Newcastle United are reportedly considering Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna as a replacement for Eddie Howe.
According to a report by Give Me Sport, Kieran McKenna is the subject of interest from Newcastle United. The Magpies have been scouring the market for a manager amid uncertainties surrounding the long-term future of Eddie Howe. So, the 38-year-old Ipswich Town head coach has emerged as a viable target.
Kieran McKenna has pleasantly surprised many throughout his stay with Ipswich Town thus far. A midfielder during his professional career as a footballer, the London-born Northern Irish young international represented Tottenham at the youth level. However, he was unable to enjoy a long career and retired at the age of 22, nearly a decade and a half ago.
McKenna began his coaching career at Tottenham Hotspur, where he served as the club’s under-18 manager. However, the 38-year-old’s stock skyrocketed during his time at Manchester United, when he began his tenure as coach of the under-18 team.
The Northern Irish tactician then became assistant manager before moving on to join Ipswich Town a few years ago. McKenna has quickly established himself at Portman Road, leading his team to repeated promotion campaigns while returning to the Premier League after more than two decades away.
Kieran McKenna’s performances at Ipswich Town have piqued the curiosity of a number of teams, notably Chelsea and Manchester United, in recent months. The latest speculation has linked the 38-year-old with Newcastle United, who are concerned about Eddie Howe’s long-term future.
The Englishman is one of the leading candidates to succeed Gareth Southgate as England’s head coach. Furthermore, Newcastle United will not stand in Howe’s way if he takes the position and moves to the international level. So they started looking for a replacement, and McKenna and Thomas Frank came up on their radar.
However, getting McKenna away from Ipswich Town may be a difficult assignment, given that he recently signed a new contract with the Tractor Boys; hence, a summer move for the 38-year-old may not materialize.
