Six things Ipswich need to do to stay in the Premier League (2024)

After more than two decades, Ipswich Town are back in the Premier League, confirming their promotion with a 2-0 win over Huddersfield. But what do they need to target to extend their stay in the top flight beyond next season?

Keep McKenna

Kieran McKenna has underlined his loyalty to Ipswich after back-to-back promotions, although that is unlikely to stop bigger clubs circling given his achievements in the last two-and-a-half years.

Crystal Palace looked at him before landing Oliver Glasner, while his style of football and the data-driven side of coaching is suited to Brighton, should there be a change of manager. It would be easy to see McKenna’s name discussed in the boardrooms of the clubs at the top of the Premier League.

“That sort of speculation has been around for the last two years, to be honest,” said McKenna. “I’ve shown loyalty to the club through that and I’m really pleased I’ve stuck with it and achieved what we have.

“And there’s still some big, exciting stuff to come for the football club. I’m enjoying the job and focused on this journey so much.”

Loan players

McKenna is set to ask for his loan players to stay at Portman Road after they helped them reach the top flight. Chelsea midfielder Omari Hutchinson has been a standout success in the Championship and looks ready for the Premier League. He has a season left on his deal at Stamford Bridge so a decision will be made on his long-term future this summer.

Kieffer Moore, on loan from Bournemouth, suits the way McKenna plays, while Jeremy Sarmiento from Brighton is an exciting prospect.

There are hopes that some could become permanent deals in the same way George Hirst turned his loan from Leicester City into a transfer last summer.

“For sure, it is a special group and [we] had success with that last year keeping the group together and bringing in someone like George after he was on loan and the way he escalated,” said McKenna. “We’ll look at all possibilities to build the squad as strong as we can. The players on loan this season have been an absolute credit to themselves and a really big part of the group.”

Shrewd transfers

McKenna has kept largely the same squad together from League One to the Premier League and it will be a huge step up for some of the players. Sweeping changes to a squad rarely leads to success, while not investing in the right players and letting others go was disastrous for Sheffield United a year ago.

Finding one or two players with Premier League experience will be important in a competitive market for those going up from the Championship.

Fitness

Ipswich players talk about the demands of McKenna in their training, with the foundations of their success built on the training pitches. They will look to match their Premier League opponents for work-rate and then allow their creative players to seize their chances.

“How demanding is he? I’ll tell you one example, we’ve just got promoted and we’re in on Tuesday!” said centre-back Luke Woolfenden.

“But put it this way, we get body-fat tested more than I’ve ever done in the entirety of my career, we run more, we work hard in the gym. Recovery is massive for us and as a group it’s probably the most professional bunch I’ve been around and it’s really helped.

“And like I said, when you work that hard it takes away the nerves and you’re not leaving things to chance.”

Home form

Portman Road created a frenzied atmosphere on Saturday when McKenna’s team sealed automatic promotion. The party will continue next season when clubs turn up in Suffolk, with every match a cup final for fans after a 22-year absence from the Premier League. Making it an intimidating place to travel will be important for survival.

“I know it’s a humongous step up for every department of the football club and will be a massive challenge to be competitive in the Premier League but they are challenges to embrace,” McKenna said.

Share the goals

McKenna has not relied on one striker to get all the goals this season, unlike other clubs such as Leicester (Jamie Vardy, 18 goals), Leeds (Crysencio Summerville, 19 goals) or Southampton (Adam Armstrong, 21 goals). In fact, not a single Ipswich player is in the top 10 list of Championship goal-scorers this season.

“Certainly if someone wants to score 25-plus we’re not going to stop them,” said McKenna. “And the boys have all done terrific to chip in with the goals but, yes, part of our culture is to be a team, as that’s what was going to help us be successful.

“It was to have different ways to score goals and to have different threats in the team. Anyone who has watched us regularly will know part of our strategy is to rotate our forwards throughout the season and through the game. So there aren’t many who play 90 minutes every week.

“But we feel like we have developed our threats and lots of different ways to score goals and that’s been reflected.”

Six things Ipswich need to do to stay in the Premier League (2024)

FAQs

Has Ipswich ever won the Premier League? ›

Ipswich Town Football Club

The team has an impressive track record winning the English league title in 1961–62, twice finishing runners-up in 1980–81 and 1981-82. They also won the FA Cup in 1978, and the UEFA Cup in 1981.

