Benni McCarthy's journey with Kenya's Harambee Stars - Is this a move that will lead ex-PSL Coach of the Season to Bafana Bafana job?

In what can only be described as one of the most unconventional moves in recent memory, McCarthy has made a surprising shift in his coaching career. After spending two years at Manchester United, a stint he referred to as his "dream job," the former striker has decided to head to Kenya. Ranked 108th in the latest FIFA rankings, Kenya is hardly known for its footballing prowess, so McCarthy’s choice to move there, despite other offers in Major League Soccer, is nothing short of bewildering.

But here’s the thing: McCarthy knows exactly what he’s after, as he explains here. Known for his assertiveness both as a player and in the early stages of his coaching career, the former Red Devils’ strikers’ coach has a clear vision — and make no mistake, he’s not one to make decisions lightly. Perhaps the allure of a relatively pressure-free environment will allow McCarthy to experiment with his coaching methods and leverage the vast experience he's accumulated over his career. With fewer external expectations, he may well be able to shape the Kenyan team to his liking, laying the foundation for something special.

For McCarthy, this move represents a crucial opportunity to elevate his coaching credentials. Having never been involved in a national team setup before, taking the reins of Kenya's national side is a significant step up. While he’s previously managed clubs like Cape Town City and AmaZulu in the Premier Soccer League, coaching on the international stage is a whole new challenge — a stepping stone that prepares him for even bigger roles with more prominent national teams in the future.

Now, let’s be honest: this is a job that many high-profile coaches would be hesitant to take on. With the Kenyan national team far from a global powerhouse, the financial incentives that come with such an appointment might have played a role in McCarthy’s decision. After all, the former goal-scoring machine has been out of work for a while, and the offer from Kenya was likely too good to pass up. It’s clear that, while footballing motives are certainly at play, the financial package attached to this role couldn’t be ignored. Hints of his salary are detailed here.

This move might just be the warm-up for McCarthy’s ultimate goal — becoming the next head coach of Bafana. Back in 2021, he was one of the frontrunners for the South African national team’s top job before Hugo Broos was appointed. Since then, Broos has transformed the South African team into a formidable force, but it’s likely that his tenure will come to an end sooner rather than later. When that day arrives, McCarthy could very well be the man to take over, armed with valuable experience and a successful track record from his time with Kenya.

For McCarthy, the ultimate challenge will come in 2027, when he leads the Harambee Stars into the Africa Cup of Nations. Co-hosting with Uganda and Tanzania, this tournament represents a golden opportunity for McCarthy to showcase his coaching acumen on a grand scale. With many of Kenya’s top players plying their trade abroad, he has a chance to build a competitive squad that could shake things up in African football. The time he has before the tournament, coupled with his vast experience, may very well be the perfect recipe for success — and McCarthy may just be on the brink of something huge.

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