- Ipswich head coach Kieran McKenna expressed delight that Aluko has been added to the club’s coaching team
Newly promoted Premier League club, Ipswich Town, have appointed former Super Eagles winger, Sone Aluko as first-team coach.
Ipswich announced Aluko’s appointment in a statement on their website.
“The Club is pleased to announce that Sone Aluko has joined Kieran McKenna’s backroom staff as a First-Team Coach,” the statement read.
“Sone, who played for the Blues between August 2021 and May 2024, announced his retirement from playing this summer.
“During his career Sone represented numerous clubs including Aberdeen, Rangers, Hull City and Fulham, as well as playing international football with Nigeria, before arriving at Portman Road.
“His playing days at Town saw him set consistently high standards and contribute to the first-team environment, working closely with his teammates and coaches on the way to more than 50 appearances across all competitions and back-to-back promotions.
“Sone also progressed with his coaching badges – along with other members of the first-team squad – as a player and will now begin working with Kieran and the other coaches.”
Speaking on his appointment, Aluko described it as a real privilege to start the next phase of his career by joining the first -team coaching staff here at Ipswich.
“Learning from the Manager and all the coaching staff here is a fantastic opportunity for me. It is a great time to be at Ipswich, and I’m really looking forward to helping the squad continue to learn and take on the challenge of the Premier League,” the 35-year-old told the club website.
Ipswich head coach Kieran McKenna expressed delight that Aluko has been added to the club’s coaching team. He stated that his work ethic and values have been important for the Club over the last few years, and they know he will continue to bring those qualities to his new role.
McKenna added that “Sone has strong relationships with players and staff at the Club and he will be a big addition for them.
Aluko is younger brother to Eniola Aluko, a former footballer who played for England 102 times at full international level and who played in two World Cup quarter-finals and reached the quarter-finals of the London 2012 Olympics football tournament with Great Britain.
Aluko came on as a second half substitute for Hull City in the final of the 2014 FA Cup final, which they lost 3-2 to Arsenal.
He was named in the squad for Nigeria’s Flying Eagles squad for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt. He played in games against Venezuela, Spain and Tahiti as the team got knocked out in the round of 16.
He was called up to the Super Eagles for a friendly against the Republic of Ireland on 29 May 2009.
In April 2010, he was named in the provisional Super Eagles squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but failed to make the final cut.