Profile: Ex-Man United Coach Benni McCarthy Set To Take Over At Harambee Stars

The South African coach was named the new Harambee Stars head coach in December, but the finalization of his appointment has faced unexpected delays, amidst speculation surrounding his appointment to bring his expertise to the national team which has struggled for consistency.

Reports indicated that he is set to be unveiled at the end of this week and will be in attendance for the highly-anticipated clash between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards in the latest edition of the Mashemeji Derby set for Sunday, March 2.

Benni McCarthy with Cristiano Ronaldo during their tenure at Manchester United. /AFP

It is expected that he will be faced with tough questions upon his arrival, in particular, his recent spell with English Premier League giants, Manchester United.

Most recently, between 2020 and 2024, McCarthy was a first-team coach at Manchester United, where he worked under Erik ten Hag, a manager who endured a tough start to this league season and was sacked following a 2-1 loss to West Ham United at the end of October 2024, with the club 14th in the league table at the time.

McCarthy, who is South Africa’s all-time top scorer with 31 goals, will handle his first assignment as Harambee Stars' head coach being the crucial 2026 World Cup Group ‘F’ qualifier against Gabon on March 24 at Nyayo National Stadium.

Earlier this year, FKF President Hussein Mohammed assured fans of the federation’s commitment to selecting the best candidate for the national team.

"FKF is working to appoint a substantive coach and a competent technical bench to help us achieve our objectives. That’s why the current technical bench was appointed on an interim basis. We will provide an update on the new coach once all the details are finalised," Mohammed stated while speaking to Nation.

Benni McCarthy brings a wealth of experience from his illustrious playing career, having represented top clubs such as Ajax, Celta Vigo, Porto, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham, and Orlando Pirates. On the international stage, he earned 79 caps for South Africa, scoring 31 goals for Bafana Bafana.

Renowned for his clinical finishing and intelligent movement in the box, McCarthy played a crucial role in South Africa’s campaigns at the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cup tournaments.

Throughout his career, he competed in several top-tier leagues, including the English Premier League, La Liga, and Eredivisie. His crowning achievement came in 2004 when he lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy with FC Porto under José Mourinho.

Transitioning into coaching, McCarthy had successful spells as head coach at Cape Town City FC and AmaZulu FC in South Africa.

His most recent role saw him join Manchester United’s first-team coaching staff, where he specialized in attacking play under Erik ten Hag from 2022 to 2024. During his tenure, he worked with top talents, including Cristiano Ronaldo, and helped the team secure the Carabao Cup in the 2022-23 season. McCarthy however left the club after opting not to renew his contract, expressing his ambition to take on a head coaching role. 

After playing its international matches in Uganda and South Africa last year, Kenya will use the upcoming home fixture against Gabon as a trial run for Nyayo Stadium ahead of the rescheduled 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

Kenya currently sits fourth in Group F with five points from four matches. Reigning African champions Côte d’Ivoire lead the group with 10 points, followed by Gabon (nine points), Burundi (seven points), Gambia (three points), and Seychelles (zero points).