Portman Road will be radiantly lit with striking blue hues this coming Saturday afternoon. Following a 22-year absence, Ipswich Town has finally marked its return to the Premier League and will host Arne Slot’s Liverpool in their next match. It’s a fixture brimming with both tradition and contemporaneity, signalling that Ipswich is indeed back.
This isn’t just a game; it’s a celebration for the club, its supporters, and for the stadium sitting in the heart of the town that’s clearly visible from the railway station. Enthusiasts will gather and pay their respects to the two statues situated outside the venue – one of Alf Ramsey, the other of Bobby Robson.
The pair were legendary managers of Ipswich Town, and their statues serve as a constant reminder of the past accomplishments and potential of a small town club like Ipswich. Ramsey elevated Ipswich from the lower leagues in 1955-56, leading them to their first-ever League title in the top-tier English division by 1961-62. He then made significant contributions to the England national team.
Robson guided Ipswich for 13 years, securing the club’s only FA Cup victory in 1978, followed by their unique European success, the Uefa Cup, in 1981. Therefore, Ipswich was once a vital player in both the top-flight and European scene. Robson subsequently spent time with the England team.
Interestingly, Ramsey was 35 when he commenced his journey with Ipswich in August ’55, as was Robson when he launched his stint in January 1969. This parallel was pointed out when another 35-year old from Co Fermanagh walked through Portman Road’s blue doors in December 2021. Ipswich was back in the third division where Ramsey had originally found them, and the newcomer, Kieran McKenna, was also 35.
Ever since his debut, McKenna has adeptly navigated and downplayed the premature conjectures arising from these coincidences. Through transforming an almost despondent team having lacklustre performers into a unison, coherent crew making headway both on and off the field, he’s proven his mettle. Despite lacking prior first-hand managerial experience, and merely with numerous years of grassroots coaching to his credit, McKenna, at 35, has demonstrated a managerial wisdom and energy akin to seasoned managers and youthful players alike.
McKenna, aged 38, is leading his team and club to face Liverpool instead of Gillingham. They are scheduled to meet Manchester City on the field next Saturday. This is a big leap from two years back, when the first game of the season was against Forest Green Rovers.
McKenna felt privileged to be mentioned in the same context as Ramsey and Robson during his first interview with the club 30 months ago. He viewed it as a significant part of Ipswich’s history, demonstrating the club’s willingness to support a young manager and invest time in progressive development.
At that time, McKenna had no delusions of a quick overhaul. Considering he took over from Paul Cook when the team, Ipswich Town, was in the 12th position in League One and was about to experience a 2-0 defeat at Barrow in the FA Cup, his vision was reasonable. Another major challenge was reversing the long-term slump that had followed the relegation of 2002, a predicament that had persisted for over 20 years.
There had been a few high points – the hopeful spirit that accompanied Roy Keane’s appointment in 2009, Mick McCarthy leading the team to the Championship playoffs in 2015, and a brief resurgence under Paul Lambert in 2018. Surprisingly, even as the club had to face third division football for the first time since the Ramsey era, there was an increase in match attendance.
However, the excitement dwindled as the anticipated rise to the Championship resulted in four continuous seasons in League One, without achieving a playoff place in the first three. The growing dissatisfaction with Marcus Evans’ ownership led to a decline; Ipswich simply lost its charm.
In McKenna’s first interview, he acknowledged the changes in eras and the modern downturn, realizing that the club was in a completely different position. Still, he was inspired to follow the path of two such exceptional men and leaders, like Ramsey and Robson.
The individual expressed a desire to refine his leadership skills and believed he was prepared after transitioning into coaching following the premature conclusion of his playing career at just 22. He had professional experience at Tottenham, but a recurring hip injury prematurely ended his promising career there. His subsequent work at Manchester United exposed him to the tutelage of football heavyweights like José Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick for a brief period.
His aim was to become the best coach possible, and then, a manager. His ambitions were high and he was keen to take on managerial responsibilities at an early age, targeting the age of 35.
Regarding his truncated playing career at Spurs, he was straightforward. Life presents challenges; your reaction to them is crucial. Swiftly moving on from this setback, the individual suggested that things have actually worked out quite well and he can’t express any grievances. Ending your playing career early due to injury, he observed, can give you a head start in your next career over those who play for longer.
