Kieran McKenna has returned to football by starting work as a technical observer for UEFA, months after his Ipswich departure.The Northern Irishman made the surprise decision to leave Portman Road in June after guiding the Tractor Boys back to the Premier League.McKenna has been out of football for the past four months after leaving IpswichGettyMcKenna had been linked with the Fulham vacancy but instead chose to take a break from football after five years with the Tractor Boys.During his time at Ipswich, he secured five promotions but decided to quit in June to spend more time with his family.And the 40-year-old is now back in the game in a different capacity, having taken up the role with European football’s governing body.Having taken on the role of technical observer, McKenna will now be tasked with analysing Champions League games, and selecting the Player of the Match.Those in the job also produce a report after each game, providing strategic and tactical feedback which can be used by coaches.McKenna will also help choose team, player and goal of the season along with other observers.His first shift in his new role will see him observe Shakhtar Donetsk‘s clash with AEK Athens next Wednesday, hosted at Chelsea’s home Stamford Bridge.McKenna discusses new roleDiscussing his latest gig with the Guardian, McKenna revealed this is the perfect way for him to continue learning before he makes a return to management.He said: “I wanted to give myself the best possibility to learn before taking on the next challenge.”He added: “I’m always going to want to be somewhere where I can improve players, play attacking football and win games.McKenna is now looking to hone his analytical skills as a technical observerGetty“But beyond that I’m a manager who wants to enjoy having that connection with a club, a community, trying to build something memorable.”McKenna isn’t the first high-profile name to try their hand as a technical observer for UEFA.Last season’s Champions League saw ex-Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate and then Portugal boss Roberto Martinez on the panel.What next for McKenna?In the same interview, McKenna shed light on his stance on a return to management, revealing he had been keen to leave Ipswich on a high.The Tractor Boys were 12th in League One when McKenna took over and his heroics in guiding the club to back-to-back promotions to the Championship and Premier League saw him regularly tipped for other vacancies.With Michael Carrick enduring a difficult start to the season at Manchester United, talkSPORT’s Alan Brazil recently named McKenna as a potential replacement if the former were to be sacked.McKenna decided to take a break from football after guiding Ipswich back to the Premier LeaguePAOn his Ipswich departure, McKenna said: “I had a lot of different opportunities to leave, could have left in many different circumstances really.“But I was always aware I wanted to depart in the best way possible, with the club on a high, back in the Premier League and with a great chance to build for what will hopefully be a really successful period.“It was a really special opportunity at Ipswich and you want to do that again in your career. But you have to be ready to come in somewhere and get some short-term success as well.“What’s right for me, after two decades coaching, might be different for a manager who only stopped playing three years ago.“I want to enjoy the time we have now, take this period to reflect and be in the best position I can for the next role.”