THE name of Kieran McKenna hasn’t figured once in the conversations about who starts next season in charge of Manchester United.

But with all due respect to Michael Carrick, Ipswich boss McKenna — who made history after all of Saturday’s finale drama — should at least be getting a mention.

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the hierarchy must decide who will be the next permanent Man Utd boss Credit: Getty

Michael Carrick has been manager since Ruben Amorim was sacked in January Credit: Alamy

His CV is miles more impressive than interim United gaffer Carrick, who is still favourite to get the job on a permanent basis.

It’s true McKenna didn’t have a glittering playing career like Carrick, who won  five Prem titles, the Champions League and other less precious baubles.

McKenna was forced to hang up his boots at the age of 22 at one of Carrick’s other former clubs Tottenham, due to hip problems.

And it was there he started earning his spurs as a coach, leaving the academy set-up to join United as head of their Under-18s.

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Alongside Carrick, he was promoted to the first-team coaching staff by Jose Mourinho at the start of the 2018-19 season and when the Special

One was sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer kept both of them on.

McKenna stayed in that job when the Norwegian got the boot, while Carrick got three games in interim control before Ralf Rangnick took over five years ago.

That’s when, in November 2021, the paths of the Northern Irishman and Carrick parted.

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Kieran McKenna has been celebrating after guiding Ipswich to promotion Credit: Getty

While Carrick looked for work, McKenna —  already seen as one of the game’s brightest young coaches — was made Tractor Boys boss in December 2021 — and has lived up to that glowing reputation ever since.

He now has three promotions in four seasons, starting out in League One and then two from the Championship.

McKenna is also the first manager — including the great Sir Alf Ramsey — to lead Town into the top flight twice.

The 39-year-old is also the first at Ipswich to gain promotion a year after relegation and now has 222 games in charge under his belt.

Man Utd ratings vs Liverpool

MAN UTD were involved in a thriller as they overcame Liverpool 3-2 at Old Trafford.
A brilliant start looked to have been thrown away before Kobbie Mainoo came to the rescue.
Here’s how the players rated…
Senne Lammens – 5Endured his worst moment in goal for United as his dreadful pass out to Alexis Mc Allister handed Liverpool’s equaliser on a plate.
The Belgian had a relatively quiet first half before playing a huge role in United imploding. Recovered somewhat to hack the ball off the line after a scramble.
Diogo Dalot – 5Worked to get forward as much as possible before the break but should have closed the gap on Szoboszlai before his goal.
Harry Maguire – 6After keeping United’s strong defensive shape in the first half, Maguire fell apart in the second.
Sold himself too easy to allow Szoboszlai to finish. And he continued to be plagued by more shaky moments as the game dragged on.
Ayden Heaven – 6Heaven had dealt with his three game cover for Lisandro Martinez with such maturity.
He will only keep developing at this level after a chaotic grudge match between the rivals.
Luke Shaw – 6Provided the cross for the second goal and defended well against Jeremie Frimpong, who never got to use his pace advantage against the left back. 
Fell apart a little after the break as he was booked for a foul on Frimpong and booted the ball out for corner under little pressure.
Casemiro – 6The midfielder was pivotal in keeping United’s heads after Liverpool equalised but struggled to stem the flows of the visitors’ attacks.
He headed two free-kicks clear but should have done better when Bruno Fernandes from him a point-blank range.
Kobbie Mainoo – 8The Old Trafford announcer said “Manchester born and bred” when Mainoo fired in United’s winner as the academy graduate endured his crowning moment following a torrid 16 months.
Such mature and an esteemed performance from the England hopeful. The 21-year-old has improved defensively and was one of the most fouled players of the first half, with Mac Allister going unpunished for a trip.
Bruno Fernandes – 8The skipper was electric again and was central to cutting through Liverpool like a hot knife through butter.
He was denied matching the Premier League assist record after Freddie Woodman pushed his cross onto Sesko .
He came inches away from tripling United’s lead, which ended up being more important when it was 2-2. He was incensed with the referee after the interval.
Matheus Cunha – 7The Brazilian was a welcome return for Carrick after missing the Brentford win through injury. Cunha left everything out there.
His opener was his ninth goal of the campaign and he offered more threat on the left wing than Amad. Moved to No9 in the final 20 minutes.
Bryan Mbeumo – 7Mbeumo has been stronger since being dropped against Leeds, but United are still waiting to see the player who started the season so strongly.
His back heel that hit the post was classy but proved pivotal as Liverpool levelled shortly after.
Benjamin Sesko – 7The 22-year-old, who plenty wrote off far too quickly, is now United’s top goalscorer of the season, with 11 in his debut campaign.
He was a handle for Virgil van Dijk and gave Ibrahima Konate the run around, with the Frenchman exacting revenge by launching the striker into the advertising boards. It might have injured him to be point of being replaced at half-time.
SUBS
Amad (for Sesko, 46) – 5Endured a horrible introduction after a lazy pass was picked up Szoboszlai on the half-way line before the Liverpool star’s goal.
Did well to head a cross into the box which fell to Mainoo for his goal.
Patrick Dorgu (for Mbeumo, 76) – 5First minutes since pulling his hamstring at Arsenal. Fumbled on the floor when Cunha put him through.
Despite being low on game time, Dorgu fired well wide in stoppage time.
Joshua Zirkzee (for Cunha, 85) – N/A
Leny Yoro (for Fernandes 90+5) – N/A
Check out more on Man Utd.

Carrick’s career on the touchline stretched to 153 with yesterday’s clash against Liverpool but he has still to taste any  success other than pulling together a United side that had turned into zombies under  Ruben Amorim.

He became Middlesbrough boss in October 2022 on a far higher budget than McKenna enjoyed, even in his one season in the Prem.

The ex–England star enjoyed a fine start, too, finishing fourth only to lose out in the Championship play-off semis to Coventry.

In January 2024, Carrick oversaw a last-four 6-2  Carabao Cup aggregate bashing by Chelsea and at the end of last season he was sacked following a tenth-place finish.

So not exactly a brilliant record by comparison to the man who joined the  Portman Road party after Saturday’s sweeping 3–0 win over QPR.

Two years ago, United did consider McKenna as a possible replacement for Erik ten Hag, with Chelsea also interested in him.

Both clubs may well have come to regret they didn’t take a chance on him then.

Carrick was brought back because of  his playing history with the club as a classy  midfielder and while he was at first seen as a short-term fix, the odds are he will  be sticking around now.

But compare his managerial career with McKenna’s over the long haul and there is only one winner.

If United part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his men in suits do proper due diligence before making a decision then McKenna’s record shows he deserves real consideration.