Chelsea are once again back in the managerial market looking for a new boss following the club’s decision to sack Mauricio Pochettino.
It was a poor season for Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea but the Blues did look to be picking up some form and won their last five games of the Premier League season to finish in sixth spot. This is certainly an improvement on the mid-table obscurity they were experiencing at Christmas time but this wasn’t enough for the Argentine.
HITC reported last night, following Pochettino’s sacking, that the Blues had multiple names on their shortlist as they seek out a younger manager to begin yet another rebuild.
These names were Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, Thomas Frank, Vincent Kompany and Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna, who guided the East Anglian side to the Premier League last season.
Former Manchester United winger Ashley Young believes that one of the candidates, Ipswich’s McKenna, is more than ready for a top job following links to Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea.
Young on McKenna
Speaking on talkSPORT, the current Everton winger, who was at Old Trafford when McKenna was a coach under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, believes that the 38-year-old is more than capable of managing a top club.
“I think he’s got everything to be a top, top manager,” Mckenna said. “I worked with him at Manchester United and saw how much passion he’s got for football, the love he’s got for football and just how he wants to be successful.
“Obviously, having been linked with the jobs like Brighton and Manchester United, can he go to one of them now? I do think he can. He’s been at United as a coach, he knows the club. Can he go to a Brighton? Yeah he can.
“He’s seen as one of those managers. At Ipswich they want to play football, they want to be expansive, they want to get on the front foot.
“Obviously, he’s younger than me, he’s just one of those coaches that wants to be successful. He’s got everything there to be a successful manager, no disrespect to Ipswich, at a bigger club.”
McKenna has been lauded for the tactics he has brought into an Ipswich side who were languishing in League One when he took over, but now find themselves back in the Premier League.
McKenna and Brighton
HITC reported on Saturday that, following Roberto De Zerbi’s decision to leave the AMEX Stadium, the Seagulls had already instilled McKenna as their top choice to replace the Italian.
However, Chelsea are looking for a new manager and have also expressed their interest in McKenna but the 38-year-old would be unwise to go into an environment like the one seen at Stamford Bridge.
Moving to Brighton, who have nailed the recruitment side of things, would be a step up from Ipswich Town and would be the perfect step for McKenna if he is to leave Portman Road this summer.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
