Harambee Stars Announces Ex-Man United & UEFA Champion Benni McCarthy as Head Coach
South African football legend Benni McCarthy has been appointed head coach of Kenya’s Harambee Stars as they push for World Cup qualification. Can his international experience turn Kenya into a continental force?
Benni McCarthy, the former South African international, has been appointed head coach of Kenya’s Harambee Stars, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) announced on March 3, 2025. The move comes as Kenya intensifies its World Cup qualification campaign, signaling a strategic shift in the team’s leadership.
McCarthy, 47, enjoyed a distinguished playing career, winning the 2004 UEFA Champions League with FC Porto and earning 80 caps for South Africa, including appearances at the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups. As a coach, he led Cape Town City and AmaZulu in South Africa before serving as a strikers' coach at Manchester United under Erik ten Hag.
His first test will be steering Kenya’s World Cup qualification campaign, starting with crucial matches against The Gambia (away) and Gabon (home) this month. Trailing Group F leaders Ivory Coast by five points, Kenya must capitalize on its remaining six matches to stay in contention. Only group winners secure direct qualification, while select runners-up face an additional playoff round.
McCarthy has enlisted familiar faces for his coaching staff, including performance analyst Pilela Maposa, goalkeeper coach Moeneeb Josephs, and assistant coach Vasili Manousakis. The trio worked alongside him at AmaZulu FC, where they helped transform the club into a competitive force in South African football.
His appointment has sparked mixed reactions in Kenya’s football circles. While some see his international experience as a boost, others question his familiarity with local talent. Former Kenyan international Boniface Ambani voiced skepticism, stating, "He doesn’t even know a single player from our team."
With Kenya set to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Tanzania and Uganda, McCarthy’s tenure is expected to lay the groundwork for a more competitive squad. While Kenya failed to qualify for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, McCarthy’s international pedigree offers hope for a turnaround as the Harambee Stars aim to reassert themselves on the continental stage.
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