Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is among the leading contenders to become Ipswich's next manager after Kieran McKenna stepped aside. BBC reporting also points to a familiar thread in the story, because McKenna worked under Solskjaer at Manchester United when they finished second in the Premier League in 2020-21. Ipswich are searching, not deciding, but Solskjaer is clearly in the frame.
McKenna leaves after three promotions in four seasons
McKenna said: "I feel this is the right time for me to step aside, I do so with great pride at the incredible progress we have made and with huge hope and optimism for the future of the club."
He stepped down after leading Ipswich back to the Premier League by finishing second in the Championship last season. The 40-year-old took charge in 2021 and guided them to three promotions in the past four seasons, two of which took the club into the top flight.
That record is why this vacancy will not be a straightforward one. Ipswich are not just replacing a coach, they are replacing a manager who has delivered repeated progress and left on his own terms.
Why Solskjaer fits the conversation
The Solskjaer link is obvious enough. McKenna already knows what it is like to work under him, and that history gives Ipswich a ready-made line of continuity if they decide to go in that direction.
The Manchester United reference matters because it is tied to a successful period in results, not just a shared badge. United finished third in the Premier League in 2025, collected 71 points and won 20 of 38 league matches in that campaign. That is the level of environment Solskjaer is being associated with here, and it helps explain why he is being treated as a serious name rather than a speculative one.
Ipswich have other options to consider, with Gary O'Neil also part of the wider conversation, but the Solskjaer-McKenna link gives this search an unusually neat narrative. It does not mean the appointment is done. It does mean Ipswich have a candidate who fits both the football profile and the club's recent history.
If Ipswich do move for Solskjaer, it will be because they want a manager with top-flight experience and a clear connection to the coach McKenna leaves behind.
Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →