Benni McCarthy on What Made Harambee Stars Job Appealing After Manchester United Spell

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has opened up on what drove him to take up the Kenya national team job after the highs of coaching at Manchester United.

McCarthy spent two years working as United’s attacking coach under Erik ten Hag between 2022 and 2024 and left at the end of his contract. After that spell, he was linked to a number of clubs back home in South Africa as well as the MLS but he made a surprise decision by taking up the Harambee Stars role.

While he has previously said that the need to change Kenya’s fortunes played a part in his decision, McCarthy admits it was also for personal reasons after two very demanding years at the Premier League club.

“I first needed to have a break because I felt like I had aged very fast in that short time,” McCarthy told South African outlet KickOff while reflecting on his stint at United and why he took up the Kenyan job.

“I needed to rest, and the offers and opportunities that came were not what I wanted. I had coached modest clubs like AmaZulu and Cape Town City, and I didn’t want to coach modest clubs anymore.”

Besides looking for a job that would give him time to rest and reflect, McCarthy admits what sweetened the deal to accept the Harambee Stars offer was the opportunity to lead a team at the Africa Cup of Nations.

“The Kenyan offer came, and the project, the opportunity to coach at AFCON, did seem appealing now that they will host it,” he added, referring to AFCON 2027, which Kenya will co-host alongside Uganda and Tanzania.

McCarthy has since expressed a desire to return to club football after his spell with Kenya amid links to South African giants Kaizer Chiefs and he has left the door open for such opportunities in the near future.

“My duty right now is with the Kenyan national team. I’m a fan of the club [Kaizer Chiefs] from outside but if it comes to my doorstep, then I will have to deal with it,” said the former Cape Town City and AmaZulu FC coach.