The most recent information on Chelsea’s hunt for a new head coach, with the Blues considering Kieran McKenna of Ipswich Town as a top candidate to succeed Mauricio Pochettino.
Kieran McKenna is a target for Chelsea in their search to replace Mauricio Pochettino (Image: Getty Images)
Football.london understands that Chelsea has communicated with Ipswich Town regarding their manager, Kieran McKenna.
The Northern Irishman was added to the Blues’ shortlist of potential successors, following Mauricio Pochettino’s amicable departure from the team earlier this week. After a historic season for the club, McKenna, 38, led the Tractor Boys back to the top flight for the first time in 22 years. Ipswich wants him to stay at Portman Road.
After such an amazing season in which Ipswich played free-flowing attacking football in the Championship while striking the right balance to defend firmly as well, McKenna has emerged as one of the top candidates for Chelsea. After McKenna moved the Tractor Boys up to the second division from League One in the previous season, it was their second consecutive promotion.
According to football.london, Chelsea has reached out to Ipswich to indicate their interest in trying to sign McKenna. But after Roberto De Zerbi’s abrupt departure, Brighton is also considering McKenna, so the Blues aren’t the only team interested in him.
To lead their ambitious long-term project, the west London club is seeking to hire a young head coach. It was once thought that Pochettino was that man, even though he led Chelsea to a European finish in his one and only season with the team because of an incredible finish to his season.
Nonetheless, the 52-year-old and the team decided to move on after an end-of-season review that concluded on Tuesday morning. Chelsea is considering McKenna as a potential replacement for Pochettino, but they are still very much open to other options.
Chelsea is also interested in Leicester City’s Enzo Maresca, who defeated McKenna to win the Championship title in the just finished 2023–24 campaign. The Italian head coach, who coached Manchester City under Pep Guardiola, is well-liked at Stamford Bridge following a standout Championship season in which he altered the Foxes’ playing philosophy.
Although a move for the German coach seems more difficult, Sebastian Hoeness has also been considered. It might be harder to pry the VfB Stuttgart manager away than McKenna and Maresca because it is already rumored that he rejected Bayern Munich to stay at the MHPArena.
