Kieran McKenna is set to depart from his role as Ipswich Town manager after five successful seasons, as announced by the club on Wednesday.
After five years at Portman Road, McKenna has opted to take a break from football. During his tenure, he led the team to three promotions in just four years, including two ascensions to the Premier League.
The 40-year-old concludes his time at Ipswich after successfully guiding the club back to the top flight for the second time during his leadership, with promotion celebrations once again sweeping across Suffolk at the close of the 2025-26 season.
“It is with a mix of gratitude, pride, sadness, and contentment that I have chosen to step down from the privilege of managing this historic football club,” McKenna stated in a club announcement.
“Managing this club has been a tremendous honor. The past five seasons have taken us on an extraordinary journey filled with remarkable experiences that I will cherish in both my personal and professional life.
“Having invested so much into this role over the years, I now look forward to stepping back from management and spending quality time with my family, who have supported me throughout my career,” he added.
The Northern Irishman took the helm at Ipswich in November 2021 while the team was competing in League One, after serving as an assistant manager at Manchester United. He achieved automatic promotion to England’s second tier in his first full season at the helm.
McKenna replicated that success the following season, guiding Ipswich to a second-place finish in the 2023-24 Championship, earning them a spot in the Premier League.
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Despite facing relegation from the top division in 2024-25, McKenna’s team bounced back from a slow start last season to finish as runners-up in the Championship, returning to England’s highest level at the first opportunity.
Ipswich chairman Mark Ashton remarked, “It has been a genuine honor to stand alongside Kieran during these five years and witness his growth and accomplishments. I recognize how much he has poured into his role and he should be extremely proud of his achievements. I certainly am.
“Like many, I am truly saddened that our journey together has come to an end, but I respect and understand his decision after such a demanding five years.”
The club has not yet announced who will succeed McKenna ahead of their Premier League opener in August.