The possibility of Erik ten Hag losing his Manchester United job this summer is not new. Keeping the Dutch manager for his last year on the job seems quite improbable. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/manchester-united-tv-schedule/">United</a> may not make it to Europe this season, thus it’s more probable that they will fire him after a dismal season.



Even if injuries haven’t helped, the ex-Ajax coach deserves a lot of criticism for his tremendous struggles this season. The Red Devils will likely miss out on <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/where-to-watch-uefa-champions-league-and-europa-league-on-us-tv-and-internet/">UEFA Champions League</a>, capping off a disastrous term.



Similarly, they have not been successful in winning any big trophies. Although, they will still face Manchester City in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/fa-cup-tv-schedule/">FA Cup</a> final; whether or not they manage to finish the season well is an open question.



Ten Hag’s side, however, has performed poorly, and it has not capitalized on recent acquisitions. Poor transfers have not brought life to this dismal Manchester United squad



As a result, new co-owner <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/ratcliffe-eyes-massive-man-united-squad-overhaul-this-summer-20240222-WST-491054.html">Sir Jim Ratcliffe</a> is looking to liven things up at the failing giants at Old Trafford. In recent months, there has been an increase in the number of links pointing to possible substitutes. Various media have since connected several coaches to the position, including Thomas Frank, Thomas Tuchel, and Gareth Southgate.



<h2>New surprising name emerges</h2>



One unexpected candidate to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United after the current season is <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/crystal-palace-fails-to-get-ipswich-manager-stays-with-hodgson-20240213-WST-489324.html">Kieran McKenna</a>. He has risen through the ranks after two promotions at Portman Road. Several other Premier League teams are showing serious interest in Ipswich’s manager.



“He [McKenna] is believed to be under serious consideration to take over from Ten Hag should United decide to bring an end to his tenure after a disappointing second season in charge, with the co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe poised to review his position after the FA Cup final against Manchester City a week on Saturday,” <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/may/14/manchester-united-ponder-move-for-kieran-mckenna-if-ten-hag-departs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Guardian</a> says.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240515_WST_506869_Kieran-McKenna-OGS-1200x670_d5003790.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-506926" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/Kieran-McKenna-OGS-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/Kieran-McKenna-OGS-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/Kieran-McKenna-OGS-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/Kieran-McKenna-OGS.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



United and McKenna’s agents have reportedly already established contact. However, their sources indicate that it is still early in the process. After six years as an assistant coach at Old Trafford, McKenna took over as head coach of Ipswich in December 2021.



Initially coaching the Under-18s squad, McKenna remained with boyhood club Manchester United from 2016 until 2021. He went on to work with Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and Ralf Rangnick after that.



But several players reportedly disliked him near the conclusion of his tenure with the Red Devils, as per <a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/manchester-united-open-talks-with-kieran-mckenna-despite-claims-ipswich-boss-disliked-by-old-trafford-stars-b1157856.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Standard</a>. Speculations circulated that players didn’t receive well his training techniques and demeanor.



<h2>Kieran McKenna is a noted Manchester United supporter</h2>



However, United supposedly has ample respect for McKenna because of his part in leading the Suffolk team to their first Premier League participation since 2002. This past season, the Englishman helped the Blues earn promotion to the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/watch-premier-league-on-us-tv-internet/">Premier League</a>. He has a 193-goal, 194-point total in his first two full seasons as a senior manager. 



For as long as he can remember, McKenna has been an ardent fan of Manchester United.



“To go to Manchester United, there is no bigger move you can make. It’s a dream come true really. I was a massive United fan. My dad brought me over to my first game in the 1994 season to see them lift the Premier League trophy”, he said in 2016.



PHOTOS: IMAGO

United eye familiar face, newcomer to EPL to replace Ten Hag

The possibility of Erik ten Hag losing his Manchester United job has meant Kieran McKenna, a former Old Trafford assistant, may replace him.

Crystal Palace Chairman Steve Parish is holding out hope that Roy Hodgson can turn things around as manager. However, mounting pressure is making the prospect of keeping the 76-year-old on board more challenging. Parish has been working to identify and select <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/roy-hodgsons-time-up-at-crystal-palace-who-could-replace-him-20240205-WST-487766.html">candidates to replace Hodgson</a>, but none of the potential replacements are ready to commit to the project.



The most recent rumor to move to <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/crystal-palace-tv-schedule/">Crystal Palace</a> was Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna. However, McKenna is not willing to leave Ipswich Town while the side fights for promotion. Currently, Ipswich is fourth in the Championship, which would set the club up for a spot in the promotion playoffs. Recent struggles have sunk Ipswich from when it was second in the league table, a spot it held from September until just 10 days ago. Over its last nine games, Ipswich has picked up nine points on the back of six draws and one win.



Therefore, the hurdle is luring McKenna away from Ipswich in a pivotal part of the campaign. Likewise, Crystal Palace wants to make a move in the summer, because any move for McKenna right now would require a compensation package. McKenna still has one more season left on his contract after the current campaign, and he has turned Ipswich Town around rapidly.



“My full focus and commitment is with Ipswich and the season that we’re having and the next game ahead,” <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/feb/13/crystal-palace-kieran-mckenna-ipswich-manager-roy-hodgson" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">McKenna said</a> about the links to Selhurst Park.



<h2>Crystal Palace wants the manager who is bordering consecutive promotions</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240213_WST_489324_Kieran-McKenna-1200x670_69f4ff00.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-489327" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/02/Kieran-McKenna-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/02/Kieran-McKenna-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/02/Kieran-McKenna-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/02/Kieran-McKenna.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



McKenna is one of the top managers available in the English game currently. He is a former assistant and youth coach at Manchester United and Tottenham. Now, McKenna has been at Portman Road for just over two years. He took over in the middle of the 2021/22 campaign. That year, Ipswich finished 11th in League One. In his first full season at the club, Ipswich Town secured promotion to the Championship. This season, Ipswich was a common pick to rise into the Premier League. A blistering start to the campaign included 11 wins out of the side’s first 13 games. Ipswich and Leicester City created a large gap in the Championship table.



That success may have tapered off. Still, what McKenna has been able to do with Ipswich is drawing the attention of several Premier League clubs. For example, West Ham United is showing interest in bringing McKenna to London. David Moyes, much like Roy Hodgson, has been under the microscope this season. In a similar run of form to Palace, dismal results from the Hammers are leading to increased pressure on the manager. 



<h2>Palace board under scrutiny of supporters</h2>



Even though Parish may want to wait until the summer to fend off West Ham, Crystal Palace fans continue to voice their frustrations with the club. Major defeats against Arsenal and rivals Brighton preceded the recent loss against Chelsea. At each game, supporters waved banners that called the club weak as it sits idle during this run. Crystal Palace does have games against relegation candidates <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/everton-tv-schedule/">Everton</a> and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/burnley-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers/">Burnley</a>. Results there could be crucial to the future of Hodgson.



PHOTOS: IMAGO.

Crystal Palace fails to get Ipswich manager, stays with Hodgson

Crystal Palace Chairman Steve Parish is holding out hope that Roy Hodgson can turn things around as manager.

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United eye familiar face, newcomer to EPL to replace Ten Hag

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Crystal Palace fails to get Ipswich manager, stays with Hodgson