Exeter City winger Demetri Mitchell has claimed that Kieran McKenna is a future Manchester United manager after the impressive job he has done at Ipswich Town.
The 37-year-old is on course to achieve historic back-to-back promotions with the Tractor Boys. They finished second in League One last season behind Plymouth Argyle with a staggering 98 points, a tally which ordinarily would have seen them crowned champions. Incredibly, they can match that tally again this season, albeit in the division higher and with a place in the Premier League at stake.
The Suffolk-based team sit in third, one point behind Leeds United with a game in hand. It’s set to be a tense end to the campaign, although whatever happens, few would deny Ipswich have been the surprise package of the second tier.
It’s their form which has seen McKenna already linked to a number of jobs in the Premier League. West Ham United are said to be keen, with current boss David Moyes expected to leave in the summer. Crystal Palace, Brentford and Manchester United are also reportedly keeping tabs on his progress.
The Red Devils have endured a torrid campaign and are in real danger of missing out of a spot in Europe next season. With the partial takeover by INEOS now completed, speculation is rife regarding the future of manager Erik ten Hag. The Ipswich boss is viewed as someone who could potentially take the hotseat, albeit as an outside option.
It’s a view shared by Exeter attacker Mitchell, who believes that the Championship Manager of the Season is destined to take the role at Old Trafford. Taking to ‘X’, the 27-year-old – who was an academy graduate at Manchester United – said that McKenna will return to the club he left in 2021 within 3-5 years.
After playing Ipswich last season I said they’d go back to back.
McKenna will manage Man united in 3-5 years save this tweet.
— Demetri Mitchell (@demetrimitche11) April 24, 2024
Of course, the ex-Tottenham Hotspur coach is no stranger to the 20-time English champions, having acted as a first team coach under both Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Meanwhile, Mitchell is currently recovering from an ACL injury which has kept him out of action since October. He is out of contract at St James’ Park at the end of the season, although it is believed that talks are underway on a fresh deal.
Writer’s View
Ipswich know that McKenna will not be at the club long-term, and they will be enjoying him whilst they can. He will likely stay put for another season, especially if they earn promotion to the Premier League. However, there doesn’t seem to be a passing week without another club linked with the 37-year-old.
Manchester United could be on the lookout for a new manager at the end of the season, although they will opt for experience over romance should that be the case. Their former coach does look destined for a shot at one of the ‘big six’ though, and those at the Theatre of Dreams will be watching his progress closely in the coming years.
