Meet Jose Mourinho's baby-faced lieutenant... former Tottenham youth player Kieran McKenna, just 32, is now the driving force in Manchester United's new era (and he masterminds attacking football)
* Kieran McKenna has been appointed as Jose Mourinho's new first-team coach
* The former Red Devils youth coach has been promoted to the senior side
* Mourinho parted ways with his long-time assistant Rui Faria earlier this summer
* He was a midfielder during his career and joined Tottenham on a scholarship
* A persistent hip injury forced his retirement in 2009 but he turned to coaching
* McKenna oversaw a vibrant, high-scoring style of play that attracted Mourinho
When Romelu Lukaku powered in his second goal against Burnley, Jose Mourinho sprang to his feet and pumped his fists. To his right, Michael Carrick did likewise.
To the Manchester United manager’s left, celebrating just as enthusiastically, was a less familiar face. New to the United dugout this season is Kieran McKenna, promoted to the position of first-team coach after Rui Faria unexpectedly left Old Trafford in May.
McKenna is only 32 but the baby-faced coach has risen quickly into a prominent role at the club after joining from Tottenham in 2016. He managed United’s Under 18s last season, overseeing a vibrant brand of high-scoring football, and was picked by Mourinho to fill the gap left by Faria, his trusted aide since 2001.
Kieran McKenna, circled, has been appointed as Jose Mourinho's new first-team coach. The former Red Devils youth-team coach has been promoted to the senior side this summer
Mourinho may tread cautiously over young players but he has a history of looking within when jobs come up on his staff. Brendan Rodgers, Andre Villas-Boas, and Aitor Karanka have moved into management after working under him.
This summer, Mourinho could have recruited any number of more established coaches from across the country or abroad but he chose a Northern Irishman already in the building.
Age-group results and performances were a major factor. McKenna’s side scored four goals or more in eight matches during 2017-18 on the way to winning the Under-18 Premier League title.
Players speak of an innovative coach who researches opponents meticulously but allows for spontaneity in sessions. ‘He changed everything,’ winger Indy Boonen told the Manchester Evening News. ‘The way we trained was how the opponent played on the Saturday. If you played against West Brom, you trained how they are and focused on their weaknesses.’
Such an approach clearly appealed to Mourinho, who now trusts McKenna to put on sessions for stars on big salaries. Making the jump from instructing young players to those long established is tricky but McKenna is described as a popular presence at Carrington and a video from the day his Under 18s won the title by beating Manchester City shows the warmth he can create. As he speaks into the camera the group gradually assemble behind him and launch an attack with their water bottles.
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KIERAN MCKENNA FACT FILE
AGE - 32
POSITION - Midfielder
PLAYER
Retired in 2009 at Tottenham
Made seven appearances for Northern Ireland u21s
MANAGER
2014-2016 - Coached Tottenham Under-18s
2016-2018 - Coached Manchester United Under-18s
2018 - Appointed Manchester United first-team coach
|
McKenna was a midfielder during his career and joined Tottenham on a scholarship in 2002. A persistent hip injury forced his retirement in 2009 but he then did his coaching badges
He managed United’s Under 18s last term, overseeing a vibrant brand of high-scoring football
Ismail Azzaoui, who played under McKenna at Spurs but is now at Wolfsburg, said the coach becomes close with his players. ‘He knew when I was not feeling well, always coming to me and asking, “What was the problem? How can I help?”’ Azzaoui told the MEN.
That understanding inevitably comes from McKenna’s own days as a player. Born and raised in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, McKenna was a midfielder and captained Fermanagh's Milk Cup junior side before joining Spurs on a scholarship in 2002.
He turned professional a year later and was capped for Northern Ireland up to Under-21 level, but a persistent hip injury forced his retirement in 2009. Instead of dropping out of the game he undertook his coaching badges and progressed through the ranks at White Hart Lane.
‘If you knew him then, you know why he is now a very talented coach,’ former Spurs manager Martin Jol told the MEN. ‘He was a little bit quiet but every time he spoke about football, he spoke sensibly. He was serious, conscientiousness, loved football, was passionate, quite aggressive and wanted to win.’
In 2014, McKenna had the opportunity to join Liverpool when Alex Inglethorpe left Spurs to become the Anfield club's academy director. McKenna was even said to have met Rodgers. But after deliberations he declined a move.
When United came calling however it was a different story. This was the club he had supported as a boy. He had visited Old Trafford in 1994 to watch Steve Bruce and Bryan Robson lift the title. Roy Keane was his favourite player.
McKenna said: ‘To go to Manchester United there is no bigger move you can make. It’s a dream come true really.’
His quick move up came as a surprise but reward for talent and application. We will undoubtedly be seeing more of him.
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6126115/Meet-Jose-Mourinhos-new-right-hand-man-Kieran-McKenna.html