Forget Conte: Man Utd Must Appoint Kieran McKenna to Replace Carrick

· GiveMeSport

Man Utd must appoint this 'world-class' free agent coach instead of Antonio Conte to replace Michael Carrick.

Carrick did very well during his interim stint, winning 12 of his 17 games in charge last season to help the team finish 3rd in the Premier League and return to the Champions League following two consecutive campaigns outside of the competition.

But since joining permanently this summer, United have won just two games in all competitions. The Red Devils claimed a 5-2 win over newly-promoted Ipswich Town and defeated Azerbaijani outfit Sabah 4-0 in the Champions League, but are now winless since that game, having suffered defeat against Man City and Brighton, while being held to draws by Fulham and Tottenham.

There are some serious question marks over Carrick's credentials for the role, considering his time at Middlesbrough is hardly considered to have been a riveting success. But he's also struggled to implement any clear style of play since taking over, has failed to find a way to stop the defence being so leaky, and is struggling to see the team score freely.

The summer transfer window certainly didn't help him, with the board failing to give him all the pieces he needs to be competitive, but a manager's job is to get the best out of what you have, and he simply isn't doing that.

There has been some speculation that the club are looking at a move for Antonio Conte as a potential replacement, with the Italian a Premier League and Serie A winner, and someone with a reputation for being one of the best around.

But Conte's explosive attitude and strong demands would ultimately end with everything being ripped up and destroyed from within, and that's not what the club needs.

However, there are a number of top managers available right now who would be better options, and there is one in particular that the club should be looking extra closely at bringing in if they have the opportunity.

One of the top young managers in Europe is Kieran McKenna, who made his name as a youth coach at Old Trafford before eventually becoming an assistant to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, before leading Ipswich to three promotions in four seasons.

McKenna left Portman Road in the summer as he wanted a break from football, but he was spotted at Old Trafford earlier in the campaign watching the team. If he's able to be convinced to make a return, he could be an ideal appointment.

The Northern Irishman knows the club well, knows the demands, and knows the expectations that would be placed upon him. But he also has a very clear style of play, that is suited to the English game and Premier League, and would undoubtedly continue the traditions of the first-team and academy.

Described as 'world-class' , McKenna would relish the opportunity to take over at a big club, and United would have the chance to save their season by making the decision quickly.

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