Benni McCarthy, a legend in South African football, will be introduced as the next head coach of the Harambee Stars

McCarthy, a former first-team coach at English football powerhouse Manchester United, will be named the next coach by the end of this week, succeeding interim manager Francis Kimanzi, according to a source at the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).

Although McCarthy’s appointment has been rumored for a while, it finally appears to be confirmed at a time when the national team is attempting to establish some stability.

Prior to his debut at the end of the week, McCarthy is anticipated to arrive in the nation in the middle of the week, the source claimed. He will also be there at Sunday’s historic Mashemeji Derby, which will pit Kenya’s two most successful clubs, Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards, against one another.

With Kenya’s World Cup qualifying matches against Gabon and Gambia quickly approaching, his hiring comes at a critical moment. McCarthy will start getting ready for the crucial battles as soon as he is formally confirmed.

Hussein Mohammed, the president of FKF, assured supporters earlier this year that the organization was dedicated to selecting the top player for the national squad.

“To assist us in achieving our goals, FKF is seeking to recruit a capable technical bench and a substantive coach. For this reason, the existing technical bench was appointed temporarily. When everything is finished, we will give you an update on the new coach,” Mohammed told Nation.

The new coach will be the first long-term hire since Engin Firat, a Turkish national, had a turbulent last season.

Firat’s exit signaled the end of a tumultuous three-year stint with the national team that was characterized by inconsistent results on the field, constant criticism, and salary delays.

With 31 goals in 74 games, former striker McCarthy is Bafana Bafana’s all-time leading scorer. McCarthy was well-known for his killer eye for goal and cunning boxing moves, which were crucial to his nation’s success in the FIFA World Cup games in 1998 and 2002.

McCarthy played in a number of elite leagues during his career, including the esteemed English Premier League. He also participated in the Dutch Eredivisie and La Liga in Spain.

McCarthy played football in his home country of South Africa for Ajax, Celta Vigo, FC Porto, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham, and Orlando Pirates. The striker’s career reached its zenith in 2004 when he lifted the renowned UEFA Champions League trophy at Porto under Jose Mourinho.

McCarthy has had some success as a coach while holding the position of head coach at Cape Town City FC and AmaZulu FC in South Africa.

His most recent position was a prominent coaching position in the Manchester United first squad, where he contributed his attacking expertise. McCarthy taught players including Cristiano Ronaldo, who is regarded as the best football player of all time, and helped the team win the Carabao Cup in the 2022–2023 season while working under former head coach Erik Ten Hag from 2022–2024.

After deciding not to extend his contract, McCarthy left, saying he wanted to become a head coach.