The Premier League managerial merry-go-round is already spinning, and one name is rising to the top of Crystal Palace's shortlist: Kieran McKenna. The Ipswich Town boss has caught the Eagles' eye as they search for a successor to Oliver Glasner, and his players are reportedly bracing for his departure.
McKenna, just 39 years old, has been nothing short of sensational at Portman Road. After guiding Ipswich back to the Premier League at the first attempt following relegation, he secured a remarkable third promotion during his tenure. It's the kind of story that makes football fans believe in fairy tales—and it's the kind of work that makes Premier League clubs take notice.
According to the Daily Mail, McKenna has admirers at Selhurst Park, and his "sensational" reputation has spread across the top flight. Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion have previously shown interest, underlining just how highly he's regarded in English football. But Palace might be the most intriguing suitor yet.
McKenna remains under contract until June 2028, so any club hoping to lure him away would need to pay a significant compensation package. Yet, for Palace, the investment could be worth it. McKenna has a proven ability to build competitive teams through smart recruitment and clear coaching principles—exactly what the Eagles need as they look to establish themselves as a consistent Premier League force.
What makes McKenna so appealing? He's a coach who can turn limited resources into a winning formula. At Ipswich, he's shown he can survive in the Premier League while remaining financially constrained—a challenge that might actually excite him more than a big-money project. For Palace, that resilience and tactical clarity could be the perfect antidote to a season of uncertainty.
If the Eagles can't land Andoni Iraola, they should be all over McKenna. He has that "something special" that top clubs crave, and he could be the high-octane successor to Glasner that Palace fans are crying out for. The Eagles could even strengthen their hand by winning the Conference League and securing Europa League football—the allure of leading Palace into European competition might be too tempting for McKenna to resist.
For now, McKenna has shown no indication he wants to leave Ipswich. But in football, loyalty is often tested by opportunity. And at Selhurst Park, the opportunity is growing by the day.