Benni McCarthy lands in Nairobi, set to be appointed as Kenya boss

By SABC Sport
28th February 2025

Benni McCarthy has arrived in Kenya's capital Nairobi, where he is set to be introduced as the new coach of the Harambee Stars.

In December, sources within the Kenya Football Federation (KFF) revealed that McCarthy's name had been widely discussed at senior levels due to the respect they have for him.

McCarthy touched down in Kenya on Thursday morning to finalize the remaining details of his contract with the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), with his official announcement scheduled for Friday.

This appointment marks a return to a prestigious coaching position for the Bafana Bafana icon, following his exit from Manchester United at the close of last season, where he had worked as a striker coach under head coach Erik ten Hag.

McCarthy's hiring comes after Engin Firat's departure from the Kenya FA two months ago. Firat resigned after the Harambee Stars missed out on a spot in Morocco for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

McCarthy's path to securing the Kenya coaching role was far from easy, as it has now been revealed that he beat out Claude Makelele, the renowned ex-Chelsea and Real Madrid midfielder, who was also among the candidates.

Makelele's most recent coaching role was with Greek club Asteras Tripolis, where he departed after just three games in October 2024.

Following his retirement in 2011, Makelele transitioned into coaching after an illustrious playing career. He won league titles in France, Spain, and England, and captured the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid. As a French international, Makelele also featured in the 2006 World Cup final.

His coaching career has included stints at KAS Eupen in Belgium and SC Bastia in France. He also served as an assistant coach at PSG in France and Swansea in the English Championship. In addition, Makelele worked as a youth coach at Chelsea and as technical director at AS Monaco.

However, McCarthy's impressive coaching credentials likely swayed the decision in his favor. As a coach, McCarthy led Cape Town City FC to the MTN8 title in 2018 and helped AmaZulu FC achieve their best-ever finish in the 2020/21 season, securing second place in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), which also earned them a spot in the CAF Champions League. That season, McCarthy was named PSL Coach of the Season.

This coaching experience, combined with his legendary playing career, which saw him become Bafana Bafana's all-time top scorer and win the UEFA Champions League with Porto in 2004, made him a strong candidate.

Additionally, reports suggest that McCarthy plans to bring his former Orlando Pirates teammate Moeneeb Josephs onboard as a goalkeeper coach for the Harambee Stars. The two previously worked together at AmaZulu FC.