The blueprint behind Ipswich's rise
Ipswich's previous recruitment model can be traced back to their four seasons in League One. After guiding Town back to the Championship in 2023, Kieran McKenna admitted the club had made a "conscious decision" not to target overseas players because of the fast and frantic nature of England's third tier. A largely unchanged – but tightly knit – squad then exceeded expectations by finishing second in the Championship in 2023-24, making Ipswich the first side in 12 years to reach the Premier League through back-to-back promotions.