Richard Keogh helped Ipswich Town win promotion to the Championship in 2023. (Image: Ross Halls)
Richard Keogh helped Ipswich Town win promotion to the Championship in 2023. (Image: Ross Halls)
Former Ipswich Town defender Richard Keogh has landed a new coaching role in League One after being appointed assistant coach at Barnsley.
The 38-year-old has left his previous position at fellow third-tier club Blackpool, having moved to the Fylde Coast following his retirement from playing to join the backroom staff at Bloomfield Road last June.
Following the sacking of the Neil Critchley just two league games into the 2024/25 campaign, Keogh soon found himself in charge on an interim basis.
He oversaw four first-teams games, before returning to his previous role after Steve Bruce was appointed as Blackpool’s new manager at the beginning of September.
Keogh has now accepted a new job at Oakwell, where he will be located closer to his family and work under fellow former Town player Conor Hourihane, who has been in charge of the Tykes since April.
Jon Stead notched 20 goals in 67 games for Ipswich Town.
Jon Stead notched 20 goals in 67 games for Ipswich Town. (Image: Newsquest)
Another ex-Blue in Jon Stead is departing the South Yorkshire club with his contract expiring, having arrived back in 2023, working under Neill Collins and later Darrell Clarke.
On reuniting with his former Republic of Ireland team-mate, Hourihane said: “I’ve known Richard for a number of years, he is a natural leader and his reputation as a coach has grown massively in the past year.
"I’m looking forward to working with him again and I know he has the experience, and the skill set required to help me implement my vision for how I want the team to play."
Keogh played a total of 16 games for Town during the 2023/24 season as he helped the Blues win promotion back to the Championship, having started his career at Portman Road.