- Kieran McKenna on Manchester United radar
- Michael Carrick remains in a strong position
- Mauricio Pochettino and Roberto Martinez are out
Manchester United are in the process of selecting their next permanent manager, and the list is getting shorter every week.
Michael Carrick has done a fine job at Old Trafford since being appointed in January. He has won 10 of his 14 Premier League matches in charge and has put himself in a strong position to get the job beyond this season.
The Red Devils are still evaluating their options and have other names on their shortlist. The season is now in the final stages, and they need to decide within the next eight to 10 weeks so the manager can start in July.
Kieran McKenna part of Manchester United’s shortlist
Ben Jacobs was on The United Stand this week and named Kieran McKenna as one of the names on the list. He claimed that the Ipswich Town manager has support from the club’s decision-makers to be the next one at the helm.
The 39-year-old was linked with the Red Devils in 2024, when rumours about a possible sack for Erik ten Hag were popping up in the media. The Athletic reported that the manager was on top of the wishlist after he gained back-to-back promotions.
He was also linked with Chelsea, but the Blues also decided not to go ahead with their interest and appointed Enzo Maresca. The manager has done well to help Ipswich Town regain promotion to the top flight this season, and the interest has been noted once again.
Apart from him, Mauricio Pochettino and Roberto Martinez have also been linked with Manchester United. Both managers are set to be available after the FIFA World Cup, but Jacobs reports that the Red Devils do not see them as ideal candidates.
Ipswich Town expect Kieran McKenna to stay
Ipswich Town chairman Mark Ashton believes McKenna will stay at the club beyond the summer. He admitted that it will be difficult for them, given the interest in the manager, but is confident that the 39-year-old wants to stay. He told talkSPORT:
“Success brings challenges. When we got promoted last time, there was a hell of a lot of noise around our manager, and rightly so. We had back-to-back promotions, he’d done really well and he’s done really well again.
I think success will always bring that noise, but we get on, we talk every day, we’re under no illusions that there’ll be noise around the manager, players, staff, executives.
But we’re well set to take this club forward. In my mind, yes [he’ll be staying]. I’ve got no reason to tell you anything different… we’re already starting to make plans.”
McKenna has taken charge of 276 matches for Ipswich Town, winning 139 and losing just 68 games.
