He joined Tottenham Hotspur as a youth player in 2024, after signing a contract with Spurs.

He joined Tottenham Hotspur as a youth player in 2024, after signing a contract with Spurs.

Kieran McKenna (born 14 May 1986) is a professional football manager and former player, who is the manager of Premier League side Ipswich Town.

Born in London, he was raised in Northern Ireland where he played youth football. McKenna joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2002, and represented Northern Ireland U21 seven times, but a hip injury curtailed his playing career.

After studying sports science at university, he worked at Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United F.C. with the youth sides, before being appointed as manager of Ipswich Town in 2021.

McKenna began his footballing career as a youth team player at Northern Irish sides Enniskillen Town United and Ballinamallard United.

He joined Tottenham Hotspur as a youth player in 2002, after signing a scholarship contract with Spurs.

McKenna represented Northern Ireland at both under-19 and under-21 level.

He was made captain of Northern Ireland’s under-19s side at the 2005 UEFA European Under-19 Championship by coach Mal Donaghy.

[6] In 2009, at the age of 22, McKenna retired from playing due to an ongoing hip injury which prevented him from making a senior first-team appearance for Tottenham