Former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær has been speaking about Town manager Kieran McKenna and his assistant Martyn Pert, who were members of his staff at Old Trafford.

McKenna was already with the Red Devils when Solskjær took over as manager in December 2018 having previously worked alongside Jose Mourinho.

“Kieran is another who I want to be successful and I’m glad he got Ipswich Town promoted in his first full season in management and not just because my brother-in-law is a massive Ipswich fan!” Solskjær told The Athletic for an article discussing his old United coaches, including Middlesbrough’s Michael Carrick as well as McKenna and Pert.

“Ipswich played a friendly in Kristiansund in the 1960s [a 7-0 win in May 1965 under Bill McGarry] and his grandad became an Ipswich fan and it comes from there.

“Kieran was a surprise to me when I got to United. Michael, I already knew. We’d been coached by Sir Alex [Ferguson], from the old school. Kieran was not. He’s the most thorough and analytical, step-by-step, process-driven coach that I’ve worked with.

“He makes it so easy for the players to see and understand what we wanted from them. He’d do that the day before a game and his memory was also fantastic, his eye for detail too.

“One of his strong points was defensive organisation and I let him be in charge of that in training. I learned from him about defensive shape and how not to concede. So I wasn’t surprised that he went nine games without conceding this season. Not one goal. Then they conceded one horror goal, before carrying on keeping clean sheets.

“Kieran would have unit meetings with the players and go through videos. He was more focused on when the team didn’t have possession, whereas Michael was about when the team did have possession. They gave the players the detail I wanted them to have before a game.”

Solskjær and Carrick attended Town's game at Doncaster in February 2022 and McKenna has said he regularly speaks with his former colleagues with the former England midfielder a close friend.

Regarding Pert, who he brought on to his Old Trafford staff in December 2019, Solskjær added: “He’s working with Martyn Pert. One of the first things I look for when I take someone on is integrity. Martyn and I did the Pro Licence coaching badge together.

“When I got the Cardiff job, he was there with Malky Mackay. I thought ‘I’d really like to work with Martyn.’ But after a few days, he came to me and said: ‘I can’t do this. I’d love to work with you but my loyalty is with Malky.’ I liked that about him. No bullshit. It wasn’t right for him and I respected that.

“So when I had the chance to bring him to United, I did. I never forgot. He’d been around in different levels and in different countries. He speaks several languages so for me to have a coach who could communicate with players in their mother tongue was important. Michael, Kieran and I didn’t speak Spanish or Portuguese, though I wish I did, and sometimes you get that extra detail when it’s in their own language.”

Photo: Action Images

wkj added 11:50 - May 10 "Kieran would have unit meetings with the players and go through videos. He was more focused on when the team didn't have possession" This here has been one of the biggest plusses for me. Under Cook, I felt we were usually pretty solid on the ball, but our shape off the ball and even the kind of runs we were making felt off. Great story this.
19

NthQldITFC added 13:13 - May 10 There's absolutely no need to tell everyone this Mr Solskjær, thank you very much all the same. Seriously, I think KMc is here for a good while yet, to do a job which satisfies his extremely high standards. We are very lucky.
3

Bazza8564 added 14:11 - May 10 Good interview from a guy i respect.
2

Carberry added 14:23 - May 10 You are right, NthQldITFC, this isn't helpful at all. In the summer there will be probably the biggest number of vacancies for a long time. Just look at the Prem, potentially Everton, Southampton, Leicester, Leeds, Spurs, Chelsea, Palace, West Ham could all be looking at new management. He isn't qualified to manage the biggest of those but as number 2 he would be a brilliant acquisition. Also any of the relegated teams could snap him up as their number 1. Hope the management are keeping him locked away.

0

Suffolkboy added 14:29 - May 10 Not certain of the motive behind NQITFC , because I believe O S was being asked for observations and commentary . WE can have little doubt of the accuracy of his analysis ,based as it is on first hand experience – but just how lucky we are that our owners ,Board and Executive spotted the talent and were able to tempt KM and his chosen colleagues down to Suffolk . COYB

1

brendenward35 added 14:34 - May 10 Not sure how long McKenna's contract is but I'm sure Ashton will be looking to tie him down even longer. McKenna and his team have done wonders this year and may it continue into next season. Can't wait for the season to start been one hell of a journey well done McKenna and everyone associated with the club
1

ronnyd added 15:53 - May 10 Trouble is Brenden, contracts in football tend not to be worth the paper they're written on. Might be used as a lever to get some compensation i suppose. Just prey he sees us as a long term project.
2

bobbyramsey added 15:53 - May 10 Carvery, why would he want to be a number 2 at one of those clubs, he worked at Man U as a coach and he saw ITFC is an upward step from them……
4

WhoisJimmyJuan added 16:56 - May 10 Bobbyramsey - that's the key point. He has made it clear that he wanted a career in management so I don't think he'd want to go back to no. 2 anywhere now. My gut instinct is he will be with us for a while. But if we do we'll in the Championship the offers will get more frequent and lucrative. But he will want mire than just promotion from.league 1 before he leaves us. I hope so anyway......

