Benni McCarthy on How Racism Forced Him Out of La Liga to Less Glamorous Portuguese League

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has opened up on the painful decision to leave Spain for Portugal during his playing career.

McCarthy joined Celta Vigo in Spain from Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam in 1999 but after two years, he had seen enough and wanted out. Racism in Spain was too much for a young McCarthy and in 2001, he joined FC Porto in Portugal on loan. He would return to Celta Vigo for one more season and then back to Portugal for good.

“It [racism] hit me hard, you know it exists but you don’t know until it is directed at you in that time,” McCarthy told SuperSport TV.

“I have experienced racism to the extreme and it was hard because I did not have a support system. My family was in South Africa and I did not have anyone to speak to and you just get it that you are unwanted.”

When he finally left Spain for good, McCarthy admits it was a big moment of relief as what he had experienced in the country was too much to bear.

“I wanted to end it and I got a lifeline, Porto wanted me and I was that desperate to get out of Spain so I jumped at the opportunity and went to Porto,” he added.

“It was La Liga in Spain up there and Portugal down here [in terms of standards] I took a step down, less glamorous but it was a lifeline and I take any lifeline I want.”

The South African legend, who then enjoyed cult status at FC Porto, says he hit the ground running when he moved to Portugal and the stars then aligned for him when Jose Mourinho joined the club.

“First game I score and then the manager got fired Jose Mourinho came in,” he said. “The first training session I had, I showed those Europeans what I had. I killed them and when I got in the dressing room, the first time I was called brother after I had been accustomed to negreto [in Spain].”

McCarthy played for Mourinho for one season, during the 2002-04 campaign, and it was his most prolific and successful in his career as he scored 25 goals and won the treble of Portuguese league and cup as well as the UEFA Champions League.