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Magilton: McKenna's One of the Top Coaches I Have Ever Worked With
Monday, 20th Dec 2021 10:11

Former Blues boss Jim Magilton says new Town manager Kieran McKenna is one of the top coaches he has ever worked with, citing his attention to detail and meticulous approach.

McKenna, 35, is the club’s second Northern Ireland-born manager following 52-year-old Magilton, who was in charge at Portman Road between 2006 and 2009.

“I have known Kieran for a long time through the Northern Ireland international set-up,” one-time Town skipper Magilton told the club site.

“He was an outstanding young player and would have gone on to have had a good career if he hadn’t had that terrible hip injury at Tottenham. He was an energetic midfield player and I liked him a lot.

“You do wonder what will happen when a player is forced to quit at such a young age but it gave him a chance to get on the coaching ladder early and I’m not surprised at all to see what he has gone on to achieve.”

Magilton says he spent time with him during his time the Irish FA’s elite performance director, a role he moved on from last year to become sporting director at League of Ireland club Dundalk, a position he left last month.

“I’d heard people talk about him in glowing terms so I asked him in to come and work with the U21s,” the Belfast-born schemer continued.

“From the moment I met him, I was impressed and he is one of the top coaches I have ever worked with. His attention to detail is brilliant, he is so meticulous.

“He’s a very good man-manager and the players will understand what he wants from them. There will be clear guidelines. I don’t know the players at Ipswich now. There are some experienced players there but I can guarantee you Kieran will impress them from day one.

“I interviewed him for the U21s job and he impressed me more than anyone else I have interviewed. I wanted him but he had commitments at Spurs though and we couldn’t make it work.

“This is a great opportunity for him though. It might be seen as a left-field appointment because he has no managerial experience but he gained a wealth of knowledge through working at top clubs and with top players and all the demands that go with that.

“He is hungry for success and no one will work harder to achieve that than Kieran. When you add that to his coaching experience from his time at Manchester United, I’d say Ipswich have done very well to get him.

“It’s a good fit and an exciting appointment. They have given him a long contract so that tells me the club are building something.

“He’s a very strong character and while he will want to play an attacking brand of football, he will also be adaptable.

“He knows the game and I think he can be a really big success at the club. He has got to win football matches. He knows that but I’m 100 per cent sure he has all the attributes to do that and if you can get some momentum, who knows what can be achieved.”

McKenna will speak to media, including TWTD, for the first time this afternoon.


Photos: Matchday Images/Reuters



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Guthrum added 10:17 - Dec 20
That's a pretty ringing endorsement from someone who actually knows not only the club, but also the job.
34

CaptainAhab added 10:19 - Dec 20
I'm quietly excited by this appointment. Everyone seems quite glowing about him and this could turn out to be a real coup. 🤞
19

BlueandTruesince82 added 10:22 - Dec 20
Big Jim says he's OK and that's good enough for me.
36

Jugsy added 10:32 - Dec 20
Jim Magilton was one of the last ITFC managers I actually believed in. So if he says Kieran's a good bloke, I'm happy to run with that. Over to you Kieran McKenna!

Also great to see that the likes of McGreal and Dyer are getting performances out of players and will to try things. Shows a better foundation to the coaching setup than Cook's team were providing.
22

Juggsy added 10:36 - Dec 20
Who the hell is this imposter posting above me? :O
1

Rozeeboy74 added 10:37 - Dec 20
"....a role he moved on from last year to become sporting director at League of Ireland club Dundalk, a position he left last month."

Is Magic coming back?
2

Wicksy added 11:00 - Dec 20
I'd never heard of Kieran McKenna until a few days ago. Have read a bit about him since and everything seems positive. This feels much more of an 'Ipswich' appointment. So glad he's here rather than any of the journeyman managers whose names were being touted.
20

spanishblue added 11:01 - Dec 20
Rozeboy my thoughts exactly wonderful endorsement from a top man oh wouldn't we love a clone of Magic
2

midastouch added 11:11 - Dec 20
That's some fantastic praise from Magic, great to hear!
5

fifeblue added 11:12 - Dec 20
KMcK - bring JM back to the club!
3

ImAbeliever added 11:29 - Dec 20
Great endorsement from a very wise football man. Magic.
5

IpswichT62OldBoy added 11:31 - Dec 20
I am looking forward to his interview, Gillingham, the Xmas schedule, a succesful push for a play-off place, a win at Wembley, solid progressive development both on and off the pitch over the next 10 years and the rebirth of Ipswich Town Football Club.
7

Lightningboy added 11:44 - Dec 20
Ahh,always good to hear from Jim

💙
10

Marinersnose added 11:51 - Dec 20
I'm excited by the appointment and for me I saw something from this squad of players on Saturday that I haven't seen all season. “Fighting Spirit” which is so encouraging. This for me fully justified the sacking of Cook as the team have never shown these qualities under him. Yes we've had some excellent results but Saturday was not only a different formation which suited the players, but the competitive edge was back. I'm feeling far more positive than I did at the start of the season.
9

dirtydingusmagee added 12:30 - Dec 20
WELL Jim has cemented it for me ,perhaps they could work together in some way , we could always do with a bit of Magic. Welcome to Town KM.
5

cranky_old_tractor added 13:22 - Dec 20
KM may well be a really good find. Was excited but feeling even more excited having read Magics POV
0

Ebantiass added 13:29 - Dec 20
Like most Im optimistic about this appointment. Hope he is given time and money from the management. From us he needs patience and backup. I believe he will do a good job and its over to the players now to lift their game, its clear some have been below par of late.

Best of luck to him and us


ps would LOVE to see magic back in some form or another💙😁😁
1

Orraman added 14:49 - Dec 20
Who knows what happened at the end of Magic's time at Ipswich. Whatever it was, it's sad that he has never been back which, for a man who was so dedicated to Town, it would appear to have been fairly serious. However all the players and management from Jim's time have now left the Club so why not grasp the nettle and bring him back. His love of Ipswich and his links to Kieran McKenna might prove to be beneficial on the way ahead. A back room team of Pert, Dyer, Gilmartin, Klug and Magilton……Wow
0

buzbyblue added 14:54 - Dec 20
Maybe we can shove Reid outta the door and get Magic in for that role?
2

Bazza8564 added 15:00 - Dec 20
Lets get behind the lad and pray we get on a run. If we can, this season isnt dead.
And its great to hear from Jim, great servant to our club..
1

DifferentGravy added 15:11 - Dec 20
Magic Magilton
0

BeattiesBackPocket added 15:21 - Dec 20
Exciting appointment for me we've tried the experienced manager route to no avail so why not this guys. One of the things that excites me most is the fact he's bringing Pert over with him who Bielsa has high praise for and considering Bielsa one of the managers even the likes of Pep looks up to this is a glowing endorsement and something we have lacked under past 3 managers that tactical nous to change things when needed. Welcome to the club boys onwards and upwards!
0

KiwiTractor added 21:15 - Dec 20
Sooooper, Super Jim....
0


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