Former Manchester United and England midfielder Nicky Butt has named Ipswich Town manager Kieran Mckenna as the best coach he has ever seen.
McKenna has built up a reputation as one of England’s brightest coaches after accruing an impressive coaching résumé at the age of just 38.
The Northern Irishman saw his playing career end early due to injury but quickly climbed the coaching ladder at Tottenham and then United.
Eventually serving as an assistant manager under Jose Mourinho, McKenna then landed his first managerial gig at Portman Road when Ipswich were in League One.
In his first full season in charge, McKenna led Ipswich back to the Championship before surpassing all expectations in the following campaign in the second tier, guiding his side to back-to-back promotions and into the Premier League for the first time in 22 years.
Although their return to the top flight has proved tricky so far, with Ipswich yet to win any of their first ten games, former Red Devils star Butt believes that the club should count themselves lucky to have such a talented coach at the helm.
‘I am telling you now, Kieran McKenna is one of the best coaches I’ve ever seen on the grass, ever,’ he said on talkSPORT.
‘I’ll put him next to anybody I’ve seen, and that’s including Carlos Quiroz, all the great coaches that I’ve worked with, Steve McClaren.
‘He’s as good as any of them, but he’s having a bad time at Ipswitch. Why? Because he’s in charge of a team that isn’t one of the top teams in the Premier League.
‘He’s just had two promotions, so it’s going to be a difficult year for them.
‘If he went in at a top team like an Arsenal or somewhere, I’m pretty sure he’d be flying. And I think that’s the honest answer.’
In the summer, McKenna courted interest from United and Chelsea but turned both clubs down before agreeing a new, long-term contract to remain at Portman Road.
After falling victim to a Jordan Ayew’s last-ditch equaliser equaliser against Leicester City last weekend, the Tractor Boys are still in search of their first win of the season.
They sit two points from safety as they prepare for the trip to Tottenham on Sunday.
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