Kieran McKenna, the head coach of Ipswich, is rumored to be closing in on a return to Manchester United as Erik ten Hag’s replacement. McKenna, who previously served as assistant boss and first-team coach at Old Trafford, has expressed his desire to go back to the club. His agents are pushing for the deal, and United seems willing to take a gamble on him. However, Mauricio Pochettino, who recently left Chelsea, is also in the running. Former Chelsea bosses Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter are also candidates for the position. Despite the competition, sources suggest that McKenna is currently in the lead.
Ten Hag’s expected sacking may trigger a managerial merry-go-round, with McKenna being considered as a potential replacement. Even if Ten Hag leads United to FA Cup glory against Manchester City, he is set to be sacked. Appointing McKenna as the manager would be a bold move for United and their new co-owners Ineos. With just two years of experience as a head coach and none in the Premier League, McKenna’s lack of experience may be a concern. However, his success in leading Ipswich to back-to-back promotions and playing an attractive style of football has made him highly sought after in British coaching.
Brighton had already identified McKenna as the ideal successor to Roberto De Zerbi before parting ways with the Italian manager. Chelsea has also been linked with McKenna, but he prefers a move to Lancashire. The Blues are likely to pursue Leicester boss Enzo Maresca instead. Ipswich is making efforts to keep McKenna, with majority shareholder Ed Schwartz flying in from America for talks. They have offered him a blockbuster £5 million-a-year deal to stay, but it remains to be seen if he will accept.
If McKenna does leave Ipswich, they are considering Luton boss Rob Edwards and Chris Davies, currently the assistant to Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham, as potential replacements. McKenna’s achievements have not gone unnoticed, as he was named the League Managers Association Manager of the Year. He led Ipswich back to the Premier League after a 22-year absence, beating the likes of Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta to win the prestigious award.
In conclusion, Kieran McKenna’s potential return to Manchester United is generating excitement and speculation. While his lack of experience may raise concerns, his success at Ipswich and his attractive style of play make him an attractive candidate. The competition for the United manager position is fierce, with Pochettino, Tuchel, and Potter also in the mix. Only time will tell who will ultimately take the helm at Old Trafford.