Sunderland are attempting an audacious move to replace Tony Mowbray with Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna.
According to TEAMtalk, Sunderland have identified McKenna and Reim’s manager Will Still as prospective replacements.
The Black Cats parted ways with Mowbray on Monday, after he had spent 16 months leading the club and transforming it into a team capable of fighting for promotion.
During his successful tenure at the club, the 60-year-old employed an appealing brand of football and nurtured a slew of talented players such as Jack Clarke, Dan Neil, and Trai Hume.
Although the veteran didn’t really put a foot wrong considering Sunderland’s current position in the play-offs, his exit felt unavoidable.
The North East giants want a manager who can give dynamism, modernity, and youth, which Mowbray can not provide. Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna, on the other hand, provides.
The 37-year-old has brought an all-encompassing, attacking style of football to East Anglia, propelling the Tractor Boys from League One to second position in the Championship.
Whilst Sunderland’s ambition to prise McKenna from Portman Road is admirable, he could be unattainable.
Is Kieran McKenna unattainable?
McKenna took over as manager of Ipswich Town in December 2021, when the club was suffering in the third tier.
The Northern Irish manager, described as’really extraordinary’ by Jamie Carragher for the great job he’s done in East Anglia, has emerged as one of the hottest properties in English football.
Given how rapidly he changed Ipswich Town from a team in decline to one dreaming of a return to the Premier League, the above statement is correct, while his track record speaks eloquently about the unwavering constancy he expects from his players.
This season, he’s won 16 of 23 games in all competitions, averaging 2.26 goals per game and a stunning 69.57% victory percentage.
That is a record that any manager in the world would be proud of, including Pep Guardiola, and he is achieving it in one of the most difficult leagues in the English pyramid.
Indeed, McKenna is establishing a dynasty at Portman Road and leaving a legacy that he thinks will live on in Ipswich mythology by taking the club to the Premier League.
Given his current position, having led his team to second place in the Championship, it’s quite doubtful he’ll leave to take on a role at Sunderland, who are currently 18 points below the automatic promotion positions.
That said, the allure of moving to such a prestigious club with the ambition they are showing could persuade him to move to the North East.
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