Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna to receive honorary degree from the University of Suffolk
McKenna has brought top-flight football back to Suffolk for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century.
Last updated 11th Sep 2024
Ipswich Town’s back-to-back promotions will be celebrated when manager Kieran McKenna is honoured by the University of Suffolk next month.
He is one of five people being awarded honorary degrees at graduation ceremonies in October at the University’s Ipswich campus.
Honorary degrees will also be awarded to Boshor Ali, Chair of BSC Multicultural Services; historian Sir Diarmaid MacCulloch; Michael Read MBE, who has completed 33 Channel swims, and Chair of Healthwatch England and of the Royal College of Physicians, Professor David Croisdale-Appleby OBE.
Kieran McKenna has led Town to back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League, bringing top-flight football to Suffolk for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century.
Appointed manager of Ipswich Town in December 2021, he has overseen historic success at Portman Road.
Having won promotion from League One in his first full season as manager, the Blues were promoted to the Premier League in May 2024, becoming just the fifth side to win back-to- back promotions from the third tier to the Premier League, following a hugely impressive 2023/24 campaign.
Kieran's Town sides have been the league's top scorers in each of their two promotion seasons, highlighting the progressive and attacking football which has seen Portman Road packed for every home game and has earned plaudits throughout the game.
Kieran said: “To receive an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Suffolk is a proud moment for both me and my family.
“Suffolk has become a special place for us since we moved here nearly three years ago and to now receive a gesture like this from an institution so central to life in the county is an incredible honour.
“We are proud of everything we have been able to achieve at the football club over the last few years and underpinning our successes has been a strong culture, built on the hard work of so many people and continued learning.
“To have been able to bring joy to so many people in Ipswich and Suffolk over the course of the last two seasons has been extremely rewarding, with the celebrations following both of our promotions showing the strong sense of community surrounding the club, which we are proud to be a part of.”