His vision featured a fast-paced, high pressing, attacking team which would instigate full-backs, seize control in the enemy half, draw back the ball from the byline and keep attacking with determination. Executing this concept to reality was the real challenge which he managed to achieve spectacularly.
In his debut season, Ipswich achieved automatic promotion from League One, scoring an extraordinary 101 goals. With the least conceded goals and only four losses out of 46 League One Matches, the team was starting to mould an identifiable style of play.
The following season, his second in charge of Ipswich, they finished second again, with a decisive margin of six points ahead of Leeds United. This was achieved primarily by having the highest goal score in the division. They also scored more than a quarter of their total season’s goals, 26 to be precise, within the final 15 minutes of matches. McKenna’s 4-2-3-1 system was instrumental in their success, making multiple changes amidst his front four players, as evidenced by Ipswich leading the league in substitute goals and assists.
The resilience and mindset revealed by McKenna pertains to the considerable difference in physical intensity between League One and the Championship. Observing his team’s ability to manage the immense pace of the Premier League will be insightful, especially given that about half of the starting outfield from the Forest Green match might face Liverpool.
The team has new inclusions – Kalvin Phillips, who was loaned from Manchester City last Thursday, and Sammie Szmodics, a striker hailing from Blackburn, who joined just a day following Phillips’ arrival. With Adam Idah departing Norwich to join the ranks of Celtic, the string of elevations bodes well for Republic of Ireland’s strikers.
The rise of Ipswich has not been singlehandedly driven by a dynamic young manager, but also through the recruitment of six other players this summer. Gamechanger 20, the American offshoot of an Ohio pension fund, which gained control of the club eight months prior to McKenna’s appointment, has made substantial financial contributions.
Bright Path Sports, a US firm, purchased a 40% stake in the club worth £105m in March. (Matt Holland has been incorporated into the board.) Significant enhancements have been made to the stadium and training ground, mirroring the professionalism and ambition of Ipswich’s management.
Investment, a key term for Robson, plays a vital role in advancement, and player salaries are directly linked. Phillips, for instance, reportedly earned a weekly salary of £150,000 at City. Towards the end of January, in the wake of an unexpected FA Cup defeat to non-league Maidstone, Kieffer Moore was loaned from Bournemouth to Ipswich, with the club undertaking a majority of his weekly salary, estimated at £40,000. Some Championship competitors were unable or unwilling to take such steps and observed Moore delivering six goals within his initial nine games.
Following a series of draws in April amid prospects of automatic promotion, Moore gave an inspiring performance as he scored the first goal in a fundamental match against Coventry, leading to a penultimate season win. This crucial victory required Ipswich to win over a relegated Huddersfield on the final match day for promotion, which they accomplished.
This investment resulted in gaining entry to the Premier League’s wealth, leading to the recruitment of Omari Hutchinson from Chelsea for a club record £20m, and retaining McKenna who was desired by other clubs. This situational realism demonstrates an understanding of the ebb and flow of football economics.
Even though all signs suggest Ipswich is likely to experience relegation, their return to the Premier League this season after a long hiatus will certainly make for an intriguing spectacle. They may not quite resemble the curiosity Blackpool presented in 2010 or Luton Town last season, but their presence will inject a breath of fresh air to the league.
Given that City has dominated the league over the last seven years, clinching six titles in the process, it’s no wonder people yearn for something novel. This season, they have 115 charges to respond to, which will continue into the 2024-25 season.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s Arne Slot, Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca, and Brighton’s 31-year-old Fabian Hurzeler are being watched keenly. Will Arsenal hit the 90-point mark? How will Dominic Solanke fare against Tottenham? Can Aston Villa withstand the rigours of the Champions League? Are Erik Ten Hag’s Manchester United squad ready to build on their FA Cup final victory? What will be the impact of points deductions, VAR, and the revised handball law?
These are all valid queries. However, the question looming large for everyone is whether the man from Enniskillen has what it takes to upend expectations at Ipswich. He reportedly appears determined and is backed by adequate resources and coaching prowess, inspiring hope for a positive outcome.
Mckenna exuded confidence in his first press conference ahead of the Premier League clash, expressing optimism about the looming season. He lauded his team for their hard work and efforts that have led them to the exciting position they find themselves in today, aware of the challenge ahead, but optimistic that the season will be memorable.