Benni McCarthy top of AmaZulu shortlist for vacant post

The former Bafana Bafana striker recently became available after cutting ties with English Premier League side Manchester United, where he was a forwards coach under Erik ten Hag for two seasons.

Usuthu confirmed their decision to fire Martin on Monday night after three successive defeats in the Betway Premiership, a poor start in a campaign president Sandile Zungu has made clear he wants a top four finish.

McCarthy has been able to deliver on that mandate for AmaZulu previously during his stint in charge of the KZN outfit during the 2020/21 season shortly after Zungu purchased the club from the Sokhela family, finishing runners-up behind champions Mamelodi Sundowns.

Usuthu qualified for the CAF Champions League and made it to the group stages before McCarthy left the job in March 2022.

The public broadcaster has established that the club are keen to bring McCarthy back to the fold with the confidence that any issues that led to their parting of ways the last time can be ironed out.

READ: SuperSport United secure Samir Nurkovic signing

SABC Sport has also gathered that AmaZulu have also been offered other alternatives to fill the vacant post.

It’s understood that Morena Ramoreboli, Bradley Carnell, Stuart Baxter and Muhsin Ertugral have been suggested as options.

Ramoreboli is currently coach of Botswana Premier League side Jwaneng Galaxy and has won two successive league titles there, Carnell is unattached after leaving St Louis City in the USA Major League Soccer, while Baxter as well as Ertugral are also free at the moment and have a reputable pedigree in SA football

Baxter has coached Kaizer Chiefs, Bafana Bafana [twice], SuperSport United, while Ertugral has in the past been with Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, Ajax Cape Town, Golden Arrows, and Maritzburg United just to name a few PSL teams he’s worked with.

The two experienced mentors also have extensive experience coaching in Europe and could fit the criteria of the “big coach” AmaZulu are after.