McKenna: I'm in No Rush to Return to Management
Wednesday, 7th Oct 2026 12:26
Former Blues boss Kieran McKenna says he’s in no hurry to take on another management job, despite having had offers since leaving Town in June.
McKenna made the shock decision to end his time at Portman Road having won a second promotion to the Premier League last season.
The Northern Irishman says that decision was made on the pitch following the 3-0 victory over QPR which sealed a return to the top flight at the first time of asking, although was something he had thought about earlier in the campaign.
“But standing out there, I felt this was probably time,” McKenna told _[The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/07/i-wanted-to-depart-in-the-best-way-possible-kieran-mckenna-on-ipswich-exit-and-future-plans)_ in a lengthy interview with Town supporting-journalist Nick Ames, his first since his exit.
“Another big victory, a full stadium, in front of my family and the fans. It was an amazing way to go out on a high.”
Having come close to joining Crystal Palace and Brighton over the course of his four and a half years at Town and been linked with a several other jobs, the 40-year-old was conscious of wanting to move on without causing any sort of rift with the club or the fans.
“I had a lot of different opportunities to leave, could have left in many different circumstances really,” he recalled.
“But I was always aware I wanted to depart in the best way possible, with the club on a high, back in the Premier League and with a great chance to build for what will hopefully be a really successful period.”
He added: “For people on the outside it’s maybe a bit more difficult. But those who know my path and my values, the ones closest to me who know me really well, I think they understood why I wanted to step out and what the benefits were of having a period like this.”
Since then, McKenna has been linked with a number of roles, Celtic most often, but he says he is not looking for a quick return.
“I’m certainly in no rush,” he insisted. “I’m enjoying the time I’m having and hopefully an opportunity will come along that’s right. I have an idea what that would feel like but football doesn’t always follow your plan.”
McKenna has latterly spent time at other clubs in order to add to his knowledge base, among them Bayern Munich, the Wigan Warriors rugby team and MLS side Colorado Rapids, who are managed Matt Wells, who he knows well from their time together in the Tottenham academy, while a trip to Spain is up next.
He is also learning foreign languages and is starting a role as a technical observer for UEFA when Shakhtar Donetsk play AEK Athens at Stamford Bridge next week.
“I wanted to give myself the best possibility to learn before taking on the next challenge,” he continued.
Looking ahead to that next job when it finally comes, he added: “I’m always going to want to be somewhere where I can improve players, play attacking football and win games.
“But beyond that I’m a manager who wants to enjoy having that connection with a club, a community, trying to build something memorable.
“It was a really special opportunity at Ipswich and you want to do that again in your career. But you have to be ready to come in somewhere and get some short-term success as well.”
_Photo: IMAGO/Every Second Media via Reuters Connect_