The race to succeed Mauricio Pochettino as Chelsea manager has narrowed down to a “two-horse race” between Kieran McKenna and Enzo Maresca, according to senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke. Both managers have impressed with their recent achievements, leading their teams to Championship promotion this season.
McKenna, 38, has been in high demand, with Brighton interested in his services, while Manchester United may consider bringing him back to Old Trafford if Erik ten Hag is sacked after the FA Cup final.
Maresca, 44, is highly regarded within the football community and has admirers on the Chelsea board.
Although Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness, Brentford’s Thomas Frank, and Girona’s Michel remain on the list, McKenna and Maresca are the primary targets.
Their promotion-winning seasons have showcased their ability to lead teams to success, with Maresca’s Ipswich side topping the league and McKenna’s Leicester side following closely behind in second place.
Maresca’s experience as an assistant under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City has honed his skills, and his title-winning side impressed with an average of 1.93 goals per game, conceding just 0.89, and dominating possession with 62.3% on average.
McKenna, meanwhile, has led Ipswich to back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League, attracting interest from top clubs. His side averaged 52.8% possession, scoring 2 goals per game, and conceding 1.24 per game last season.
As Chelsea continues their search for a new manager, McKenna and Maresca remain the front-runners, with their progressive and attacking styles aligning with the club’s vision. The next manager will have limited say in recruitment, but will be tasked with leading the team to success on the pitch.