‘Nothing Different Between Me and Guardiola’ - Benni McCarthy on Why Kenya is Stepping Stone to Big Job

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has never hidden his desire to quickly return to club management and he admits the Kenyan job is a platform he is using to market himself.

McCarthy, who joined Kenya in March 2025, having worked as Manchester United’s attacking coach, and previously as the boss of Cape Town City and AmaZulu FC in his country South Africa, has a contract until 2027.

His deal will run out after next year’s Africa Cup of Nations and he is planning to use the tournament to show the rest of the world that he is cut for the big jobs in club football.

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“I think there is a lot of potential and talent and that is kind of why I took the project on. To make a difference and to change African football [by] giving back what I know. So, it is working towards AFCON 2027 which Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are the hosts,” McCarthy told SuperSport TV on why he took on the Kenyan job.

“It is a big opportunity and the spotlight is there for a young coach wanting to achieve if you have a great tournament and if you do something special, the platform that it gives you, it can spiral you.”

The South African legend dreams of coaching the world’s biggest clubs like Manchester United and Real Madrid but knows he will not be handed such opportunities if he does not achieve something special.

It is with this in mind that he feels AFCON 2027 presents him with the best possible chance to convince such clubs that he is good enough for them.

“My ambition was always to work at Man United and I achieved that, tick. But now, the next big thing is I want to be the boss there. I want to be the head coach at a Man United at a Real Madrid. Those are what I aspire to,” he added.

“I keep dreaming and I back myself that I am well capable. There is nothing different between me and Pep Guardiola. He got the opportunity I just haven’t gotten that opportunity to prove what I can do.

“So when somebody says; ‘Hey, I bet on you’, then put me on that platform and I am sure I am well capable of doing that. That is what I am manifesting and coaching the Kenya national team in an AFCON can give you that platform to skyrocket very quickly to where you want to be and open doors for you on the continent and in Europe and the biggest teams in the world,” he further stated.