Kieran McKenna: Ipswich Town appoint Manchester United coach as new manager

Kieran McKenna was coach of Tottenham's under-18 side before joining Manchester United in 2016

Ipswich Town have appointed Manchester United assistant first-team coach Kieran McKenna as their new manager.

The 35-year-old has signed a three-and-a-half year contract to succeed Paul Cook at the League One club.

The Northern Irishman was part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's coaching team at Old Trafford and stayed on after the Norwegian was sacked last month.

"It feels like the right time, project and club to make my first step into first-team management," said McKenna.

"Leaving a club like Manchester United was obviously a difficult decision, but I strongly believe in the opportunity to build something here."

McKenna was a member of Tottenham's academy before injury cut short his playing career but became part of the London club's coaching set-up before moving to Old Trafford to work under then manager Jose Mourinho.

He and assistant manager Martyn Pert will officially start their roles on Monday, with John McGreal continuing as caretaker boss for Saturday's home game against Sunderland.

"Kieran is a highly-respected young coach who has been working at the top level of English football and with one of the biggest clubs in world football for a number of years in Manchester United," said Ipswich chief executive Mark Ashton.

"He comes to the club with pedigree within the game and with exciting plans about how he is going to take the team forward.

"When we met, there was a clear meeting of minds in terms of how we will execute the vision of this football club."

Ipswich, who were knocked out of the FA Cup by League Two side Barrow on Wednesday, sacked Cook on 4 December after four months in charge, with the club in mid-table.