Why Kieran McKenna Would Suit Celtic Down to the Ground

Celtic continue their search for a new manager and have spoken to candidates this week.

Following Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation last month, the Scottish giants have been doing their due diligence as they look to bring in the right man for the job.

Celtic are second in the Premiership table as of the time of writing behind Hearts who have been rampant so far in the campaign.

The Hoops are still projected to win the title, however, with interim boss Martin O’Neill steadying the ship at Parkhead and keeping his side on the winning path with three domestic wins since he took over.

The Irishman will not be the permanent gaffer as, at 73, he has already acknowledged that he may be past that place in his career.

So the hunt goes on with Kjetil Knutsen among the Celtic boss candidate names that have been brought up over the past number of weeks.

Craig Bellamy and Nicky Hayen have both ruled themselves out of the running thus far while Wilfried Nancy of Columbus Crew has been mentioned as an option.

But many fans have been clamouring for Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna to take the reins in Glasgow and it is not particularly difficult to see why.

The Tractor Boys have gone from strength to strength over the past four years under McKenna, 39, who has been the ideal man for the club.

His credentials are clear to see and he was approached by both Chelsea and Crystal Palace last year as each club had their eyes on the young and ambitious coach.

That interest from the big clubs in the Premier League came after he had guided Ipswich to the top flight as runners up of the EFL Championship table in 2024.

And despite being relegated, the club stuck with their boss and are again in the scrap for the playoffs this season, albeit they are seventh in the division right now.

But how well does McKenna suit Celtic?

We at FootballBlog took a look at his tactical plan and some other elements of his management style to narrow it down…

Why Kieran McKenna tactics suit Celtic

McKenna has had a rather consistent set up at Ipswich Town for the vast majority of his time at Portman Road.

The Northern Irishman deploys a 4-2-3-1 system which would certainly suit the current squad at Celtic Park.

The Hoops played a similar formation under Rodgers and have adapted the same model with their interim staff who seem to feel it unnecessary to tinker.

The two sitting midfield positions would be ideal for captain Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate while Benji Nygren would feel more comfortable as a No.10 with a few wingers to choose from.

McKenna could also get the best out of Brentford transfer target Daizen Maeda should the Japanese decide to stay beyond the January window.

Rather than using the traditional high press Celtic are known for in big games, McKenna favours a counter-press. However that may work against him at Parkhead as the team would be expected to have the lion’s share of possession.

Counter-attacking football, rather than domination, would take some getting used to.

Time for McKenna to take fresh challenge?

As we have noted, it has been four years since Ipswich gave McKenna the chance at the big job which he took on as a young coach at 35.

He has competed in the EFL Championship and done it well but he has also experienced Premier League life even if just for one season.

ITFC are seventh in the league and have managed six wins and five draws from their first 14 league outings with three defeats sprinkled in there.

Celtic can offer the opportunity to regularly compete for league titles and their manager will get the chance to test himself on the European stage at the highest level in the Champions League and Europa League against elite coaches.

Celtic vs Rangers is also a fixture known worldwide as one of the fiercest derbies anywhere and the chance to manage that one doesn’t come around often.

Of course, there’s also the personal pull having grown up a Celtic supporter.

What Kieran McKenna said about Celtic job

McKenna was recently asked directly about links with the vacancy at Celtic, but he was coy with his answer.

He didn’t outright dismiss the thought, but he did say: “It’s not something I’ve given any thought to and where, you know, any part of my concentration is this week to be honest.

“I know I’ve got a really special job here at a special club, a massive football club that I have and have built a great affinity to and we’re in a really important season and a really important stage of the season.

“We’ve got a big week coming up, three big games starting on Saturday at QPR, so honestly anything outside of that hasn’t touched my radar this week.

“I’ve not had any of those conversations or anything of the like.”

On being a Hoops fan, McKenna said: “Of course, we all grow up as football supporters. I think people are lucky enough to work in the game and have different affinity with different clubs.

“But as I said, I’m really privileged to be in the position I am. I know the size, the significance, the history of this football club as well.

“And I think when you’re in the honoured position to manage this football club, there’s no time or no space to think or discuss any other football clubs. “You’re going to settle and do your very, very best in the role that you’re in.

“I work here as if I’m going to be here forever, to be honest. I’ve done since the first day I was here. We try and do everything for the long-term good of the football club.

“When I arrived, it was always going to be a long-term project. You hope that it’s going to be a long-term project you’ll be involved in.

“But for the club, it was going to be a long-term project. We’re still very much in the middle of that.

“You look outside and you can see a lot of cranes and work going on out there. It probably represents every part of the football club. I work as if I’m always going to be a Ipswich manager.

“I know in reality I won’t be. There will be some stage in the future that I won’t be for whatever reason. But it never detracts from every day trying to do the right thing for the long-term of the club.”