Kieran McKenna, Ipswich Town’s manager, has stated that the club is in talks to retain Sone Aluko in a new role after his retirement.
Ipswich Town face an important summer as they prepare for Premier League football.
A number of new faces will arrive at Portman Road, and some will most likely leave. Sone Aluko, a Town player, has announced his retirement as his contract expires.
Aluko was on the periphery of McKenna’s playing squad, but he played an important role off the field and in the dressing room as the Tractor Boys completed a remarkable rise from the Championship.
However, while he is retiring, the 35-year-old could still have a future at Ipswich Town.
According to the East Anglian Daily Times, McKenna expressed admiration for Aluko and stated that talks are underway to keep him at the club “in some capacity.” He said:
“We hope Sone will stay with us in some capacity or another. His agent is going to speak with Mark about it.
“The highest paid coach in Premier League history is what he’s pushing for,” he joked.
“We want to keep good people, and Sone is a fantastic person. We hope he will participate in some way. I hope it is not the last, and I am confident that it will not be the last time we all see him after tonight.
A future in the game.
Following the decision to end their playing careers, many players go on to work as coaches or in other positions in football, and Aluko may follow in that tradition.
McKenna clearly admires his abilities outside of the playing field, which bodes well as he considers his next move after retirement.
His extensive experience will come in handy if he decides to become a manager, coach, or backroom team member in the future. However, only time will tell what Aluko’s immediate future holds.
Worth keeping around?
As Ipswich Town prepares to enter the Premier League, the retiring attacking midfielder may be worth keeping at the club.
McKenna emphasized the importance of his role away from the pitch, as well as the importance of retaining positive characters who have already contributed to the remarkable promotion achievement. Aluko’s off-field influence could be difficult to replace as the club seeks to retain the core of the group that achieved back-to-back promotions.
In a club where much is expected to change in the coming months, Aluko’s stay could prove to be a valuable piece of business as he transitions to a post-playing career.
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