Ipswich Town soccer club fired manager Roy Keane, 20 months after the former Manchester United midfielder took on the job.
Keane, 39, replaced the fired Jim Magilton in April 2009 after spending two years at Sunderland, which he led to the Premier League. He won 12 major trophies during nine years playing for United.
“I’m hugely disappointed to be leaving Portman Road,” Keane said in a statement released by the League Managers Association. “Results haven’t been as good as I’d have hoped so far this season and when results aren’t good the manager gets the sack, that’s the game.”
Ipswich is in 19th place in the second-division Championship with 28 points, 20 fewer than leader Queen’s Park Rangers and just nine more than last-place Preston. The Tractor Boys have lost seven of their past nine league matches.
“I have enjoyed working with Roy over the past two seasons,” Ipswich chief executive officer Simon Clegg said on the club’s website. “Regrettably though, we have not made the progress that we had all expected over the last 20 months and this season in particular.”
Assistant coach Charlie McParland will take over on an interim basis, the club said. Ipswich visits defending Premier League champion Chelsea in two days in the F.A. Cup, then hosts Arsenal in the League Cup semifinal first leg on Jan. 12.
Keane’s firing is the 27th coaching move in England’s top four divisions for this season, according to the League Managers Association website.
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