Crystal Palace are now interested in hiring Kieran McKenna – who left Manchester United for Ipswich in 2021.
The Daily Mail believe that the south Londoners are admirers of the 37-year-old, with Adi Hütter and Steve Cooper also in contention to replace Roy Hodgson.
However, the 75-year-old himself could even remain at Selhurst Park.
What’s the story?
Well, the Daily Mail believe Crystal Palace are keen for Hodgson to stay another year, and if he expresses a willingness to do so, it is likely that a contract extension will be signed.
However – in the event that he doesn’t want to stay on – Steve Parish is lining up alternatives, with Kieran McKenna a new name in the Crystal Palace managerial saga.
The London-born tactician left his role as a first-team coach to Ralf Rangnick at Manchester United in December 2021 after being offered the chance to take over at Ipswich.
McKenna won seven of his first ten games in charge at Portman Road – keeping seven clean sheets in the process – and guided the Tractor Boys to promotion from League One this season following a remarkable 19-game unbeaten run to end the campaign.
The Ipswich boss – who actually left Tottenham for Manchester United – may be young and inexperienced, but nobody can argue that his start to life in football management has been nothing short of phenomenal.
Crystal Palace should take a gamble on Kieran McKenna
Of course – despite his excellent work at Ipswich – it would be a risk for Crystal Palace to hire someone who has never managed in the Championship before, let alone the Premier League.
However, it could pay off spectacularly.
Burnley took a risk when hiring Vincent Kompany in 2022, but the Belgian steered the Clarets to the Championship title with a total of 101 points this season.
Arsenal also took a risk with Mikel Arteta, who had no senior management experience at the time of his arrival, and almost won the Premier League this term.
Crystal Palace fans have watched their side hire the likes of Tony Pulis, Neil Warnock, Alan Pardew, Sam Allardyce and Hodgson over the years, coaches who are respected, but generally stick to the same, arguably outdated, ideas.
Maybe now, it is time to move away from managers like them for a modern option in McKenna.
Leave a Reply