Ipswich Town staff profiles
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LEADERSHIP
DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL OPERATIONS
Gary Probert
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Nationality: English
Joined in November 2021, when Ipswich were in League One. Heads up recruitment, Academy, analysis and the loans programme. Moved to Ipswich from Bristol City along with CEO Mark Ashton, who had also worked for the Robins. Probert was at Bristol City for eight-and-a-half years in total, mainly as Academy Manager.
COACHING
MANAGER
Kieran McKenna
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Nationality: Northern Ireland
Retired from playing at the age of 22 because of a recurring injury and studied Sport Science at Loughborough University. Then went into coaching, working his way up the ranks at Spurs to U18s boss, before leaving to take up the same role at Manchester United in 2016. Promoted to the first-team coaching staff under Jose Mourinho in 2018 and also worked under Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Ralf Rangnick. Joined Ipswich Town in December 2021 when the club were coming off a run of one win in nine and began a remarkable transformation. Club won two consecutive promotions and will now compete in the Premier League for the first time since 2002.
ASSISTANT
Martyn Pert
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Nationality: English
Moved from Manchester United to Ipswich with McKenna, having also been on the first-team staff under Solskjaer at Old Trafford. The UEFA Pro Licence holder has a remarkable personal story, having trained as a management consultant before embarking on a global tour in a bid to gain coaching knowledge. Has coached around the world, including at Coventry, Vancouver Whitecaps, Manchester United and the Bahrain national team.
FIRST-TEAM COACH
Lee Grant
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Nationality: English
Former keeper has been at Ipswich since May 2022, helping the club to consecutive promotions. His 22-year playing career saw him feature for Manchester United, Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday and Burnley.
FIRST-TEAM COACH
Charlie Turnbull
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Nationality: English
Joined Ipswich in December of 2021 after time working at Fulham and Tottenham. Coaches the team as well as focusing on individual development, while co-ordinating with the analysts.
FIRST-TEAM COACH
Sone Aluko
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Nationality: Nigerian
Appointed as a first-team coach in July 2024 after three years playing for the club under McKenna (who is three years his senior). Former Reading, Fulham, Hull and Aberdeen forward made seven appearances for the Nigeria national team.
HEAD OF GOALKEEPING
Rene Gilmartin
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Nationality: Irish
Former Swindon Town Assistant currently serves as Goalkeeper Coach for Ipswich and the Republic of Ireland. Started coaching in 2021 after retiring from playing with Bristol City.
GOALKEEPER DEVELOPMENT ASSIST
David Martin
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Nationality: English
Joined in July 2024 as a player-coach to aid goalkeeper development in the Academy pathway. Also helps with the training, scouting and recruitment of keepers, as well as monitoring those who are on loan at other clubs.
PERFORMANCE
DIRECTOR OF PERFORMANCE
Andy Rolls
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Nationality: English
Moved to Ipswich in May 2021, having previously worked with Ashton and Probert at Bristol City. Was a physiotherapist at Watford, West Ham and Arsenal before that. Oversees all the medical, strength and conditioning and sports science functions at the club.
HEAD OF ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE
Matt Allen
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Nationality: English
Worked for Tottenham for 13 years before joining Ipswich in July 2023. Move reunited him with McKenna, with whom he had worked at the Tottenham Academy.
FITNESS COACH
Jon Ashton
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Nationality: English
Ex-Premier League player who retired in 2018 and became Stevenage's Fitness Coach soon after. Stayed with the Hertfordshire club for three years before joining Ipswich in May 2021.
HEAD STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH
Ivan Mukandi
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Nationality: English
Began teaching strength and conditioning at Universities and schools. Broke into football by becoming an Academy Strength and Conditioning Coach at Arsenal in 2014. Spent nearly seven years with the Gunners before moving to Ipswich in June 2021.
SPORTS SCIENTIST
Kit Barnes
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Nationality: English
Has a degree in Sport and Exercise Science from the University of Bath. Moved into football by becoming Head of Sports Science at Bath City. Then moved to Bristol City, Wales Women and finally Ipswich, in 2022.
MEDICAL
HEAD PHYSIO
Matt Byard
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Nationality: English
Career started working in hospitals in East Anglia. Began work at Ipswich as a match-day physio in 1996, working his way up to become Head of Medical in 2021.
PHYSIO
Alex Chapman
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Nationality: English
Studied at Brunel University and the University of Bath before beginning his career at the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. Started as an Academy Physio at Ipswich in 2007, becoming a First Team Physio in 2011.
ANALYSIS
LEAD PERFORMANCE ANALYST
Will Stephenson
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Nationality: English
Has a Masters in Exercise Physiology from Loughborough University. Joined Ipswich in 2016 and moved into his current role in 2021.
ASSISTANT PERFORMANCE ANALYST
Morgan Howells
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Nationality: English
Started as a part-time analyst in the Academy before joining full time in November 2020. Promoted to current role in September 2021.
ASSISTANT PERFORMANCE ANALYST
Judah Davies
Nationality: English
Was a staff writer and analyst for the tactics website Spielverlagerung and also an Opposition Analyst for Huddersfield Town before joining Ipswich.
ASSISTANT PERFORMANCE ANALYST
Joe Western
Nationality: English
Started as an intern at Ipswich and then joined as a Development Coach in 2016. Moved into analysis with the Academy in 2021 and with the first team from 2023.