Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has given the “green light” to taking the role of Chelsea head coach, according to the Evening Standard.
The 38-year-old is believed to be the Blues’ preferred candidate to replace Mauricio Pochettino in the dugout at Stamford Bridge. McKenna is a promising young manager but it is fair to say that supporters on X are not happy about the prospect of the Northern Irishman taking charge of the club:
No matter how yall look at it
This is horribleβ Big Motion π£οΈπ«‘ (@cutysleem) May 23, 2024
πππ
We were once a big club πβ CONTEXT VIDEOS (@Context2X) May 23, 2024
2 months in and Chelsea fans will want him out. Can’t wait to see this
β MyFootballingOpinion (@AcretionDisc2) May 23, 2024
Graham Potter all over again π€¦πΌββοΈπ€¦πΌββοΈ
β Bot Mafeng (@mafengbot) May 23, 2024
From hiring a champions league coach to championship coach. What has my club turn into π₯Ήπ₯Ή
β Rhalο£Ώ (@OLUWAFEMI__23) May 23, 2024
Can someone tell how we went from having great managers like Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel managing our club to Kieran McKenna! π These owners have finally brought the Hollywood fairytale to our football club. Gutted!π
β Slyelaigwu (@Slyelaigwu1) May 23, 2024
Please no
β Vartolu98 (@vartolu98) May 23, 2024
McKenna’s track record as a coach
Many reports have highlighted his success at Ipswich. His achievements at Portman Road cannot be questioned. Guiding a team to back-to-back promotions in your first job in management is quite some feat.
However, it is often forgotten that McKenna was also assistant to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United for three years. Although the Red Devils did finish 3rd and 2nd during the Norwegian’s reign, their style of football was heavily criticised, and the team was often outplayed by their rivals Liverpool and Manchester City.
Are Chelsea still looking at other managerial candidates?
In terms of the six managers that the Blues were reportedly considering, three of them seem to have ruled themselves out. Brentford’s Thomas Frank is not interested in the job, while Sporting’s Ruben Amorim and Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness are keen to stay where they are now.
Leicester’s Enzo Maresca and Girona’s Michel remain in the frame if a move for McKenna doesn’t work out.
