Cardiff City manager Mick McCarthy feared Ipswich Town job would be his last in England

Current Cardiff City boss Mick McCarthy has revealed he once feared Ipswich Town would prove to be his final managerial job in England.

The 62-year-old left Portman Road in 2018 after six years at the helm – a stint that included four top half finishes in the Championship.

However, towards the end of his tenure his relationship with many Ipswich supporters soured and while he did go on to take charge of the Republic of Ireland and Cypriot side APOEL, offers from England were in short supply.

That changed, though, when second tier outfit Cardiff came calling in January, with the Bluebirds have being transformed into promotion contenders under McCarthy's management.

Asked by talkSPORT if he had previously felt his time was up in England, McCarthy said: “I hoped not, but I did wonder because I’d waited a long time from my time at Ipswich.

“That was kind of sad. I left there with maybe a bad rap which I didn’t deserve because TC (Terry Connor, his assistant manager) and I did a great job at Ipswich.

“With the budget we had, we always finished in the top half, we’d be in the play-offs and it just went sour towards the end.

“I think that did affect my chances of getting a job. I waited and waited, nothing came up.

“It was sad the way it ended there because I had such a great time – I loved it at Ipswich and I still wish them well.

“I get personal satisfaction in what we’re doing at Cardiff now and not as much as proving anybody wrong."

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