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Cédric Kipré: The French-Ivorian Defender Finding Consistency in Ipswich Town’s Premier League Push By our Football Correspondent The recent revival of defender Cédric Kipré has become a significant subplot in Ipswich Town's compelling push for Premier League football. The 28-year-old, currently on a season-long loan from French side Stade de Reims, delivered a talismanic performance in the recent East Anglian derby victory against rivals Norwich City, a display which has refocused attention on a player often described as technically gifted but previously plagued by inconsistency. Kipré was instrumental in the 3-1 derby win at Portman Road, not only contributing a key goal—a powerful finish from a corner—but also anchoring a defence under intense pressure. His composed distribution and physical strength at the back drew immediate praise from his manager, Kieran McKenna, who highlighted the defender's psychological aptitude for high-stakes fixtures. "It was a brilliant performance, I have to say," McKenna told reporters after the match. "There was tension in the game, and I thought he looked like the most composed player on the pitch. He was everything we were hoping for. He has got that calm, laid-back demeanour, and in big games, that can be really useful. He's also a strong boy and dealt terrifically with their central threat.
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" A Career Defined by Loans and Potential Kipré’s current spell at Ipswich marks a key juncture in a career that has frequently been characterised by brief flashes of potential followed by lengthy periods on the bench. Born in Paris, Kipré rose through the prestigious Paris Saint-Germain academy before moving to England with Leicester City. His senior career gained traction in Scotland with Motherwell and in the Championship with Wigan Athletic, where his robust defending earned him a £900,000 move to Premier League-bound West Bromwich Albion in 2020. However, his time at The Hawthorns was challenging. Despite the initial enthusiasm, which saw then-Sporting Director Luke Dowling suggest Kipré had the "potential to really establish himself as a Premier League defender," he struggled to break into the starting XI consistently. Over four seasons, Kipré endured loan spells at Charleroi in Belgium and, most significantly, a successful season at Cardiff City in the 2022–23 campaign, where he made 42 league appearances, rediscovering the form that had initially attracted top-flight interest. The loan move to Ipswich Town from Reims—the club he joined after his West Brom contract expired—includes a crucial detail: an obligation for the Championship side to buy the player permanently should they achieve promotion to the Premier League. This clause places the centre-back directly within the high-stakes narrative of the club’s season, turning every performance into a direct audition for a long-term future in England’s top flight. Tactical Versatility and Composure A distinctive feature of Kipré’s game that has particularly suited Ipswich’s demanding, possession-based style under McKenna is his comfort with the ball at his feet.
This technical proficiency stems from his unconventional development path. Kipré recently revealed that he spent his youth career playing in more offensive roles, a background that has defined his modern role as a ball-playing central defender. "It's a big part of my game," Kipré explained when discussing his composure. "I've grown up not a centre-back. I was maybe 13 or 14 when they moved me to a No. 6, then a defender. I was playing as a winger! I'd say this is why it's a bit easier for me [to handle the ball]. " This ability to transition quickly and maintain possession under pressure is crucial for a side competing at the top end of the Championship, often requiring defenders to initiate attacks. Yet, analysts suggest this forward-thinking approach has, at times, led to moments of lapsed concentration, a factor former West Brom manager Carlos Corberan previously addressed.
Corberan noted Kipré’s "special conditions, especially offensive special conditions," but stressed the need for defensive discipline. "I cannot allow any type of loss of concentration," Corberan stated during his time managing Kipré. "He knows how to play, he needs to keep concentration for 100 minutes in the pitch. " The Immediate Outlook With the current international break offering a brief respite, Kipré acknowledged the strong momentum Ipswich had built and the desire to maintain his newly secured starting position. He faces tough competition from several "very good" centre-backs at the club, demonstrating the squad depth required for a sustained promotion campaign. "We have good momentum, and we'd like to keep that going," Kipré said, while reflecting on the competition. "If I have the chance to play, I need to make sure I grab my chance and show the manager that he can trust me, and that I can play week in, week out. " The Ivorian international’s success is intrinsically linked to Ipswich’s fate. If his recent run of consistent, composed performances continues, he will not only solidify his personal reputation but also provide the defensive platform necessary to propel Ipswich Town back into the Premier League after a long absence, confirming his successful transition from a player of potential to a reliable defensive cornerstone.
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