Two former Manchester United coaches are proving the doubters all wrong

One dream achieved and another very much still alive: Kieran McKenna and Michael Carrick are taking the touchline by storm after leaving Manchester United and forging their own managerial careers.

The former has taken Ipswich Town back into the Championship on the back of a remarkable run of form, while Carrick will look to lead his Boro boys to play-off success in the second tier.

At just 36 years of age, McKenna has handled the expectation at Portman Road brilliantly. A gamble appointment on paper back in December 2021, the young coach got down to work and built on an 11th-placed finish in emphatic fashion.

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Ipswich sealed the deal last weekend with their 13th win in 14 games, having netted 43 goals and conceded just two. It has been a destructive route over the finish line, with the Tractor Boys ploughing recent opponents for fun.

And Championship clubs will already be on red alert, wondering how far McKenna can take this Suffolk sleeping giant. McKenna has been well-backed and trusted by Ipswich's American owners, with his stock as a coach only heading one way. The ex-United and Tottenham coach will know he is on to a good thing - working for a club who share his aspirations and ambition to keep progressing and not look back.

League One has shown its capability to suck big clubs in and keep them there for far too long. McKenna has played a crucial part in setting Ipswich free and restoring pride in the town. With the third tier as strong as it's perhaps ever been, Ipswich overcame their worrying February wobble and fought off competition. Scoring 99 goals and conceding just 33 is a colossal effort for any team in any division.

Having come in for his fair share