Former Man United defender recalls the moment he knew Kieran McKenna would become a ‘top’ manager

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Former Manchester United youngster Max Taylor has pinpointed the moment he knew that Kieran McKenna would succeed as a manager.

Before taking the Ipswich Town job, McKenna worked at Man United coaching the youth sides.

He would also have a brief spell working alongside Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick during their respective spells.

McKenna has reunited with Mick Court as his new director of football, someone who was instrumental with him at Man United.

The Irishman had a huge impact on several youngsters, and Taylor always knew that his former boss would reach the top.

• READ MORE: Ipswich Town hero ‘willing’ to return to England after disastrous spell overseas

Why Kieran McKenna was tested to become a top manager

Taylor was speaking to the More than a Match podcast, where the Ipswich manager came up in conversation.

He was joined by D’mani Mellor, and they both agreed that the 39-year-old was destined for the top when the academy sides would beat the first team.

They said: “Do you know when I knew that he would be a top manager? When we used to go up against the first team, he used to set us up and we’d beat them.”

Mellor then added: “If you see what he’s done with the people that he has coached, they’ve all been successful in something, like we won like the league. We breezed it and it was all down to him.”

Kieran McKenna will manage in the Premier League again

With or without Ipswich, it would be a huge surprise if we didn’t see him in the Premier League before too long.

Chelsea and Man United were both linked with McKenna, as well as West Ham United and Brentford more recently.

As a young, talented coach with a track record of improving players, he is an attractive candidate for most clubs and it will be a battle for Ipswich to keep him beyond this season.