How Ipswich Town boss became fastest to 100 wins

Some legendary names have held the post of Ipswich Town manager, but none has reached 100 wins quicker than Kieran McKenna.

On Tuesday, the Tractor Boys' boss led his side to their 100th victory since he took charge in December 2021 - reaching the feat in 210 games.

McKenna, 39, secured a century of victories in two games fewer than Sir Alf Ramsey, 20 quicker than George Burley, and more than 60 less than Sir Bobby Robson.

The landmark win, which came in a 1-0 win against Hull City at Portman Road, came in his first managerial job – but how did he do it?

McKenna was appointed manager of the Blues when they were in League One and struggling in their third consecutive season in the third tier of English football.

He had been a promising young player at Tottenham, but a hip injury caused him to quit playing at the age of 22, and he moved into coaching as well as studying for a sports science degree at Loughborough University.

McKenna worked as an academy coach at Tottenham and Manchester United before moving up to assistant manager during José Mourinho's tenure at Old Trafford.

He remained in post during Ole Gunnar Solskjær's time at the helm and then when interim boss Ralf Rangnick took over.

But the Northern Irishman was still relatively unknown when appointed as Ipswich manager and the club's supporters were somewhat divided yet cautiously optimistic over the level of success he would bring to the club.

Lifelong Blues follower Tim Kenny said: "I'd never heard of him when he arrived and I honestly didn't know enough about him to form an opinion.

"But I always use this as my starting point; the people running the club, Kieran, and the players - they all know more about football than I do."

What no fan anticipated, however, was McKenna guiding the club to back-to-back promotions and a return to the Premier League after 22 years away.

Taking over from Paul Cook, following a poor run of form, McKenna led the team to an 11th place finish in League One in 2021-22.

The next season, the side finished with a 19-match unbeaten run to secure second place and promotion to the Championship, on the back of 101 goals.

The Tractor Boys then replicated their second place finish in the second tier in 2023-24, scoring 92 goals for a sensational return to the Premier League.

"It's fair to say he's surpassed all my expectations," added Kenny.

"I wouldn't be without him now."

Former Town captain Mick Mills, the club's record appearance maker, agrees that "nobody expected" McKenna to get the team out of the Championship so quickly.

He believes the manager's success stems from his stoic and can-do attitude and ability to get the best of the players he had at his disposable when he took over.

"He came in, didn't complain, didn't talk about the players he inherited or the need for five transfer windows to get what he wants," said Mills.

"Managers throw [excuses] out like confetti, but he never moaned about anything at all – he got on with it, worked hard on the training ground and developed players.

"The rest is history. But he's been a good manager for us, regardless of what might happen in the future."

McKenna's success attracted other clubs, and it was a huge relief that he opted to stay with Ipswich and sign a new contract in May 2024.

Things did not go so well for his side upon their return to the top flight, however.

The team spent the bulk of the season in the lower half of the league and the dreaded relegation zone.

Only four of McKenna's 100 wins came in the Premier League, and, after a 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United in April 2025, the club dropped back down to the Championship.

Such was McKenna's popularity that few called for change after relegation and fans backed him to lead the Blues' bid to return to the top flight.

"The Premier League was a step too far at that time for pretty much everybody in the club," added Mills.

"But now we are regrouping and we are going to have another go at getting back up there – and that is all largely down to Kieran McKenna."

McKenna's team has 63 points from 34 games in this season's Championship and are currently in third place.

They have secured 18 Championship wins this season and Tuesday's success was the manager's 100th win in 210 league and cup matches, with 58 draws and 52 losses.

England's 1966 World Cup-winning manager, Sir Alf Ramsey, took 212 matches to win 100 games as Ipswich boss and George Burley and Scott Duncan took 230 and 241 games respectively.

Mick McCarthy needed 258 matches to get to a century of wins, while the Blues' FA Cup and Uefa Cup-winning boss Sir Bobby Robson took 271 - although Sir Bobby never managed Town below the top flight.

"My brother told me about it yesterday, it's certainly one of the nicer sentences that you can be put in," McKenna told BBC Radio Suffolk of his century of wins.

"What it means, I don't know, there have obviously been some amazing managers. A few top, top, top managers here have done incredible things, well beyond what I've done at this football club.

"I don't need to be compared in those terms but of course, we've won lots of games over the last few years and it's been a good journey so far."

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