Kieran McKenna tactics and style of play

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Kieran McKenna has made a spectacular success of his first managerial role at Ipswich Town. Appointed in December 2021, at the age of 35, the Northern Irishman might have been on the young side for a manager. He had long been laying foundations for what he would implement at Portman Road, however.

Forced to retire aged just 22, the then Tottenham coach Clive Allen described him as: “A player and person that you know, every single day, whether training or playing, was 100 per cent committed about everything he did.” With prescience, Allen went on to say: “[He is] a determined and committed character, who is also intelligent and articulate – don’t be surprised if Kieran rises to the top of the game as a coach.”

McKenna went on to study sports science at Loughborough University, as he began taking his first steps into a coaching career. He then returned to Tottenham Hotspur’s academy, initially in an analysis role, before taking charge of the Under-18s and guiding them to an FA Youth Cup semi final. 

Two years with Manchester United’s Under-18s followed, where he won the Premier League Northern Division title. By 2018, he had been promoted to assist José Mourinho with the senior side, staying on to work with both Ole Gunnar Solskjær and then briefly Ralf Rangnick. He only spent a month with the latter, because Ipswich Town and that first management job came calling.

At that time, the club was as close to the League One relegation zone as the playoff places. Only two defeats in their last 17 games under McKenna, however, showed the progress he was making. Next, in his first full season in charge, they lost only four league games from 46. That was enough to win promotion with 98 points, finishing as runners-up to Plymouth Argyle.

More was to come, with an impressive promotion challenge in his debut Championship season. McKenna has bolstered his burgeoning reputation by putting Ipswich in the mix with Leicester City and Leeds United – teams that boast recent Premier League experience.

Below, our UEFA-licensed coaches have analysed the tactics McKenna has adopted in his first two full seasons at Portman Road…

Double-pivot build

The previous management at Ipswich had used back-four structures, but McKenna immediately flipped the team into a back three. A double pivot featured ahead of three centre-backs, in either a 3-4-1-2, or a 3-4-2-1 structure. This continued into his first full season in charge, until he reverted to a back four for the 2022/23 League One run-in. His side went unbeaten in the final 19 games to seal promotion, playing almost all of these fixtures with a 4-2-3-1 structure.

Whatever the back-line adaptations, the double pivot remained paramount for McKenna. In the 2022/23 season, Ipswich had the most possession, most passes and third-lowest long-ball count in the division. This short-passing style saw the double pivot build through the thirds, passing into the opposition half.

When operating with a back three, the double pivot would make more runs and movements across the pitch. Here they were ready to support the wing-backs (below), who were naturally more isolated compared to a full-back and winger pairing.

The closer of the two pivots supported by running slightly ahead of the ball, but still moved aggressively across the pitch – ideal for when the wing-back dropped to receive, or faced aggressive pressure. The further of the two pivots then supported underneath.

However, if the wing-back was high much earlier – seen more on Ipswich’s right side due to Wes Burns’ attacking qualities – then the closer pivot dropped down, almost alongside the three centre-backs. The further pivot again made opposite movements, but this time would move forward slightly (above). There, they would act as an extra link, to work the ball into the two number 10s supporting the single central forward.

Double pivot in a 4-2-3-1

The 4-2-3-1 shape seen towards the end of their League One promotion-winning season – and subsequently in the Championship – has maintained a double pivot during the build phase. The back line is spread wider across the pitch, given the extra player, while the double pivot provides fewer sideways movements. Instead they hold, rotate or drop towards the ball, remaining narrow as a pair. This gives options to bounce around, should the opposition press narrow and leave one of Ipswich’s full-backs free.

The dropping movement from McKenna’s pivots – similar to those seen at Brighton under Roberto De Zerbi – also helps draw and drag opponents forward, centrally. Players between the lines can then receive a splitting pass through, or clipped pass over. Unlike De Zerbi, McKenna looks for his number 10 – usually Conor Chaplin – to widen and reposition to one side (below). Often, this is the same side as the ball. From here, the winger on the opposite side of the pitch narrows, almost acting as a temporary, second number 10. This gives another passing option to play through or over an opposing press. Ipswich also then have an extra central player to defend the transition, should they lose possession as they attempt to build from the back.

Final third

Although McKenna has transitioned between a 3-4-2-1 and a 4-2-3-1, the two structures almost merge when Ipswich have the ball for long enough. When attacking, left-back Leif Davis advances high and wide. McKenna’s left winger – any one of Marcus Harness, Nathan Broadhead, Omari Hutchinson or Jeremy Sarmiento – moves inside. The rest of the back line holds to become a temporary trio, supported by the double pivot cover ahead. This unit of five (below) locks the opposition into their own half, and is also responsible for defending the counter-attack should Ipswich lose possession.

