Saturday (4) was very special for the Ipswich Town. Playing in front of their home fans at Portman Road, the club confirmed access to Premier League and is back among the elite of English football after more than two decades (the last time was in the 2001/02 season), joining the Leicester Citywhat secured the Championship title in the last few days.
And the club from the city of Ipswich, in the east of England, has a past of many glories, which ended up being overshadowed due to the absence of The Tractor Boys in the English elite and in the main European competitions in recent decades. To give you an idea, the team has titles in its trophy room such as the English Championship, FA Cup and even the UEFA Cup – current Europa Leagueall achieved between the 1960s and 1980s.
The continent’s glorious past remains intact to this day. And not just in the memory of its fans, as the club remains the only British team that has never lost at home in European competitions. And defeating powers like Real Madrid, Milan, Inter Milan It is Barcelona.
The club’s fresh start in its quest to return to its glory days began in 2021when Ipswich Town was sold by English businessman Marcus Evansowner of the team since 2007to the North American company Gamechanger 20. And the sale cost “only” 40 million pounds (R$254.8 million in current figures). To give you an idea, the value is lower than what Endrick cost Real Madrid in his transfer from Palm trees: R$400 million.
The change also included the arrival of other names, such as Mike O’Learyformer CEO of West Bromwich, who assumed the role of president. Just like the technician Kieran McKenna37 years old, who was responsible for rebuilding Ipswich, which when he arrived in the season 2021/22was still in the third tier of English football.
Born in Northern Ireland, McKenna even left his position as assistant coach at the powerful Manchester United to accept the challenge. And to arrive at Old Trafford, the former player, who played practically his entire career at Tottenhammanaging Spurs’ under-18s shortly after retiring, moved from London out of passion, as he is an avowed fan of the Red Devils. And, today, he is one of the sensations of English football in the technical area.
‘Link’ with Pelé and Stallone
In the years 1980, Ipswich Town also had a memorable moment. However, this time off the field. Several of the club’s players appeared alongside the American film star Sylvester Stallone and the King Skin in the film “Escape to Victory”, “Escape to Victory”, in Portuguese, by 1981.
Among the players who participated in the filming were John Wark, Russell Osman, Robin Turner, Laurie Sivell It is Kevin O’Callaghan. Some of them even played the role of “stunt doubles” in one of the film’s scenes. As Paul Cooperfor example, who replaced the “goalkeeper” Stallone.
In addition to Pelé and some names from Ipswich, the “selection” also included none other than the legendary defender Bobby Moorecaptain of the national team England in the title of world Cup in 1966.
