Tottenham Hotspur are having a seriously up-and-down season under Ange Postecoglou and questions are starting to be asked of the Spurs boss.
Spurs have made a habit of recording superb wins against top opposition but then losing to teams they would’ve been favourites to win.
And on Thursday night, Tottenham’s 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth saw a fair few fans lose their patience.
The travelling Spurs supporters made their feelings known to Postecoglou at full time, while on social media, some fans called for him to be sacked.
Meanwhile, Jamie O’Hara has warned that poor defending and a failure to be competing for European football could see Postecoglou lose his job at N17.
Although Tottenham are keeping the faith in Postecoglou, speculation is now doing the rounds over candidates who could be considered in case things change.
One report has now emerged claiming Spurs have placed “one of English football’s best young coaches” on their wishlist.
READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou says he’s done something with Archie Gray that’ll ‘make him a better player’
Tottenham eyeing Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna
The manager in question is Kieran McKenna, who has been a revelation since taking the reins at Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town.
According to Football Transfers, the 38-year-old has been shortlisted by Spurs as a potential Postecoglou replacement.
Indeed, McKenna – who previously worked at Tottenham – is said to be Spurs’ first choice if Postecoglou is shown the door at N17 in the coming weeks.
McKenna’s trajectory over the past few years has been nothing short of stratospheric.
He spent seven years in Tottenham’s academy before being forced into an early retirement due to a serious hip injury.
After a spell as the club’s Head of Academy Performance Analysis, McKenna became Spurs’ Under-18 head coach in 2015.
The Northern Irishman was snapped up by Man Utd the following year and he eventually became Jose Mourinho’s assistant manager at Old Trafford.
MeKenna then took over at Ipswich in December 2021 when they were in League One and went on to lead them to back-to-back promotions in 2023 and 2024.
What could McKenna bring to Tottenham?
Former footballer Adrian Clarke wrote an in-depth Premier League feature article about McKenna and Ipswich after they were promoted to the top flight last summer.
He noted how McKenna uses a fluid 4-2-3-1 formation that can look like a 3-4-1-2 ‘in possession as they build through the thirds’.
In addition, Ipswich are an “excellent pressing side” who play an “exciting brand of daring, attack-minded football”
Clarke added: “McKenna’s growing reputation as one of English football’s best young coaches was reinforced by his in-game management.
“He re-energised his team on numerous occasions by making telling second-half changes, which were often timed to perfection.
“McKenna will often make double or triple substitutions, usually for players in his front four, and they regularly delivered game-changing contributions from the bench.
“An enormous 31 direct goal contributions came from McKenna’s ‘finishers’.”
Darragh MacAnthony predicted on talkSPORT earlier this year: “He’ll surprise people with what he’ll do with them in the Premier League and within five or six years, he’ll be managing a top six club.”
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