Fulham keen on Kieran McKenna as search for Marco Silva's replacement begins | OneFootball

Fulham in search of their first new manager in five years

Kieran McKenna is a top candidate to replace Marco Silva as Fulham manager.

Fulham are in the market for a manager for the first time since their return to the Premier League in 2022 after Silva stepped down on Tuesday following five years at the helm. He is to become the next Benfica head coach.

McKenna’s stocks are high after he guided Ipswich Town to second place in the Championship, securing the Tractor Boys an immediate return to the Premier League.

There are plenty of clubs monitoring the former Tottenham and Manchester United coach, and Standard Sport understands Fulham view him as a contender to replace Silva as they begin their own managerial search.

McKenna was in the running to become Chelsea manager in 2024 following Mauricio Pochettino’s sack, while Man Utd at the same time considering bringing him back to Old Trafford when considering Erik ten Hag’s future.

The Northern Irishman was most recently linked with Bournemouth before they confirmed that the outgoing manager Andoni Iraola would be replaced by former Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig head coach Marco Rose.

Silva guided Fulham to promotion in 2022 in his first season at the club and has never finished lower than 13th in their four subsequent Premier League campaigns. Their 11th-place finish this term was their second in a row, with a late-season dip in form ending hopes of European qualification.

“Fulham will always be in my heart, and sooner or later I will be back at Craven Cottage,” Silva said as he penned an open letter to Fulham fans on Tuesday after the club confirmed his exit.