Kieran McKenna is a manager of amazing promise and one who nearly achieved something wholly incredible – keeping Ipswich Town in the Premier League. Unfortunately for McKenna, bad luck, lack of experience and a thin squad cost Ipswich this dream.
Let’s look, however, at the things that went right, at McKenna’s tactics, and what’s next for the club and the manager.
Career Prior to Managing Ipswich Town
Before he was the manager of Ipswich Town, you’re likely to have spotted Kieran McKenna sitting on Manchester United’s bench, typically next to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. In fact, his three-year stint working for the Old Devils has made some comment on McKenna’s likelihood of becoming manager of United sometime in the future.
Before all of this, however, McKenna was a promising Welsh player signed by Tottenham Hotspur. An ongoing hip injury forced him into retirement at just 22 years of age.
In 2021, McKenna got his first opportunity to manage a club. Ipswich Town was in League One. McKenna guided them to consecutive promotions. And while Ipswich will be relegated from the EPL at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, many have seen it as one of the most entertaining teams in the league.
Tactical Philosophy
Kieran McKenna is a young manager. But he has already distinguished himself through a brave, dynamic style of football that sits at the heart of his tactical philosophy.
McKenna prefers his team to build from the back, usually starting with the goalkeeper and advancing through quick, direct passes. However, the manager also likes to give his players a high degree of freedom. It’s not uncommon for defenders Dara O’Shea or Jacob Greaves to launch balls upfield in search of the playmaker.
Of course, Ipswich Town hasn’t been able to remain as attacking in the EPL as it was in the Championship. Still, the team typically likes to create offensive channels on the flanks and through crosses.
Corner routines are well-rehearsed. Players are brave with their challenges. And, to its credit, the team tries to outscore the opposition. Ipswich hasn’t won a single game by a 1-0 score this season.
Formations and Adaptability
Early in his time at Ipswich, McKenna liked to use a 3-4-2-1 formation. This changed during the second part of the team’s Championship campaign. The club has retained this formation for the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.
McKenna has also experimented with a 5-4-1 and 4-4-1-1 formation while, nearly always, trying to stay consistent with his tactical philosophy.
However, this is a fluid approach. The team will essentially press in a 4-4-2. And, when building up, the formation will resemble a 3-4-2-1.
Club Transfers
To understand Ipswich’s campaign, it’s best to understand where it sits financially as compared to its EPL rivals.
Ipswich has the third-lowest market value of any squad in the 2025 Premier League.
Still, it’s not wholly true that McKenna chose to work only with players that he used while in the Championship. The addition of experienced players like goalie Arijanet Muric and defender Dara O’Shea strengthened the defence.
Omari Hutchinson and Liam Delap are young players meant to bring in a bit of flair and spark. Both were part of the youth system of some of England’s most important teams.
Ipswich in Defence
The EPL season began with Ipswich defending in a mid-block. Throughout the campaign, the team has pulled back, defending deep and inviting attacks.
The team attempts to press aggressively, to limit space and create counter-attacking opportunities.
Ipswich plays with two pivots. Both defensive midfielders need to be good with the ball, but also able to dive into tackles. Both Sam Morsy Jens Cajuste have shown that they possess these qualities.
Ipswich in Transition
What helped Ipswich Town enjoy so much success in the Championship was the team’s ability to dictate the pace of the game. McKenna’s team liked to invite the opposition’s press, confident that they could beat and advance through lightning-fast attacks down the flanks.
For much of the season, a similar approach was tried in the Premier League to varying degrees of success.
Goalkeeper Muric was brought in, principally, because of his ability to act as a sweeper keeper and launch attacks through strong passing.
Also, note Leif Davis’s ability to create width and attack the left flank while delivering accurate crosses.
Ipswich Town in Attack
Other than Wolves, no other team attempts more long shots than Ipswich Town. Players take shots, on average, from 17.7 metres. However, few free kicks will be taken directly towards the goal.
However brave, this attempt has meant that Ipswich registers the third lowest xG of any of the EPL teams.
Liam Delap, the team’s main striker, has had an impressive season by any standards. The 22-year-old has scored 12 goals and provided 2 assists. Many of the top EPL clubs will be scouting him.
Delap will tend to drop deeper when the team builds up. Delap will often drift into central areas to try to create overloads. The team’s playmaker, Hutchinson, will do the same in wider areas.
When attacking centrally, Hutchinson will rush into channels along with Delap. There are also cases when the wider attacking players, Wes Burns and Sam Szmodics, will make dummy runs in an attempt to destabilise the opposition’s defence.
What’s Next for Kieran McKenna and for Ipswich Town?
What went wrong for Ipswich this season? What typically fails newly promoted teams. There were injuries, and a squad that was not wholly prepared for the EPL. The team’s risen very quickly over recent years.
The lack of experience also cost the team when it was leading. Had McKenna’s team not squandered leagues, Ipswich would have 27 more points at the moment. This would place the club in 12th place.
Kieran McKenna is a great manager. Winning back-to-back promotions and getting Ipswich into the Premier League proves.
Likely, numerous teams will be interested in his services, possibly even Manchester United. However, there’s room for Ipswich to grow and for McKenna to further develop his skills as well as those of the squad.
The Tractor Boys may be returning to the Championship, but this may only be a short hurdle on the way to future success.
