The Seagulls are on the hunt for a new manager this summer, and the Northern Irishman is a top contender on their list.
Brighton are eyeing Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna as they seek a swift appointment to replace Roberto De Zerbi.
De Zerbi’s departure from Brighton was announced on Saturday, a move that insiders at the club had anticipated due to his clashes with owner Tony Bloom over the club’s recruitment strategy. While De Zerbi wanted to focus on established players, Bloom remains committed to the model that has transformed Brighton from a Championship club to a Premier League regular.
Given this fundamental disagreement, it was clear that one side would prevail. De Zerbi, linked with potential opportunities at Bayern Munich and Liverpool, was open to new challenges. With Liverpool opting for Arne Slot as Jurgen Klopp’s successor, Brighton are now intensifying their interest in McKenna, who has earned a stellar reputation with back-to-back promotions in his first managerial role.
The Seagulls maintain regular assessments of potential managerial candidates, and McKenna scores highly on their metrics. He successfully guided Ipswich to the Premier League with a budget outside the top 10 in the division.
While Ipswich will be keen to retain the 37-year-old, the Brighton job is likely to attract McKenna due to the club’s stability and reputation as a launchpad for managers. Brighton also have significant financial power, having sold Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo for substantial sums last summer.
McKenna is known as a meticulous coach and an expert in man management, attracting interest from other Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, where he previously served on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s backroom team. Solskjaer praised McKenna as the “most thorough, process-driven coach” he had ever worked with.