As the left winger moves inside, Chaplin as the number 10 adapts well. He is a goalscoring asset, often attacking the box as a second striker. But he will also make runs beyond the opposing back line. On occasion, he will drift info the right inside-channel to combine with Burns, the converted Kayden Jackson or Hutchinson, when attacking on this side. The 4-2-3-1 then becomes a 3-4-2-1 of sorts when attacking, with McKenna’s left-back and right winger holding the width (below).

As a result, Davis and Burns have provided more than a third of Ipswich’s crosses in the Championship, picking out one of the trio of attackers in the central spaces. With Chaplin’s forward runs, the left-winger narrowed, the centre-forward occupying the retreating centre-backs, and a winger or wing-back potentially at the far post, Ipswich are particularly threatening from cut-backs. Additionally, their dead-ball deliveries can provide a goal threat.

In League One, Ipswich faced the highest passes per defensive action (PPDA), indicating teams’ preference to sit off against them. This contributed to their dominance of possession, but also made it more difficult for them to play through. Despite this, they recorded the most through balls in the 2022/23 League One season, scoring the most goals while also having the most touches in opposition penalty areas. This trend continued in the Championship – after 42 games of the 2023/24 campaign, Ipswich had worked the fourth most shots.

McKenna’s forward play has also been quite reliant on a powerful central forward – Kieffer Moore, George Hirst or Freddie Ladapo – who can hold the ball up and link play, but stretch beyond when required. Having a central focal point allows Ipswich to perform attacking movements and rotations away from the ball. It occupies central defenders, limiting how quickly they can track, reposition or cover – especially against movements on the left side. This central-forward profile also adds a presence to attack crosses from Davis or Burns.

Pressing

Without the ball, Ipswich have been a high-pressing team, with a PPDA much lower than their division’s average. From the 4-2-3-1 base, the wingers jump aggressively on to opposing full-backs, with the centre-forward across in support. Here, Ipswich attempt to lock play on one side of the pitch; the closer full-back and pivots squeeze the space ahead of the ball-carrier.

From here, the pivot furthest from the ball swings around and covers underneath, often working in a half-and-half position. This pivot screens passes into the opposing centre-forward, but is still positioned to deal with any central passes – particularly those reversed back inside.

A key aspect of this press comes when the winger furthest away from the ball narrows into the middle. The winger’s positioning puts pressure on the second centre-back, with Ipswich’s number 10 also nearby to protect, screen and cover access through the middle (below).

This narrow winger can also help apply pressure back on to the opposition’s advanced midfielders. As such, they enable the furthest pivot to remain in half-and-half defensive positions for longer, if needed. Ipswich then temporarily defend in a back three, as a full-back jumps up to the winger closest to the ball. This mirrors the in-possession idea, whereby the 4-2-3-1 and 3-4-2-1 interchange in varying moments.

In the 2022/23 League One season, although Ipswich pressed high and with purpose, they didn’t often directly regain via aggressive duels. Instead, they forced mistakes, regaining possession through opposition passing errors.

Block

In the Championship, Ipswich have continued to press in a similar manner. The 4-2-3-1 structure enables aggressive pressure from the wingers, supported by the closest pivots, full-backs, number 10 and narrowed far-side winger. However, McKenna’s side have faced, on average, eight fewer long passes per 90 minutes, compared to when they were in League One. Meanwhile, their opponents have made 21 more backward passes per 90 minutes and 17 more forward passes. This is because, overall, their opponents are having more possession – building with shorter passes, and restarting in possession by playing away from Ipswich’s goal, or across the pitch.

Ipswich have remained among the division’s best for PPDA, however. They have continued to apply high pressure from the 4-2-3-1 structure, especially on backwards and sideway passes from the opposition. But as their average possession has dropped slightly, McKenna’s ability to organise his side into compact blocks has been tested more in the Championship. Compared to League One, Ipswich are attempting more duels and more interceptions – not just in a high press, but also from a deeper block, often set up in the middle third.

This 4-2-3-1 block still sees aggressive pressure applied in the wide areas, as the wingers press outwards, closely followed by the full-backs. As the gap between full-back and centre-back can be made bigger – and exploited by number-eight runs – McKenna’s double pivot will move across the pitch to cover. With the number 10 often player-for-player against the deepest opposition pivot, Ipswich’s double pivots can afford to start deeper and protect the inside channel earlier. Another feature of Ipswich’s mid-block is that, once the ball has been forced around, back-pressing from the wingers also helps force mistakes (below).

From here, Ipswich often set their wide trap. They stop wide progression through aggressive full-back defending, while limiting play back inside through their double pivot cover. They can then also limit the opposition working the ball backwards, away from pressure, as McKenna’s wingers back-press (above).

It is an intelligent, committed way of playing that mirrors the McKenna personality described by Clive Allen. It is also a style of play that could very well take the Northern Irishman to the top of the game as a coach. 

To learn more about football tactics and gain insights from coaches at the top of the game, visit CV Academy

Author: The Coaches' Voice