Table of Contents
- Benni McCarthy has been hitting headlines after being linked with the vacant coaching position of the Kenya national team
- McCarthy will take over from ex-coach Engin Firat who stepped down in December after Kenya failed to qualify for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations
- The 47-year-old comes from a football loving family as his uncles managed a local team called Young Pirates
Benni McCarthy has been hitting headlines after being linked with the vacant coaching position of the Kenya national team. The former South Africa international is yet to make any comments but sources indicate that it seems likely he’s going to be the coach of Kenya.
McCarthy will take over from ex-coach Engin Firat who stepped down in December after Kenya failed to qualify for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which will take place in Morocco later this year. Firat, whose resignation was confirmed by new Kenya Football Federation President Hussein Mohammed, led the national team for three years.
As we wait to see if Benni McCarthy will be Kenya’s new head coach, we’ve decided to take you through the former footballer’s journey. This article highlights his early life, playing career and transition into coaching.
Early Life
Benedict Saul McCarthy was born on November 12, 1977, in Cape Town, South Africa. He grew up with his three siblings (two brothers and a sister) in Hanover Park.
McCarthy comes from a football loving family as his uncles managed a local football club called Young Pirates. His older brother, Jerome McCarthy, was also a professional footballer who played for various clubs, including Kaizer Chiefs. Mark, who is his younger brother, also played football in the United States for Franklin Pierce University.
McCarthy began playing the beautiful game at a young age with other boys at Young Pirates. He continued with his youth development at amateur club Crusaders and then had an offer to sign with Seven Stars, which played in the first division.
Football Career
Benni McCarthy during his playing days. Photo/ Africa Is a Country.
Bennie McCarthy began his senior football career at Seven Stars and made a name for himself after scoring 12 goals in 20 games. He then signed with Cape Town Spurs, which would later merge with Seven Stars to form Ajax Cape Town.
McCarthy continued to impress at Ajax Cape Town and soon secured a transfer to Eredivisie giants Ajax. In his debut season with the Dutch side, he clinched the Eredivisie and KNVB Cup. The following campaign, he helped Ajax win the KNVB Cup and then joined La Liga’s Celta Vigo for a fee believed to be more than €6 million. The fee paid for his transfer made him the most expensive South African player.
Unfortunately, things didn’t quite work out for McCarthy at Celta Vigo as he struggled for playing time. After four seasons at the club, he was offloaded to Portuguese side Porto where he regained his spark. He won the Golden Boot in his debut season with Porto after scoring 20 goals. The forwards also played a key role as Porto clinched the 2003-04 UEFA Champions League, making him the only South African to win the title.
McCarthy continued to play for Porto and helped them secure more titles until the summer of 2006 when he joined English team Blackburn Rovers. He spent four years at the club and then moved to West Ham United where he played for just one season.
McCarthy spent the last years of his career playing for Orlando Pirates and retired in the summer of 2016 at the age of 35. The legendary forward is considered one of the greatest South African players of all time and is his country’s all-time leading goalscorer with 31 goals.
Benni McCarthy Coaching Career
McCarthy transitioned into coaching in 2015, joining Hibernian where he was part of Alan Stubbs coaching staff. That same year, he began working with Sint-Truiden as assistant manager. He quit the position due to personal reasons the following year and returned to Africa where he became Cape Town City Coach in June 2017.
After leading City to MTN 8 cup triumph in 2018, McCarthy had a horrid time as he led the club to just two victories in 18 matches. He was dismissed from his managerial position in November 2019.
Benni McCarthy. Photo/ The South African.
McCarthy then returned to coaching one year later as he was hired by AmaZulu. The two parties parted ways in 2022 and he went on to join Manchester United as a first-team coach under manager Erik ten Hag.
Conclusion
As of now, it is yet to be confirmed if McCarthy will be Firat’s successor at Harambee Stars. Should the South African take the role, he could bring a wealth of experience having played in various leagues across Europe and also coached at top clubs.
