Ashley Young, the former England international and Premier League veteran, has nothing but high praise for Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna—and he's betting the Tractor Boys will make a much stronger showing in the Premier League next time around.
Young, who hung up his boots after a glittering 23-year career, was part of the Ipswich squad that clinched an immediate return to the top flight by finishing second in the Championship this season. That bounce-back promotion came just one year after relegation, and Young believes McKenna is the mastermind behind it all.
"You see the way he wants to play football," Young told BBC Radio Suffolk. "I think the fans here have to bite their tongue a little bit—they're worried at times. But he's a fantastic manager. I hope he goes on to have a fantastic career, and next season is better than the season when they got relegated. I've got every confidence in him that he's going to go on and do that."
McKenna's track record is nothing short of remarkable. Under his leadership, Ipswich have secured three promotions in just four seasons: from League One in 2023, and from the Championship in both 2024 and 2026. That kind of consistency is rare in football, and it's turning heads across the sport.
"It is incredible, to be honest," added Young, whose career includes stints at Aston Villa, Manchester United, Inter Milan, and Everton. "I knew what he was like, I knew what man he was. It's not just him as the manager, him on the pitch—it's him off the pitch. It's the reason why I signed here. I knew him from Manchester United, I knew his work ethic, and we've got a similar work ethic. He probably stays up longer than me in the night. He probably gets in earlier than me, but he's been fantastic for me."
Young's own career reads like a trophy cabinet highlight reel: a Premier League title, a Serie A crown, an FA Cup, a League Cup, and a Europa League winner's medal. Ending that journey with a promotion at Ipswich was the perfect capstone. "It's a fitting way to end a career," he said.
For Ipswich fans, McKenna's vision and Young's endorsement signal that the Tractor Boys are building something special—and the Premier League should take notice.