Exclusive: Benni McCarthy Turns Down MLS to Take Charge of Kenya’s National Team

Former strikers' coach at Manchester United, Benni McCarthy, was widely expected to join a big club, possibly in one of the European top five leagues, after severing ties with the English giants in October 2024.

His coaching career soared to unprecedented levels after he joined the Man United technical bench as forwards' coach, in July 2022, three months after leaving South African club AmaZulu.

Going by his rich football success as a player in Europe and his fast-rising coaching career, pundits suggested that the former West Ham United striker was destined for another decent coaching job after leaving Man United.

However, five months after walking through the exit door at Carrington, the UEFA Champions League winner with FC Porto in 2004 finds himself in East Africa after accepting to coach the Kenyan national team, Harambee Stars.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) unveiled the 47-year-old on Monday, March 3, at a Nairobi hotel, alongside a handful of his backroom staff, all of South African origin.

McCarthy will be deputised by former Richards Bay tactician Vasili Manousakis, with former South African and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Moneeb Josephs being tasked with training the Kenyan shot-stoppers.

Pilela Maposa will serve as the team's performance analyst, with FKF expected to beef the bench ahead of the March FIFA International window, where Kenya will face The Gambia and Gabon in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

WHY McCARTHY REJECTED MLS FOR KENYAN JOB

From coaching big names at Man United to handling a team, that is currently languishing in position 108 on the FIFA standings, McCarthy may seem to have downgraded, career-wise.

However, one can't accuse the former Blackburn Rovers striker of lacking ambition, as he boldly picked the Kenyan job ahead of, what are thought to be more, lucrative offers from clubs in the United States of America's Major League Soccer (MLS).

McCarthy acknowledged having been in touch with other coaches regarding a potential partnership, with an undisclosed number of MLS clubs scrambling for his signature.

The unexploited potential in Kenyan football, along with the country's recent ability to craft and export young and exciting talents to Europe in recent years, swept McCarthy off his feet, and consequently, he packed his bags to Nairobi.

"I wouldn't say I was in demand but, I did a few job interviews with other coaches and mostly with clubs in the MLS. I consider Kenya a sleeping giant in my eyes. I looked at the project and struck me as a country with a lot of potential. It has young and talented players playing in Europe and all over," McCarthy told SportsBoom.com. 

Despite being his first time coaching a national team, the UEFA Pro License holder is unfazed by the risks that may be involved, including failure.

All he wishes for is to pull something special with the Kenyan team which has significantly digressed in recent years, falling out of the 100 bracket on the FIFA log.

"With the right mentality and mindset you can do something special with the team," added McCarthy.

MARIGA'S HAND IN THE MOVE

The Kenyan project was not enough to convince the former Ajax Amsterdam striker to reject other interested teams and settle for Nairobi, as a fellow UEFA Champions League winner worked hard behind the scenes to get the deal.

McCarthy revealed that he had a conversation with Kenyan legend and the 2009 Champions League winner with Inter Milan McDonald Mariga, over the move, with their chat accelerating the completion of the talks.

Mariga, the sole East African to have won the prestigious European title, transitioned into football administration in December 2024 after being elected as vice president to FKF President Hussein Mohammed.

Besides talking to Mariga, McCarthy admitted to consulting far and wide and ultimately he made up his mind to try his hands on national team coaching.

"I spoke to Vice President Mariga before I came here. I also consulted my agent and informed him of the interest from Kenya. In life, you have to convince people that you're a good coach and why you're the right man for the job. I felt Kenya was a good opportunity for me," he said.

Further, the engagement with the FKF President and the plans he has for the team fully convinced McCarthy to make his latest career move.

"The conversation between me and the federation was full of respect. They felt my mentality and my story from Africa to surviving and winning in Europe at a young age could inspire players. They felt I had the vision and when you hear such kind of words, you obviously want to join hands and work together. Hopefully, we will achieve something no other coach has achieved with the team."

HOW McCARTHY WILL HANDLE PRESSURE

The job McCarthy signed for, like any other, comes with loads of pressure, as the Kenyan fans, especially through social media, have always demanded answers and criticised coaches when the team loses.

The criticism is not exclusively reserved for the football team; long and middle-distance athletes, who have given the country remarkable success in global championships, are not spared in the event of a poor show.

McCarthy is aware the Kenyan job is akin to a pressure cooker, but he has his sleeves rolled to handle it along with the challenges.

He joins the team on the back of a failed 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) which claimed the job of his predecessor and Turkish Engin Firat.

"Pressure comes with this job, whether it is Kenya, Man United or anywhere else. You become a head coach, there is an incredible amount of pressure that comes with it. You always want to be successful, and win matches which is very difficult. But, if you work hard, believe in yourself and make the best from players, then it becomes easy to deal with pressure," he concluded.