Kieran McKenna named LMA Manager of the Year
The award's voted for by fellow professional managers
Ipswich Town's Kieran McKenna has been named the League Managers Association Manager of the Year.
Voted for by fellow professional managers, Town’s boss is only the seventh manager since 1993 to pick up the prestigious accolade while working outside of the Premier League.
He is also the first Town manager to win it since George Burley, who guided the Blues to fifth spot in the Premier League, and subsequently qualification for Europe, in 2000/01.
The LMA awards were held in London last night, with Kieran also picking up the LMA Championship Manager of the Year award.
Having guided the Blues to second spot in the Championship, Kieran receives the awards following a campaign that saw the Tractor Boys pick up 96 points, just one behind champions Leicester City, and score 92 goals – the most in the second tier.
The total of 96 points is the highest of any newly promoted Championship team.
Town also lost just six league games across the whole season, the fewest defeats in the division, and went unbeaten in the final five fixtures to lock in automatic promotion and Premier League football next term.
"A very proud moment"
“It’s an incredible honour,” Kieran told Ipswich Town's website.
“To see the names that have previously won this award, and for it to be voted for by fellow managers, makes it extra special.
“It’s a very proud moment and I want to thank everyone involved at Ipswich Town, including the board, staff, supporters and players who have played a part in this amazing and historic season.
“On a personal note I also want to thank my family for their support in the years of hard work and sacrifice it has taken to get to this point in my career.”