Who exactly is Kieran McKenna?

Hi there! It's May 24th. In today's newsletter. Profile of English football's 'most wanted', preview of FA Cup final and all the rest of today's news.

May 24, 2024

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If you have followed the links we have provided here in recent days, then you will be well aware that Kieran McKenna is now the most wanted man in English football during this frantic start to the ‘post-season’.

Multiple media reports have claimed that the 38-year-old Ipswich Town manager, who has guided the ‘Tractor Boys’ to back-to-back promotions, leading them from mid-table in League One to the Premier League, is a target for both Chelsea and Manchester United, as well as Brighton, who are looking to replace Roberto De Zerbi.

Sky Sports news reported that United have met with McKenna’s representatives regarding a possible return to the club where he worked from 2016-2021.

Of course, Erik ten Hag is still the manager of Manchester United but, if the reports are accurate, Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester City could be the Dutchman’s final game in charge. James Ducker in The Telegraph reports that United have been forced to expedite their managerial contingency plans in the wake of Mauricio Pochettino’s departure from Chelsea with the two clubs holding an interest in some of the same targets.

But who exactly is Kieran McKenna? Consider this your briefing:

Although born in London, McKenna grew up in Northern Ireland where began his playing career in youth football. He was captain of Northern Ireland’s Under-19 team and signed for Tottenham but injury cut short his career at the age of 22 before he had even made a first team appearance for the club.

(As an aside, there is a pretty impressive list of talented managers who turned to coaching ‘early’ after career-ending injuries. Julian Nagelsmann and Eddie Howe are two modern day examples, while Brian Clough is one from the past).

McKenna studied a sports science degree at Loughborough University and his student years saw him working as a youth coach at various English clubs and Canada’s Vancouver Whitecaps.

A senior role in the Spurs academy followed before he moved to United in 2016 to become the club’s Under-18 coach. He later joined Jose Mourinho’s first-team coaching staff and carried on in that role under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

He survived the arrival of Ralf Rangnick at Old Trafford but decided it was time to move and take charge of a team himself - leaving United for Ipswich in December 2021 along with another United coach Martyn Pert. (Pert, who is expected to remain with McKenna in his next role, has a fascinating backstory involving NBA coach Pat Riley, Marcelo Bielsa and journeys through South American football).

It says much about the dysfunctional nature of the United hierarchy at that time, that they allowed McKenna to leave the club and the new men in charge now find themselves trying to claw him back.

But McKenna’s subsequent success at Ipswich is no surprise to those who witnessed, at close hand, his work at United’s Carrington training ground.

David Horrocks, former research and development officer at United, knew McKenna from his time at Spurs and worked alongside him during Solskjaer’s reign at United.

“I’ve watched his journey closely for around a decade now,” Horrocks told The Daily Soccer, “He’s a football addict and an academic of the highest quality. Very diligent in his research of the game in general and right down to its micro components of the individual, the unit, the team and the opponent. He’s a man always looking for a solution in an attacking manner to win a football match whatever faces him. He is strong in his beliefs and clear in his message,” he adds.

“He was deadly serious about understanding and mastering Manchester United Football Club and serial winning performance but perhaps most of all, he was a very humble, polite, approachable and engaging person who was very popular at the football club and with everyone he worked with”.

It remains to be seen if McKenna does indeed resume his career at Old Trafford and Ipswich fans are understandably hoping that he stays put for another season or two. But whatever route the coach takes in the coming days and weeks, it seems clear he is going to remain a man to watch.

Game of the Day

Why, it’s FA Cup Final weekend for those that care:

This is how Man United can beat Man City and win the FA Cup (ESPN)

Manchester City vs Manchester United Prediction: FA Cup Preview (OPTA)

Ex-Blackburn striker, Chris Sutton, asks celebrities he’s never heard of for their FA Cup predictions (BBC)

TDS Digest….

Your Daily Soccer Transfer Round-up: Hansi Flick to replace Xavi at Barcelona. Real Madrid want Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz and head coach Xabi Alonso, but their main summer signings are likely to include Kylian Mbappé, Endrick and Alphonso Davies. Nottingham Forest End of Season FFP Sanctions sale NOW ON! PRICES SLASHED! ENDS June 30th. Spurs keen on Hudson-Odoi.

In Other News:

Offside Referee! Is Arsene Wenger about to ruin football? (Twitter)

Borussia Dortmund invites all 519 employees (including the cleaners) and playing staff from U-12 and up on an all expenses trip to London for the UCL final after 400K requests for tickets. (FootballFactly)

The 2023/24 Premier League season sets record as most watched on NBC, with ‘average match window’ up 4% from last season, and a TAD (Total Audience Delivery) of 546K. (World Soccer Talk)

– And for those of you wondering what the devil TAD is…[link]

US owners in Europe get their end of season report cards. See how they grade from A to F. (Guardian)

The Premier League Injury Table. Or, Erik Ten Hag did have something to whine about, but it still doesn’t excuse him playing Casemiro at center half. (BBC)

And for the romantics amongst you, just to prove the game hasn’t completely gone, here’s Claudio Ranieri receiving a standing ovation at his final home game in charge of Cagliari. (Reddit)

Your Daily Soccer Quote:

“First and foremost I'd say two things: passion and not obsession. I think obsession is an illness and fortunately, I'm not obsessed. Passion comes through, that's what helps me keep going." - Carlo Ancelotti on why he’s still coaching

Stream of the Day

Pretty thin pickings to be honest (Livesoccertv.com)

Maybe get in the mood for Saturday and watch all the FA Cup final goals from 1961 to 1986 instead? (You Tube)

We’ll be back on Monday with more.

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