Kieran McKenna resigns as Ipswich Town manager to take break from football

Kieran McKenna has resigned as Ipswich Town head coach, the club confirmed, ending a five-year tenure in which he delivered two promotions to the Premier League. The 40-year-old cited a wish to step back from management and dedicate time to his family, ruling out an immediate move to another club.

McKenna had been widely linked with the Fulham vacancy following Marco Silva’s departure, but he will not be taking that role or any other in the near future.

In a statement released by the club, McKenna said: “It is with a mixture of gratitude, pride, sadness and contentment that I have decided to step down from the honour of managing this historic football club. When you have the connection that we have built at this club there is never a good time to say goodbye.”

He pointed to last season’s second promotion to the Premier League — secured on a memorable final day at Portman Road — as the moment that felt right to draw his tenure to a close. “After giving so much to the role over the previous five seasons, I now look forward to taking a break from management and dedicating some time to my family, who have been with me every step of my career so far,” he added.

McKenna took charge of Ipswich in December 2021 when the club were in League One and oversaw a remarkable rise through the divisions, winning back-to-back promotions to return the Suffolk club to the top flight for the first time in more than two decades.

His exit leaves Ipswich needing to appoint a new manager as they prepare for another Premier League campaign, while Fulham must also continue their own search for Silva’s successor.