'It Is A Shame' – Harambee Stars Coach Benni McCarthy Laments Former Club's Championship Struggles

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has gone down memory lane on his time at Blackburn Rovers, and he opened up about their struggles at the moment.

Benni McCarthy joined Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 2006 from FC Porto for a reported fee of £2.5 million, and he had a significant immediate impact, scoring 18 goals in 36 Premier League games during his debut 2006-07 season, which helped the club finish 10th.

The former South African striker remained an important player over the following two seasons, hitting double figures for goals in both the 2007-08 and 2008-09 campaigns, featuring in a total of 109 league appearances for the club.

Benni McCarthy departed Ewood Park midway through the 2009-10 season, transferring to fellow Premier League side West Ham United on February 1, 2010.

However, following his departure, Blackburn Rovers were subsequently relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2011-12 season. The club's 11-year spell in the top flight came to an end on May 7, 2012, following a 0-1 home defeat to Wigan Athletic.

Benni McCarthy reflected fondly on his spell at the Lancashire side, saying it was his introduction to top-flight football in England and a period he remembers with great affection.

The Harambee Stars coach explained that the staff and supporters helped him develop a deep attachment to the country, and he remains appreciative of that.

Benni McCarthy added that while he was there, the team consistently finished in the upper half of the league, operated smoothly, and had a loyal following, which, along with the people behind the scenes, made the club stand out for him.

“I will always be grateful to Blackburn for that, but yeah, during my time there, we were always in the top 10, so I never remember Blackburn being out of the top 10 while I played there. So, it was a team that was very consistent. They were stable in the league,” Benni McCarthy said on the Added Time podcast.

“They were a well-run club with a fantastic fan base, and just amazing people who worked in and around the club, which made the club so special. The people who worked on the front line made the club really what it is and special.”

Benni McCarthy admitted that it hurts to see the club now battling in the second tier, unable to reclaim their place among the elite, though he still believes a turnaround is possible.

He pointed out that the previous campaign brought them close to earning a promotion opportunity, only for a managerial change to interrupt their momentum and leave them just short of the postseason spots.

The former Manchester United attacking coach said his wish is to witness their return to the top flight, remembering how, during his era, the team was secure, attracted high-profile signings, and had enough pull to convince established internationals like Michel Salgado to leave one of Europe’s giants for a spell in Lancashire.

“It's a shame that you see them where they are now in the Championship, struggling to find their path back into the Premier League, but you know, there's always hope,” Benni McCarthy added.

Benni McCarthy went on to say that the club’s former ability to lure major talent was a direct result of their stability and regular top-half finishes, which made them an appealing destination.

He noted that this aura has faded, and when he watches them now, he barely recognises anyone in the squad.

Despite that disconnect, Benni McCarthy expressed a desire to see the side regroup, re-establish themselves as promotion contenders, and ultimately force their way back into the Premier League.

“Where would that have happened if Blackburn weren't so stable, if they were consistently in the top half of the Premier League? So players looked at Blackburn on the whole to come and play there, and it was attractive; now you don't see that anymore,” he opined.

“Like when I look back and I watch Blackburn now, I don't even recognise anybody, you know, any of the players or that. But I really hope that they can they can get it together and get themselves back into contention in the championship so they can get back into the Premier League.”

Blackburn Rovers are currently competing in the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football, where they have been since their relegation from the Premier League in 2012. They sit in the lower half of the Championship table, 18th place, after five wins, one draw and seven losses.