Solskjaer and Mourinho, Ipswich success - Everything said about Kieran McKenna amid Man United links

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna is reportedly a candidate to take on the Manchester United job should Erik ten Hag be sacked.

The 38-year-old left his position as assistant manager at United in 2021 after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked and Ralf Rangnick appointed as the interim. He joined the Tractor Boys four days later and has never looked back.

McKenna earned promotion to the Championship in his first full season in charge before remarkably leading Ipswich to automatic promotion to the Premier League this campaign. Now, The Guardian understands the head coach is on INEOS' radar should they choose to part ways with Ten Hag who has struggled this season.

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He joins Brentford boss Thomas Frank on the list of outside hopefuls for the United vacancy if the role becomes vacant. Amid McKenna's links to an Old Trafford return, MEN Sport has taken a closer look on what has been said about him.

It was Jose Mourinho who spotted McKenna's potential when he was working with the Reds' U18s. He was only the legendary Portuguese manager's assistant for 24 games in total but in that time, the Englishman felt he had earned the trust of the United man.

"He's [Mourinho] been very open with his staff as he has been at different clubs, he's very open and honest at the start with 'this is what I want, what I need you to do' and really clear with it," McKenna explained in December 2022. "Your responsibilities are really clear with Jose but when you earn the trust, the conversations change a little bit and maybe he wants your opinion more, can discuss things more on a level.

"Of course, you're respectful as a