Table of Contents
- Benni McCarthy on Ten Hag revelations are stunning
- The Dutch coach had a big dream for Manchester United
- He termed his sacking as a big shock. Critics said it was long overdue after a struggling 2023/24 season
Details of Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy on Ten Hag about their coaching days at Manchester United are dumbfounding.
The former Blackburn player and Bafana Bafana striker enjoyed his football career the most while working as a coach first-team coach under ten Hag.
The 47-year-old left Old Trafford in June 2024 just before the sacking of the Dutch coach. His two-year contract with the team had expired.
United picked Ruben Amorim to lead the team. Amorim was Sporting Lisbon’s coach.
McCarthy on Ten Hag
McCarthy on Sunday shared intimate details about ten Hag’s dream at Manchester United. According to the recently appointed Kenyan coach, the ten Hag had a dream to stay at Old Trafford for 10 years.
He revealed that the Dutchman wholesomely loved United and serving the team as a head coach for a decade would have been the peak of his career.
In divulging full details about McCathry on ten Hag; the South African said ten Hag’s vision was backed by hard work and focus.
He told BBC Sport Africa in an interview that he remains grateful to the former Man United coach for allowing him to work with the Red Devils.
South African national Benni McCarthy. McCarthy was a first-team cocach at Manchester United between 2022 and 2024. He worked closely with former United coach Erik ten Hag. Photo/ iDiski Times.
McCarthy was a first-team coach at Old Trafford his area of coaching being attacking. He [ten Hag] taught him the value of passion, focus and discipline in sports.
He knew he was ready to take charge of a big team after working with the Dutch at Old Trafford for two years and gaining valuable skills as a coach.
United won the 2023 Carabao Cup and 2024 FA Cup last season despite their sluggish performance in the English Premier League.
They finished 8th on the table with 58 points. Another proud moment in McCarthy on ten Hag revelations is moulding ex-United player Marcus Rashford.
The Harambee Stars coach said he is proud that his coaching helped Rashford score 30 goals for the Red Devils in the 2022/23 season.
Looking back, he says they did well with ten Hag despite criticism about Manchester United’s performance.
Why was Erik ten Hag Sacked?
Poor performance and a terrible start of the 2024/25 season sealed ten Hag’s fate to leave Old Trafford. Besides struggling in EPL where they finished 8th; Manchester United lost in the Europa League.
Ex-Manchester United Coach Erik ten Hag. His sacking by United’s board was a big surprise for him. He had a vision to coach the team for 10 years. Photo/Sporty.com
They were beaten in their first three Europa League matches. His sacking came as a surprise, just after bagging a contract extension in July 2024.
However, a streak of losses at the beginning of the season sent mixed signals about his stay in England. United’s 2-1 loss to West Ham became the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.
The club’s board unanimously voted on his sacking on a Sunday, barely 24 hours after the loss and his fate was sealed. His sacking cost Sir Jim Ratcliffe and other shareholders $17.5 million (£13.5million).
The club in a statement thanked ten Hag for the 18 months he coached the team. They wished him well in his future plans.
Perhaps, the most intriguing revelation about McCarthy on Ten Hag is that his dream to coach the team for 10 years boldened in the summer.
While calls mounted on Ratcliffe to sack the coach, he gave him a lifeline with a contract extension in July 2024. However, he was unceremoniously sacked two months later.
