Benni McCarthy has officially been unveiled as the new Harambee Stars head coach in an event held in Nairobi on Monday, March 3, 2025.

The former English Premier League star, who previously coached Manchester United, takes over from Engin Firat who was sacked on Wednesday, December 11, 2025 after failing to lead Kenyan to 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Details of the coach’s contract with the Kenyan Football Federation (FKF) have been revealed as lasting up to the duration of the AFCON 2027.

McCarthy, who holds a UEFA A license, will be assisted by Moneebs Joseph as the goalkeeping coach

Speaking during a QnA session, McCarthy revealed his intention of taking the team to the World Cup.

“I’m looking forward to putting my experience into practice and bringing success to Kenyan football. With the right mentality, we can achieve our targets and make it to the World Cup.  We want to win every point available to us. It will not say it is easy but it is also not impossible. We need to start to be positive and players see the coaches are winners and want to win so that they too can push,” McCarthy said.

The coach also shared his vision of seeing Kenya host successful CHAN and AFCON tournaments as not only participants but also contenders.

“For WC qualification, we want to showcase and make a good account of ourselves. We want to make Kenyan proud of hosting CHAN and AFCON  and see the national team in the latter stages or finals,” he said.

McCarthy’s profile

McCarthy is a former decorated footballer albeit with limited experience in the management realm.

Apart from handling two top-tier teams in South Africa between 2018-22, he has also been at Manchester United for two seasons working in Erik Ten Hag’s backroom staff between 2022 to 2024. His task was specialized in coaching attacking plays and positioning at the English giants in what ranks as the most illustrious facet of his coaching CV.

The coach tutored Kenyan international Masud Juma at Cape Town City after his move from Kariobangi Sharks in 2018.

The trainer’s hands are set to be filled as he launches his coaching further with a maiden task of a national team role awaiting in the shape of Harambee Stars.

AFCON, WC tasks

McCarthy’s arrival comes at a time when the country is preparing to take part in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) which Kenya is co-hosting alongside Uganda and Tanzania.

The country is also set to feature in the delayed 2024 African Cations Championships (CHAN) edition as a host country.

Harambee Stars’ last appearance in the AFCON was in 2019 and failed to qualify for the Morocco finals this year. Their World Cup dream is also slim given how they have so far performed for the 2026 qualification. They are fourth in Group F, which also has Ivory Coast, the pool leaders, Seychelles, Burundi, Gabon, and the Gambia.

Speaking during the event, FKF Vice President McDonald Mariga, spoke on what informed the choice to settle for the fellow Champions League winner.

“We wanted someone with European experience and understanding of African football and ended up with Benni,” Mariga said.

McCarthy’s first assignment will be the World Cup qualifying matches against the Gambia away on March 17th and the home game against Gabon on March 24th.