Manchester United legend Nicky Butt has labelled Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna as one of the best coaches he’s ever seen.

The 49-year-old made 387 appearances in all competitions across 12 years with the Red Devils, retiring from playing in 2011 after spells with Newcastle United, Birmingham City and South China. He subsequently went into coaching, working at Old Trafford from 2012 until 2021 in a variety of different roles – mostly in the academy.

That meant that he spent a lot of time with McKenna, who made his name as a coach at the club. The Northern Irishman has since gone on to be a successful manager with Town – winning back-to-back promotions from League One - although some criticism has formed now that his side are winless in 10 games in the Premier League.

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Butt has been quick to defend him, explaining why he believes that it’s been harder for him in the top flight.

“I’m telling you now, Kieran McKenna is one of the best coaches I’ve seen on the grass – ever,” he said on TalkSPORT.

“I’d put him next to anyone that I’ve seen. That’s including Carlos Quieroz, all the great coaches that I’ve worked with. Steve McClaren, he’s as good as any of them.

“But he’s having a bad time at Ipswich. Why? Because he’s in a team that isn’t one of the top teams in the Premier League, he’s just had two promotions, so it’s going to be a difficult year for them.

“If he went in at a top team like an Arsenal or somewhere, I’m pretty sure he’d be flying. I think that’s what the honest answer is. I think that’s the honest answer, it’s not a bitter thing.

READ MORE: Ipswich Town CEO / chairman Mark Ashton on Kieran McKenna and the January transfer window

“He was very clever. He’s not jumped into a club that he could have gone to in the summer because he knew that the right club, if he gets it wrong, you’re back down the bottom of the ladder and you’re starting all over again.”

Former Crystal Palace owner and TalkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan agreed, adding: “When you talk about Klopp being on the grass, when you talk about Guardiola being on the grass and you talk about whoever else, they also exude a managerial authority.

“There’s something different about them. They’re not just good coaches, because they’ve got to have more than just the ability to coach.

“I’ve heard the same things that Nicky has spoken on about Kieran McKenna, in terms of his ability at the level he’s at, in terms of being a top, top, top coach.

“I think he was absolutely right to stay at Ipswich when he had the opportunity to be potentially considered in the roles of other environments.

“Ultimately, he delivered for Ipswich. Where I’ve been critical of managers before is where they haven’t delivered for someone else and buggered off when a better opportunity comes along.”