Benni McCarthy Opens Up on Family Sacrifices Behind His Career: 'I Get a Bit Angry With Myself'

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has reflected on the personal cost of his career, admitting that spending long periods away from his family since the age of 17 has at times led him to question his choices.

His international club journey began in 1997 when he left South Africa’s Seven Stars to join Dutch giants AFC Ajax, where he quickly made an impact by winning both the league title and the domestic cup.

Two years later, he secured a high-profile transfer to Celta Vigo in Spain, becoming the most expensive South African player at the time.

PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Google News, Stay informed with Latest Sport News

In 2003, he moved to FC Porto, where he enjoyed one of the defining moments of his career, winning the UEFA Champions League.

His success continued in England with Blackburn Rovers, where he spent four productive seasons between 2006 and 2010, before a shorter spell at West Ham United.

The Bafana Bafana legend returned home in 2011 to play for Orlando Pirates, and eventually retired from professional football in 2013, transitioning into a career in coaching and management.

Benni McCarthy admitted that at times he became frustrated with himself when reflecting on how his life had unfolded.

In an interview with What’s the Difference? A Woolies Food Podcast, he explained that his professional journey in football had required him to leave South Africa at a very young age, which meant he spent a significant portion of his life living abroad rather than with those closest to him.

He added that over the years, his personal life has also become rooted overseas, especially after marrying a woman from Scotland, which further anchored his responsibilities and daily life away from his birthplace.

He went on to say that although he tries to dedicate as much time as possible to being with his immediate household abroad, he makes a deliberate effort to return to South Africa whenever the chance arises, so he can reconnect with his mother and siblings and experience the sense of belonging tied to his upbringing.

He reflected that whenever he returns, he often finds it difficult to comprehend how he manages to stay away for such long periods, as being back home reminds him of a deep sense of comfort and identity that he felt was unmatched anywhere else.

“Sometimes I get a bit angry with myself. I think my life now because my football took me away from home when I was 17. For half my life, I kind of lived that side, and my family, and I married a Scottish woman. They are on that side,” Benni McCarthy explained.

“I think most of my time I spend at home with my family, and every opportunity that I get, I try to come home and see my mom and my brothers and my siblings, but just be home like where it all began for me, you know. So when I do come home, I can't understand, like, how do I spend so much time away? This is the best place that you could ever be.”

Meanwhile, after hanging up his boots, Benni McCarthy entered the coaching world as an assistant at Sint-Truiden in 2015, later managing Cape Town City and AmaZulu before serving as a first-team coach at Manchester United starting in 2022.

Following his time in England, Benni McCarthy has now taken over as the head coach of the Kenya national team in late 2024, continuing his evolution as a leading figure in African football.