Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has won the Sir Alex Ferguson Trophy for the LMA Manager of the Year award, as well as the Championship Manager of Year award.

The Northern Irishman has received significant praise for guiding the Blues to the Premier League in their first season back in the Championship, winning the EFL's Championship Manager of the Year award at the end of last month.

He's now beaten some of the best managers in the country to earn the LMA Manager of the Year award. Only seven people have won it for campaigns outside of the Premier League - the last to do so being Chris Wilder, who guided Sheffield United to automatic promotion back in 2019. Since then, it's only been won by Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp.

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Although Guardiola lifted his fourth successive Premier League title with Manchester City over the weekend, it wasn't enough to secure this year's prize. McKenna, on the other hand, has become the first Town boss to win it since George Burley in 2001.

Ipswich Star: Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was pipped to the award despite winning the Premier League titleManchester City boss Pep Guardiola was pipped to the award despite winning the Premier League title (Image: PA)

McKenna was also given the LMA Championship Manager of the Year award, making up for the fact he was pipped to the divisional award by Steven Schumacher in League One last season.

Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson, who won the inaugural LMA Manager of the Year award back in 1994, was on hand to present the trophy named after him to McKenna tonight at the 32nd annual ceremony.

“It’s an incredible honour,” McKenna said via Ipswich'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.”

Ipswich Star: The 38-year-old helped Ipswich secure back-to-back promotions to reach the Premier LeagueThe 38-year-old helped Ipswich secure back-to-back promotions to reach the Premier League (Image: PA)

Speaking via the LMA website, he added: “It's incredible. Sir Alex Ferguson has been such a great part of my childhood growing up and my love for football, and for the game, has involved him - he's an inspiration.

"It's been a great journey. I'm two-and-a-half years into a management career, but it's been 16-years of working incredibly hard every day pretty much to be the best coach I can be.

"It's the best thing in the world and I've had good experience as a first team coach, but to be a manager in the Premier League and go up against great managers is going to be a great challenge and something I can't wait for.

"This award is one of the most humbling and proudest moments of my life."

Ipswich Star: Sir Alex Ferguson described McKenna as 'an incredible young talent'Sir Alex Ferguson described McKenna as 'an incredible young talent' (Image: PA)

Ferguson, who won the Premier League title 13 times during his time at Old Trafford, praised McKenna for having a ‘memorable’ season at Ipswich.

“He is an incredible young talent who had a great reputation when he was on the coaching staff at Manchester United,” he said.

“Kieran is humble and carries tremendous composure, as well as great technical and tactical insight and awareness – all the hallmarks to become a top manager at the very highest level.”

Ipswich Star: Town have secured back-to-back promotionsTown have secured back-to-back promotions (Image: Ross Halls)

Outgoing LMA Chair Howard Wilkinson OBE also commended the 38-year-old, saying: “A huge well done to Kieran McKenna for becoming the winner of the LMA Manager of the Year for the first time.

“To be promoted once at any level is commendable, but to achieve the feat back-to-back is an incredible achievement and demonstrates his undoubted ability as one of the youngest and most exciting managers in the domestic game.

“Kieran has been recognised by his peers for leading Ipswich to the highest level of English football for the first time in over 20-years and is hugely deserving of this honour.”