Benni McCarthy beats ex-Real Madrid star for Harambee Stars job
Benni McCarthy has landed in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city, poised to be unveiled as the new Harambee Stars coach. He reportedly beat a former Real Madrid star for the position.
As previously reported by FARPost in December 2024, insiders revealed that McCarthy’s name had been circulating at high levels within the Kenya FA as they hold him “in high regard”.
McCarthy landed in Kenya on Thursday morning to finalise the finer details of his contract with the Football Kenya Federation [FKF], with his official unveiling set for Friday.
The move sees the Bafana Bafana legend return to a high-level position after his departure from Manchester United at the end of last season, where he served as a striker coach under head coach Erik ten Hag.
McCarthy’s appointment also comes after Engin Firat decided to walk out the exit door of the Kenya FA two months ago. The latter resigned as the Harambee Stars failed to book a ticket to Morroco for the 2025 AFCON.
BENNI MCCARTHY BEAT FORMER REAL MADRID AND CHELSEA STAR MAKELELE FOR HARAMBEE STARS JOB
Securing the Kenya coaching job wasn’t a walk in the park for McCarthy as it has emerged that he prevailed over Claude Makelele, the renowned former Chelsea and Real Madrid midfielder, who was among the candidates.
Makelele’s most recent coaching job was at Greek side Asteras Tripolis, where he left after taking charge of just three games in October 2024.
Following his retirement in 2011, the Chelsea legend became a coach after a stellar playing career. He had won league titles in France, Spain, England, and the Champions League with Real Madrid. In his 13 years as a French international, Makelele also played in the 2006 World Cup final.
His coaching stints include KAS Eupen and SC Bastia in Belgium and France, respectively. He held the role of assistant coach at French giants PSG and English Championship side Swansea. In addition, Makelele was a youth coach at Chelsea and technical director at AS Monaco.
But McCarthy’s proven coaching track record likely tipped the scales in his favour over Makelele. As a coach, McCarthy has won the MTN8 title with Cape Town City FC in 2018 and guided AmaZulu FC to a historic second-place finish in the 2020/21 season, their highest in the PSL era, which also led them to the CAF Champions League. That season culminated in McCarthy being named PSL Coach of the Season.
This experience complemented his legendary playing career, which included being Bafana Bafana’s all-time top scorer and winning the UEFA Champions League with Porto in 2004.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that McCarthy will include his former Orlando Pirates teammate Moeneeb Josephs as a goalkeeper coach in his backroom staff in Kenya. The duo also worked together at Usuthu.
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