Man United next manager: Kieran McKenna, Michael Carrick updates
Man United should turn to either Michael Carrick or Kieran McKenna should they decide to pull the trigger on incumbent manager Erik ten Hag.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, former England international goalkeeper Paul Robinson believes that either Carrick, 43, or McKenna, 38, could ‘do a job’ at Man United but admits they both still have a lot to learn.
Erik ten Hag, 54, is under immense pressure after leading Man United to their worst-ever start to a Premier League season, sitting down in 14th after their first seven games.
Current Middlesbrough boss Carrick has previously taken charge at Old Trafford, overseeing three matches following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dismissal in 2021, winning two and drawing one.
Kieran McKenna & Michael Carrick backed to take Man United job
McKenna, who was a coach at Man United under Solskjaer, has been a revelation since taking over at Ipswich, leading them from League One to the Premier League.
While both managers know the club inside out neither has experience managing at the top level, which could be a sticking point for the Man United board.
“He’s done it before on an interim basis hasn’t he, as a caretaker basis over a short time”, Robinson told Football Insider.
“He’s proven that he was a coach, he served his time as a coach underneath some quality managers.
“I played with Carrick at Tottenham and you could see from very early on, not necessarily that he was going to be a coach or a manager but you can see his football brain.
“A very clear thinker, he played very much like Glenn Hoddle did.
“I don’t think as good as Glenn Hoddle but in the same way he could read the game and he understood football and you could see that there was always going to be a role for him.
“As Middlesbrough manager, the way they finished the season last season and the way they’ve started it this year, I think he’s proved that he can do a job.
“He’s not necessarily on one of the biggest budgets, he’s got a fantastic owner there at Middlesbrough who’s backed him at a very stable football club and he’s got results.
“He’s developed players as well he’s made younger players better and he’s not been afraid to give younger players their opportunity.
“Sometimes because they’re good enough, sometimes because he’s had to because of the size of the squad that he’s got.
“In a similar way to Kieran McKenna, he’s a good young coach and we won’t know until somebody the size of Manchester United or a Premier League club takes a chance on him.
“Do I think he can do it? Absolutely I think he can do it, but I think the job as a Manchester United manager is not just a manager.
“You’ve got to be a politician, you’ve got to face the media and I think that’s a whole different side of it that he’s probably not experienced as yet.”
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