From Man Utd to Harambee Stars: What is Benni McCarthy bringing to Kenyan football?

By , March 4, 2025

Harambee Stars is embarking on a new era following South African Benni McCarthy’s unveiling as the new coach for the Kenyan national team outfit.

The former player prides decorated stints across the European league and his South African native.

His legendary playing career can never be spoken highly enough of: a lethal striker during his heydays, he prides being Bafana Bafana’s all-time top scorer and winner of the UEFA Champions League with Porto in 2004.

However, having predominantly served in assistant roles in his past posts, McCarthy’s hands are set to be filled as he launches on his maiden task of managing a national team.

Among his other tasks as he succeeds Engin Firat, includes guiding Kenya through the ongoing World Cup qualifiers.

Additionally, McCarthy comes under the spotlight for the auxiliary roles of creating platforms to not only improve but also offer opportunities for Kenyan players to further their careers.

People Daily Sports casts an overview of the next occupant of the Kenyan national team role, his football journey, personality, and the experiences he brings to Kenya as a former player and now manager.

Benni McCarthy gifted a Kenyan Bow and spear
Benni McCarthy handed a spear and Bow during his unveiling on Monday, February 3 in Nairobi. PHOTO/https://www.facebook.com/FootballKenyaFederation/photos.

Born on November 12, 1977, McCarthy, joined Ajax the Dutch giants in 1997. For his stint abroad, coming from Ajax Cape Town, a feeder team of the Dutch giant club, Ajax Amsterdam in the country.  He then moved to Spain to join Celta Vigo for a brief spell.

He would later move to Porto for the 2001-02 season a move that turned out a launchpad of his playing career.

The highlight of his career was arguably in the 2003- 04 season when he inspired Porto to the league title and the Champions League glory under Jose Mourinho. Among his highlights were the two goals against Manchester United to defeat them in the second round.

McCarthy also featured for several Premier League sides between 2006- 2010, Westham, Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough among them.

Coaching career

On coaching, McCarthy’s managerial journey kicked off in 2015, McCarthy was appointed assistant manager to Chris Louglin of Belgian side, Sint Truiden.

On 13 June 2017, McCarthy was unveiled as the new Cape Town City. He inspired the team to his maiden silverware the MTN 8 Cup but was fired as the team struggled during the 2019 season.

Much of the SA coaching career is marked by the stints he had in his native country. The trainer managed three clubs in the PSL starting in 2017 and his two-year sojourn at Manchester United.

He oversaw the development of Kenyan international Masud Juma who moved down south after a top-scoring feat with the KPL outfit, Kariobangi Sharks.

At Amazulu, McCarthy enjoyed better days of coaching: winning 14 games he oversaw, drawing seven and losing only five in his first season. The remarkable feat shot the club to second position in the league and qualification to the CAF Champions League games. The season demands of manoeuring the continental assignments and local league however proved a tough ask at Amazulu in his second season.

He got eight wins, 16 draws and 10 losses in the 34 games in charge.

Overall, McCarthy accrued over 110 league games managed as coach in the PSL and a single trophy in the MTN won with Cape Town City.

During his unveiling on Monday, February 3, 2025, the African disclosed that his with Porto provided his most memorable moments, and dreams to emulate a career similar to his coach then Jose Mourinho.

Imparting winning mentality to Kenya

McCarthy, a boyhood Man United fan, has in the past opened up about his love for the English side. Speaking during his unveiling, he shared on need to embrace a winning mentality, a factor he considers as crucial building block of a decent team.

“I support Man United and always wanted to play for them,” he once said. “I loved players like Mark Hughes, Andy Cole and Ryan Giggs.” McCarthy once said as quoted by United’s x feed.

“I’m looking forward to putting my experience into practice and bringing success to Kenyan football,” he opined.

“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 added.

On the tasks ahead, 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 the finals,” he said.

Outspoken off the pitch

Kenyans should also brace for McCarthy’s tendency to speak his mind in matters beyond the four corners of the football pitch. The South African has seldom shied away from making his opinions known and sometimes ruffling a few feathers in the process.

In several instances, the tactician has revealed his outspokenness and perhaps a controversial side of his personality.

A case in point was in 2018, when his team Cape Town side was dealt a decisive blow by Kaizer Chiefs. After the game, McCarthy, whose team got a red card, called out the referee as the opponent’s best player, intimating that his team stood little chance in the clash.

The trainer also had run-ins with his employer during his time at Cape Town City, as well as opening up on the tumultuous era of Erik Ten Hag at Man United and an insider’s view of the Manchester rivalry.

If the demands and expectations from Kenyan football are anything to buy, then the major test of McCarthy’s mettle in management has surely come in the Kenyan national team and the jury remains out there.

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