1

WestSussexBlue added 16:58 - May 10 I honestly believe that Kieran is not going anywhere soon. He's a very wise young coach and knows he's an integral part of rebuilding this club. As things stand he's at the very helm alongside key other figures here taking this club potentially back to the Premier league. Whilst doing that, he's enhancing his reputation and gaining the knowledge to in time choose his next big project. There are not many more appealing and ambitious clubs to be currently and we have one of the very best young coaches on board.

3

NthQldITFC added 17:09 - May 10 Suffolkboy - I agree with you. I was just, in a jokey way, trying to say that we don't want other clubs to know just how good McKenna is. Of course they do already anyway. For what it's worth I suspect Kieran fancies a good few seasons at Ipswich where he has a chance to build something great in a stable club with a fantastic fan-base.
2

Carberry added 17:12 - May 10 bobbyramsay, I imagine he left Man Utd because it was a car crash and knew he wouldn't be a part of its future, like his mate Carrick. I'm not saying he would go back as number 2 anywhere but he certainly couldn't go to Chelsea or Spurs as the manager. He must be seen as a very strong contender for some clubs. The difference is this isn't the 1970s when we were as big as the rest. The gap has widened immeasurably and we should understand we may have to settle with being a mid-table Championship side for a while, however great our expectations might be. He must know that.

1

therein61 added 18:44 - May 10 As if we didn't know already(Mr Ashton did that's why he got him) what a gem of a manager this club has comments like these give a bigger incite to how he works from A-Z this guy will go far lets hope we go with him.
1

Kulturarv added 19:07 - May 10 I don't like the scarf on the mustache-man in the background of the photo.
1

ImAbeliever added 20:40 - May 10 @Kulturarv … 👏😂
1

Bert added 23:08 - May 10 Not every Manager is motivated by climbing the greasy pole. The chance to earn super big money is ever present in the football world but the club took a gamble on KMcK and I am pretty sure that he will want to stay put not just because he has integrity and loyalty but because he knows there is something big happening here. Not only that he has a united set of players not a bunch of big time Charlies with all the headaches that brings.

0

JCTractorboy added 23:33 - May 10 I actually think the crazy market that is management at the moment will help us keep hold of McKenna. Mainly because he knows our owners ambition and he knows he has their full confidence. I could not see him taking a job in prem second half of a season where he knows the owners are panicking, and if he fails, he'll be gone with his name tarnished. I'm 100% he wouldn't pick any champ team ahead of us either. So I think (pray) we'll have McKenna for at least another season. The owners ambition and confidence he has in bank with them should count for a lot

0

airliner added 00:01 - May 11 Really cannot see Kieran going anywhere unless they the club pay so much we can't turn it down. Kieran has the backing now to get us to the promised land. It won't be easy but I bet that he will do it.
0

airliner added 00:15 - May 11 Why would you want to leave a club where you sit in a managers office, where 2 managers became England managers, Alf and Bobby. His time will come but for the moment he's going to stay and get us to the premier league
2

PortmanTerrorist added 08:57 - May 11 Love how a complimentary interview by a former colleague has folks wondering about Kieran's future. Success invites opportunities and am sure there are clubs looking at our manager with envy. However, Keiran was an out-of-leftfield Ashton hire and if we continue to be successful Keiran may find a move impossible to pass on.....but trust in the process and Mr Ashton, as am sure he already has names in the frame just in case.

0

WeWereZombies added 09:39 - May 11 I've always rated Solskjær, both as a player and a manager. Think Man Utd would be title challenging now if they had kept with him...but then McKenna would still be on his staff and we would probably be looking at another year in the Third Division.
0

bobble added 11:51 - May 11 we must understand that we the club are only a vehicle for the yanks to make a $$$mozza$$, and keiran to further his career, we must ensure that our club uses both of them to further its own destiny so everyone is a winner..
1

BobbyBell added 16:29 - May 13 I think KM has found a dream job here and I'm sure he knows it. 1) KM is young and has a very long career ahead of him. He can have many years here before moving on. 2) He is loved and respected here and what he wants he gets. Many a manager would love to be in his position with the backing that he gets at a friendly family club. 3) He is not under any pressure to produce quick progress but he has already made huge strides. The owners know it could take time to reach the premier league but the financial rewards are massive so they will be patient. 4) He likes the club, the area and the fans. 5) He has young family and security. I'm sure he won't want to be uprooting his family again for a few years. Quite simply why would he want to leave and take on a high pressure results driven job when he can enjoy life here and build success over time with a wonderful club?

0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls