Barring any last-minute changes, South Africa’s Benni McCarthy is set to become the new Harambee Stars head coach at the turn of the year, Mozzart Sport can exclusively reveal.McCarthy will replace Engin Firat, who resigned earlier in December, citing unpaid salary by the government. The Turkish coach had been in charge of the national team for over three years, securing just three competitive wins during his tenure.##NAJAVA_MECA_8594025##Following Firat’s departure, the new FKF office swiftly began the process of finding a replacement. The technical team, led by new FKF Vice President MacDonald Mariga, interviewed several candidates to identify the best fit for the role.After a thorough evaluation, McCarthy was reportedly chosen. His most recent job was with English Premier League giants Manchester United, where he served as an attacking coach for two seasons before leaving in July.A source from South Africa confirmed that all terms have been agreed upon, and the coach is eager for his first national team assignment.##NAJAVA_MECA_8593714##“It’s a done deal—Benni will be the new Kenya coach,” the source revealed. “He’s excited about the challenge, especially since this is his first time managing a national team. His unveiling should happen around early January, but the exact date will be confirmed soon,” the source added.Francis Kimanzi returns as Harambee Stars name provisional squad for Mapinduzi CupHowever, it remains unclear if McCarthy will take charge of Kenya ahead of the CHAN tournament, which starts on Saturday, 1 February and is co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.Former Harambee Stars coach Francis Kimanzi has been appointed the interim coach for the Mapinduzi Cup set to commence on Friday 3 January in Zanzibar.Kimanzi has already named a squad that is expected to form the CHAN team. It is yet to be confirmed if Kimanzi will lead the team during the CHAN tournament or if he will hand over the reins to McCarthy after the Mapinduzi Cup.If McCarthy does not manage the CHAN team, his first official assignment will be Kenya’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Gabon on Monday 17 March, an away fixture, with the return leg scheduled for seven days later at home—provided the Nyayo or Kasarani Stadia meet FIFA standards by then, as they are currently under renovation.Shabana head coach to hand more game time to youngsterMcCarthy’s arrival could signal a pivotal moment for the future of the national team, as he may be tasked with overseeing a transitional period.Following Kenya’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, there have been calls to phase out some of the long-serving players and focus on rebuilding.Should McCarthy lead this rebuilding process, it will be interesting to see how he integrates younger talents, particularly from Kenya’s highly ranked U20 team, which has qualified for next year’s U20 AFCON.The primary focus of the Football Kenya Federation is to develop a strong national team in preparation for the 2027 AFCON, which Kenya will co-host with Tanzania, Uganda, and McCarthy’s main task will be to build and strengthen the team over the next two years to ensure they are ready for the challenge.Bajaber and other players who deserved Harambee Stars call-upsWho is Benni McCarthy?Born 47 years ago in Cape Town, South Africa, Benni McCarthy is regarded as one of the greatest Bafana Bafana footballers of all time.As a striker, he played for clubs like Ajax in the Netherlands, Celta de Vigo in Spain, Porto in Portugal, Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United in England, and finished his career with the Orlando Pirates in South Africa.McCarthy’s most successful stint as a player came during his time with Porto, where he won several trophies, including the 2004 UEFA Champions League under the guidance of Jose Mourinho.His other accolades with Porto include two Primeira Liga titles, the Taça de Portugal, two Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira titles, and the Intercontinental Cup.He transitioned into coaching in 2014, starting as a youth team coach at Scottish side Hibernian while assisting the senior team.He then moved to Belgian club Sint-Truiden, initially as an intern and later as an assistant coach. It was at Sint-Truiden that McCarthy completed his coaching licenses.Kenyan midfielder’s value raises by Ksh376 million in 2024In June 2016, McCarthy took over as head coach at Cape Town City FC in South Africa, where he is remembered for signing Kenya international Masud Juma.He earned his UEFA Pro License while coaching AmaZulu FC. His first coaching trophy came in 2017 when he led Cape Town City to victory in the MTN Super 8.McCarthy became head coach of AmaZulu FC in December 2020, leading them to a second-place finish in the Premier Soccer League—their best-ever league result—and qualification for the 2021-22 CAF Champions League.Under McCarthy, AmaZulu reached the group stages of the Champions League before his departure in March 2022.##NAJAVA_MECA_8593721##In July 2022, McCarthy joined Manchester United as an attacking coach, working with the team’s forwards until his two-year contract ended in July 2024.Coaching Style and PhilosophyMcCarthy’s coaching philosophy is adaptive, allowing him to adjust his style based on the players he has at his disposal. He believes in playing a winning brand of football that resonates with his squad.“I understand how players think and the mentality required for success. It’s about the style of football that players want to be part of. A team must play a brand of football that reflects its players,” McCarthy explained in a previous interview with the Whistle Podcast.BENNI IN THE 18 AREA 🏆English League Cup🏆FA Cup 🇿🇦 Benni McCarthy at Man United with another Trophy as Man U first team Coach#SouthAfricanForeignLegion pic.twitter.com/JisFenqLch— South African Foreign Legion – SAFL (@SAFL_Legion) May 25, 2024 “It’s not necessarily about playing beautiful football but about playing a winning brand of football that players can be proud of. That’s the vision I bring as a manager, and I’m confident I can deliver on that when given the opportunity.”Personal LifeMcCarthy married Maria Santos, a Spanish national, in 2004, and they had three daughters: Minna, Mya, and Allegra. The couple divorced in 2007.In May 2014, McCarthy married Scottish model Stacey Munro, and they have two children: a daughter, Lima Rose, born in 2012, and a son, Lio Romero, born in 2019.Kenya U17 coach explains poor showing at U17 AFCON qualifiers
