Man Utd manager target Kieran McKenna faces awkward reunion with stars who moaned about his ‘schoolmastery’ training
IPSWICH TOWN manager Kieran McKenna could be set for an awkward reunion if he succeeds Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.
The 38-year-old spent time at Old Trafford as a youth team and assistant coach before taking the helm at Portman Road in 2021.
He took charge of Man Utd‘s Under-18s in 2016 and guided them to a Premier League Northern Division title.
After just two years in the job, he was promoted to the first-team coaching staff and became Jose Mourinho‘s assistant.
When Mourinho left he was retained by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but he eventually fell out of favour with the players.
Several Man Utd players became frustrated with McKenna at the end of 2021 with the club struggling in the Premier League.
They claimed he was “too teacher-like” with his information-heavy sessions.
His approach was also described as “schoolmastery” as if he was taking a class at school.
Some stars also felt uninspired by him and felt they needed to be coached by someone more senior as opposed to a person whose only prior experience was with youth sides.
Fast-forward three years and McKenna is one of the most sought-after managers in England having guided Ipswich to back-to-back promotions.
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THE RISE AND RISE OF McKENNA
Few managers have risen so dramatically as Kieran McKenna.
But then few were tipped for coaching success so young.
London-born McKenna, now 38, retired as a player aged just 22 due to a chronic hip injury.
He’d begun with Northern Irish sides Enniskillen Town United and Ballinamallard United before joining Tottenham in 2002.
But by the time he was forced to quit seven years later, he’d failed to make a single senior appearance.
However, after graduating from Loughborough University, Spurs appointed him Head of Academy Performance Analysis.
It was then, in two years guiding Manchester United Under-18 where his reputation soared fastest.
Having won the Premier League Northern Division title, McKenna was promoted all the way up to Jose Mourinho’s assistant in 2018, remaining high up in the backroom under Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Ralf Rangnick.
Ipswich took the plunge on him in 2021.
And after an impressive half-season in League One, he took the Tractor Boys up in his first full campaign – repeating the feat this term to restore the club’s long-lost top-flight status.
Now, one way or another, McKenna is poised for his greatest challenge in management – either keeping Ipswich up or moving to a major club.
Man Utd are interested in bringing him back to Old Trafford with Ten Hag set to be sacked, and have drawn up a four-man shortlist.
Brighton have also expressed an interest in signing him as a replacement for Roberto De Zerbi.
And Chelsea have made him a top target following Mauricio Pochettino‘s departure.
Poch left Stamford Bridge by mutual consent earlier this week following crunch talks with Todd Boehly.
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