Brighton Eye Kieran McKenna as Top Choice to Replace Roberto De Zerbi Brighton Eye Kieran McKenna as Top Choice to Replace Roberto De Zerbi
Brighton Eye Kieran McKenna as Top Choice to Replace Roberto De Zerbi

May 6, 2024

Brighton Eye Kieran McKenna as Top Choice to Replace Roberto De Zerbi

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Ipswich Near Premier League Promotion; Brighton Eye Kieran McKenna as Potential Replacement for De Zerbi

Brighton is preparing to pursue Kieran McKenna from Ipswich if Roberto De Zerbi departs this summer. With De Zerbi’s future uncertain and potential high-profile offers looming, Brighton is proactively scouting for alternatives.

The Italian manager has faced challenges recently, and Brighton is determined to be aware of the situation. They closely monitor McKenna, who has guided Ipswich from League One to the brink of Premier League promotion. A win over Coventry on Tuesday could secure Ipswich’s place in the top flight.

Ipswich has garnered praise for their impressive performances this season. They need just a point against Huddersfield on Saturday to ensure promotion. McKenna, at 37, has emerged as one of the brightest young managers in English football, leading Ipswich to a strong position despite competing against well-resourced teams like Leeds, Southampton, and Leicester.

Brighton is prepared to pursue Kieran McKenna regardless of whether Ipswich secures promotion to the Premier League. McKenna, formerly part of Manchester United’s coaching team, may face a difficult decision about advancing in his current role. Loyalty to Ipswich, which gave him his first managerial opportunity, could influence his choice.

If Ipswich does achieve promotion, financial considerations might sway McKenna. The prospect of managing with a more significant transfer budget at Brighton could be tempting.

Brighton’s Managerial History

Brighton has a strong track record of strategic managerial appointments. In 2019, they boldly moved to replace Chris Hughton with Graham Potter. After Potter departed from Chelsea, Potter’s successful tenure led to Roberto De Zerbi’s arrival. Under De Zerbi, Brighton achieved European qualification for the first time by finishing sixth in the Premier League.

Top 5 Clubs for Consecutive Promotions to the Premier League

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Kieran McKenna’s team is among just five in English football history to achieve back-to-back promotions.

Since its launch in 1992, the Premier competition has grown to become the world’s most watched football competition. With 20 clubs battling for the title, it attracts top superstars and coaches and captivates fans with its intense competition.

Each season, three teams are promoted from the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football, to replace those relegated from the Premier League. This promotion race is often thrilling and can come down to the final matches.

Ipswich Town has earned automatic promotion this season, making them one of the few teams to move directly from EFL League One to the Premier League in consecutive seasons. To date, only four other clubs have accomplished this feat before them.

5. Watford (1997-1999)

Change often starts with a new manager, and for Watford, that change came in the 1997-98 season when Graham Taylor was appointed. Peter Kennedy was the team’s top scorer with 11 goals, helping Watford secure the third-division title in a tight contest with Bristol City.

Watford overcome this obstacle by making it to the playoffs, but not receiving automatic promotion to the second level the next season. They qualified for the Premier League the next season by defeating Bolton Wanderers 2-0 in the playoff final after being fifth in the league.

4. Manchester City (1998-2000)

Manchester City’s current dominance contrasts sharply with their fortunes in the late 1990s. In the 1998-99 season, City found themselves in the third tier of English football for the first time. Manager Joe Royle faced significant pressure, with some fans calling for his dismissal. However, Royle managed to guide City back to the second tier, clinching promotion through a penalty shootout win in the playoff final against Gillingham.

City’s swift return to the second tier saw them in contention for the title. Still, they finished just two points behind Charlton Athletic. In spite of this close call, City was automatically promoted to the Premier League.

3. Norwich City (2009-2011)

Norwich City experienced a remarkable resurgence similar to Manchester City’s 1998-99 season. After a 49-year absence from the third tier of English football, the Canaries found themselves back in League One for the 2009-10 season. Under the management of Paul Lambert, who took charge on August 19, Norwich secured promotion to the Championship by winning the division with a points advantage over Leeds United, who finished second.

In the 2010-11 season, Norwich continued their ascent under Lambert’s guidance. Grant Holt, the team’s top scorer from the previous season, led the attack again. Norwich finished second in the Championship, earning promotion to the Premier League.

2. Southampton (2010-2012)

While Norwich City pursued Premier League promotion, Southampton focused on advancing from League One. After narrowly missing out on promotion in the 2009-10 season, the Saints were favorites to succeed in the following year. They met expectations, finishing second in League One and securing a spot in the Championship.

Southampton made headlines with a record-breaking transfer in the Championship during the 2011-12 season. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was sold to Arsenal for a reported £15 million. Manager Nigel Adkins, alongside prolific striker Rickie Lambert, who scored 27 goals, led Southampton to a quick promotion to the Premier League.

1. Ipswich Town (2022-2024)

Ipswich Town, a team that played in the first Premier League season, is going to make a 22-year comeback to the top division.

Kieran McKenna’s appointment in December 2021 was a bold move by the club, bringing in a rookie manager with no prior senior managerial experience. McKenna proved his worth in his first entire season (2022-23), guiding Ipswich Town to the Championship with a standout performance that saw them score 101 goals and accumulate 98 points in League One.

In the 2023-24 Championship season, Ipswich continued their impressive form. Under McKenna’s leadership, they secured a second-place finish,

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author
Katarzyna Nowak

Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and football sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Football News Today, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for football, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.