Sport

Man United ‘meet with Kieran McKenna’ as reports claim Erik ten Hag will be sacked after FA Cup final

Some sources are now claiming that Erik ten Hag will be sacked following the FA Cup final - regardless of the result.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 24th May 2024

As Erik ten Hag’s time at Manchester United looks as though it may be at an end, it seems the club are looking at potential replacements, with sources stating that they have already met with former under-18s coach, Kieran McKenna.

The Ipswich Town boss – who was recently voted the LMA’s Manager of the Year after getting Ipswich Town back into the Premier League for the first time in 22 years – has suddenly become one of the most in-demand names in the country, being linked with Brighton, Chelsea and now Man United.

According to Sky Sports, United have already met with McKenna following his successful promotion campaign in the Championship (just his second year as a senior men’s coach), with representatives now making it apparent that he is on the list of candidates to succeed ten Hag if he departs.

Following the reports, the story has since been backed up by the likes of The Athletic, who confirmed that the club has already contacted McKenna’s representatives, with The Guardian already claiming that United are now set on sacking ten Hag regardless of whether they win or lose.

Reports go on to claim that the likes of outgoing Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel, Brentford coach Thomas Frank and recently sacked Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino have all been named on United’s most immediate shortlist, but several other names have been floating around in recent weeks.

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Other names linked with the job have included former German national coach Hansi Flick, Sporting Lisbon coach, Ruben Amorim, and even Gareth Southgate at times – though the England boss was quick to rubbish the rumours ahead of Euro 2024 as “disrespectful”.

Speaking of paper talk before big games, it’s fair to say that the links with McKenna and talks around ten Hag come at a fairly awkward time for the club, with United taking on recently re-crowned Premier League champions Man City in just the second-ever Manchester derby FA Cup final this weekend.

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He was careful to be coy in an interview with Sky earlier this week, where he insisted the speculation is inevitable but that his focus is on “the future ahead” and looking back at what his side has achieved over the past two seasons, but the latest on ten Hag’s rumoured status at the club could change things.

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With McKenna securing back-to-back promotions with Ipswich, lifting them out of League One and now into the English top flight within just two seasons at the club, it’s clear that he’s gone on to become an adept coach in the short time since he left United.

Having been praised heavily for his work amongst the youth ranks and going on to become a key assistant during the best days of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s rollercoaster reign, it was long thought that McKenna was largely underrated – and that evaluation is now looking more convincing than ever.

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All that being said, this is all overlooking the assumption that the 38-year-old Irishman is the frontrunner and if he even feels he is ready to take the job, or that the likes of Chelsea won’t tempt him with a more convincing and immediate offer given that they are currently without a coach full-stop.

Let’s just say that if reports are to be believed, whether anything goes ahead between him and his former employers could very well come down to whether Wembley is lit up red or blue tomorrow evening – unless they haven’t been decided already, that is.

Manchester United are declining to comment on whether or not a decision has been made regarding Erik ten Hag’s future.

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Featured Images — Wikimedia Commons/Man United (via Instagram)

Sport

Pep Guardiola in talks over first international management role

Danny Jones Danny Jones Pep Guardiola odds on to become next Italian manager

Football icon and Manchester City legend Pep Guardiola is reportedly set for his first job since leaving the Etihad Stadium, as the Catalan head coach looks like he could be set to make his move into international management.

The generational manager, who has undoubtedly become one of, if not the greatest of all time, left Man City at the end of last season after a decade in East Manchester.

Stepping away from the sky blue side with 20 trophies in 10 years, he’s won pretty much everything there is to win – at least at club level, anyway.

With that in mind, multiple outlets are now claiming that Guardiola is getting ready to make his debut on the international circuit, already being heavily linked with a role as part of ‘gli Azzurri’.

Yes, as per Sky News’ sporting arm over in Italy, Pep is now rumoured to be the next person to take the job in their national team, which would be his first proper senior position in international football.

According to Sky, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) have already held meetings with the former Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City boss.

It remains unclear how advanced talks and/or negotiations have progressed up to this point, but it is said that fellow footballing veteran and AC Milan legend turned FIGC technical director, Paolo Maldini, has already travelled to meet the 55-year-old.

Believed to have been joined by former teammate and right-hand man Leonardo Araújo – who previously served as director at PSG – it looks to be more a case of whether Pep wants the job rather than if Italy want him.

From announcing a documentary series covering his final season at Man City, to even launching a dedicated ‘Decade of Pep’ fashion collection, it’s fair to say that both the club and the fan base are bidding a bittersweet goodbye.

Manchester City release new ‘The Decade Collection’ celebrating 10 years of Pep Guardiola
See it in full.

Guardiola is already thought to have been the frontrunner for the England job before ultimately extending his stay with the City Football Group (CFG), and The FA had to turn to Thomas Tuchel.

Pep has already made it clear that he can’t see himself ever managing the Spanish national team, remarking: “I am a Catalan. I don’t see myself ever managing Spain.”

Meanwhile, other names rumoured as options for the Italian manager’s job include Andrea Pirlo and a return by fellow ex-MCFC boss, Roberto Mancini. Can you see Pep pipping any of these to the post?

As for his former club and ‘second home’, Cityzens will be glad to hear that while it may be all change over at the Etihad Campus, there is plenty to be hopeful about – including some steps more in the right direction when it comes to tickets.

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Featured Images — Massimo Finizio/Steffen Prößdorf (via WikiCommons)/The Manc Group

Sport

England international and ex-Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan dies at 75

Danny Jones Danny Jones

Football veteran and legend of the English game, Kevin Keegan OBE, has sadly died at the age of 75.

A former Liverpool and Newcastle player, not to mention England international, turned Manchester City manager and even Three Lions boss, his death was announced on Monday, 20 July.

The news comes following a battle with illness since the start of the year, after it was revealed that he was tragically diagnosed with stage four stomach cancer back in January.

The original ‘King Kev’ before the likes of De Bruyne, also affectionately known in the footballing world as ‘Mighty Mouse’, is said to have passed away with key members of his close family by his side.

Confirmed via a public statement issued to Sky Sports journalist Pete Graves, they wrote: “It is with immense sadness that we announce that Kevin Keegan has passed away at the age of 75.

“The former England player and manager had been battling cancer and was surrounded by his wife and daughters in his final moments. “Kevin, a double Ballon d’Or winner, was a much-loved husband, father and grandfather.”

Put simply, he had an incredible career and leaves a lasting legacy.

It goes on to read: “The family would like to thank Kevin’s incredible medical team for all their support. This is a hugely difficult time, and they are requesting space and privacy.”

Naturally, tributes are already flooding in online, with ex-pros, pundits and fans alike labelling him among England’s best-loved father figures and characters, with one user notably dubbing him as “one of football’s good guys.”

Even at his fiery and most passionate best, he was still one of the most respected figures in the history of English football and the sporting world at large.

For instance, arguably his most iconic interview as Newcastle boss ahead of his team’s clash against Manchester United back in 1995/96 only showed how mild-mannered he often came across.

Our thoughts go out to his friends, family, former teammates and all those mourning the familiar face with a famously good head of hair.

Rest in peace to an icon of the domestic game.

Thanks for all kinds of memories, Keegs.

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Featured Images — Sky Sports Retro (screenshots via YouTube)/WikiCommons/Manchester City

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