was appointed by Ipswich after leaving his role as the chief cone putter-outer for José Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, and that German gentleman with glasses at Manchester United. He took charge of a team that was stuck in the middle of League One and had just been eliminated from the FA Cup by the even lower-ranked Barrow. This was a significant fall from grace for a team that had previously won the competition in 1978 under the legendary Sir Bobby Robson. The decline began shortly after Mick McCarthy departed Portman Road amidst a wave of animosity three-and-a-half years prior.

The appointment of McKenna, a young man with a hairstyle reminiscent of a boyband member and no prior managerial experience, was a calculated risk taken by Ipswich’s top executive, Mark Ashton. Ashton, whose LinkedIn profile boasts of his “exceptionally high standards of delivery,” would sound like an overly enthusiastic postman or Amazon driver if it weren’t for his remarkable success with his first managerial appointment. After securing promotion to the Championship last season, Ipswich now find themselves on the verge of reaching the Premier League with the possibility of back-to-back promotions. This achievement has only been accomplished three times before, by Watford, Southampton, and their Old Fa.

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