Why does Ipswich have three stars? ›

Three stars were added to the sleeve of the team's away shirt for the 2004–05 season, and also to the home kit for the 2005–06 season. These stars were added to represent the three major trophies which Ipswich Town have won; the FA Cup, the UEFA Cup and the old First Division.

Which team will be promoted to the Premier League? ›

SeasonRelegated TeamsPromoted Teams
2021-22Burnley, Watford, Norwich CityFulham, Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest
2022-23Leicester City, Leeds United, SouthamptonBurnley, Sheffield United, Luton Town
2023-24Luton Town, Burnley, Sheffield UnitedLeicester City, Ipswich Town and ---
29 more rows
May 20, 2024

Have Ipswich Town been promoted to the Premier League for the second time in 22 years? ›

Ipswich Town too achieved promotion to the Premier League for the first time in 22 years after beating Huddersfield Town on the final day of the Championship regular season. Southampton finished the league stage fourth with 87 points but won the playoffs qualification.

Who is Ipswich top goal scorer ever? ›

Top goalscorers
#NameTotal
1Ray Crawford218 (354)
2John Wark190 (678)
3Ted Phillips181 (295)
4Tom Garneys143 (273)
6 more rows

What is the biggest defeat of Ipswich? ›

Record defeat: 1-10 v Fulham, Division One, December 1963. Most league points (two for a win): 64, Division Three South, 1953/54 and 1955/56. Most league points (three for a win): 98, Sky Bet League One, 2022/23.

What is Ipswich Town's nickname? ›

Nickname: The Tractor Boys.

What is the motto of Ipswich Town? ›

'Running Towards Adversity' has been adopted as the unofficial motto for The Blues this season, with the words being on the inside of all home and away kits. Tim, 63, got his tattoo done at Drawing Blood in Ipswich on September 14. He said: " The motto impacted on me so much, that I got it tattooed across my chest.

What is the claim to Fame of Ipswich? ›

It is one of England's oldest towns, with evidence of a Roman settlement in the area. Thomas Wolsey, better known as Cardinal Wolsey was born in Ipswich, before rising to power during the reign of Henry VIII. Actor Ralph Fiennes and director Trevor Nunn were also born in Ipswich.

Who is getting relegated from the Premier League in 2024? ›

The Premier League's worst bottom three ever? Luton Town will join Burnley and Sheffield United back in the Championship next season after their relegation from the Premier League was confirmed on the final day - with the three combining to set a record low total of points.

Who got relegated prem? ›

Premier League relegated teams 2023/24

Sheffield United, Burnley and Luton Town were the three teams relegated from the Premier League in 2023/24. All three had only won promotion the season before.

Who will be promoted to the Premier League in 2025? ›

Following their respective promotions from the EFL Championship, Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton can now officially state that they are part of the Premier League.

When did Ipswich last win a trophy? ›

Ipswich Town - honours
HonourPositionYear
UEFA CupWinner1980-81
League Division OneRunner-up1981-82
League Division TwoChampion1991-92
League OneRunner-up2022-23
9 more rows

Have Ipswich won a Premier League? ›

Gamechanger 20 Ltd. Ipswich Town currently play in the EFL Championship, having been promoted from the EFL League One in 2023, after 4 years in the division. The club has won the Football League First Division once, in 1962 and the FA Cup in 1978. They have also been successful in European football.

What is Ipswich highest Premier League finish? ›

The 2024/25 season will be Ipswich's sixth in the Premier League. They will join 2023/24 Championship champions Leicester City. Their highest Premier League finish came in 2000/01 when they finished in fifth place and qualified for the 2001/02 UEFA Cup.

Have Ipswich won a European trophy? ›

The late 1970s saw the arrival of Arnold Muhren and Frans Thijssen, the two Dutchmen who made such an impact on the team and with the supporters, and they helped Town win the UEFA Cup in 1981.

Where did Ipswich Town finish in the 2000-01 season in the Premier League? ›

Season summary

In the end, a 2–1 defeat at Charlton Athletic ended such hopes with two games left and they finished fifth, just four points adrift of second-placed Arsenal and qualified for the UEFA Cup for the first time since 1982.

Who won most of Premier League? ›

References

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