McKenna has done a remarkable job at Ipswich Town, leading them from League One to the Premier League in just two and a half years in charge.

An expansive brand of football saw them gain promotion with successive second-placed finishes, scoring 101 goals in League One and 92 in the Championship.

That means it is no surprise that the 38-year-old from Northern Ireland is considered one of the top managerial prospects around.

He had been planning to leave the club this summer – and was linked with the jobs at Brighton, Manchester United – where he used to be assistant manager – and Chelsea. However, he signed a four-year deal at the Tractor Boys. He was also in the running for the Crystal Palace job earlier this year.

The new deal makes him best paid managers in the Premier League, according to BBC reporter Nick Mashiter.

One of the most impressive elements of Ipswich’s rise has been that they only spent £4m last summer to bolster their League One promotion squad for the Championship.

He has been praised for his attention to detail and willingness to discuss his thinking.

“He’s a different type of manager to what I grew up with, where you have one man that controlled the whole club,” former Ipswich captain Mick Mills told BBC Radio Suffolk.

“It became apparent very quickly that his forte was on the training ground. The training ground is his domain.”

Leif Davis supplied 18 assists last season from left wing-back. Conor Chaplin contributed 42 goals over the past two years.

“He’s an unbelievable manager, his attention to detail is second to none,” said Wales striker Kieffer Moore, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Ipswich.

“You can see it in everything he does, the way he delivers presentations and training sessions, the way he goes about his business is top notch. I can really see the gaffer having an amazing career.”