Manchester United players congratulated Benni McCarthy on his appointment as Harambee Stars head coach.
Being a respected figure among Manchester United players, Benni McCarthy has received heartfelt congratulations from several stars of the Premier League club after being named the new head coach of Harambee Stars.
The South African coach, who served as Manchester United’s first-team strikers’ coach from 2022 to 2024, is embarking on his first managerial role since leaving Old Trafford.
McCarthy’s appointment by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) came after months of speculation about who would take over from Engin Firat.
How new Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy will manage to convince foreign-based players, including dual-citizens like Linton Maina & Djed Spence, to play for Harambee Stars.
The former Bafana Bafana forward signed a contract that will see him lead Kenya’s national team through to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which the country will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.
Reacting to the news, Manchester United players flooded McCarthy’s Instagram post with congratulatory messages.
“Well deserved bro 🙌🏼 best of luck ❤️,” wrote the Reds captain Bruno Fernandes led the well-wishes, writing,
Defender Lisandro Martinez also joined in, saying, “Best of luck brother! You deserve all the best ♥️.”
McCarthy, who was instrumental in Manchester United’s attacking department, worked closely with top talents such as Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial during his tenure.
His efforts contributed to the club’s success, including winning the EFL Cup and the FA Cup under Erik ten Hag.
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Manchester United fans also took to social media to applaud McCarthy’s appointment, with many expressing excitement about his new journey in international coaching.
His time at United earned him widespread admiration for his ability to inspire and improve strikers, and his departure left a noticeable gap in the coaching setup.
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AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda has confirmed that the club officially submitted all the paperwork on Tuesday, 5th March 2025, to acquire the land in Kasarani supposed to be used for the building of its stadium.
FKF President Hussein Mohammed expressed confidence in McCarthy’s ability to lead the national team to new heights.
“He has a fire in the belly. One that shows that he has something to prove, and comes out as a passionate individual. He is Kenyan as it gets,” he stated
McCarthy will be assisted by fellow South African Moeneeb Josephs as the goalkeeper coach, alongside assistant coach Vasili Manousakis and performance analyst Pilela Maposa. His immediate challenge will be preparing Kenya for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Gambia and Gabon.
During his time at Manchester United, McCarthy played a key role in sharpening the team’s attacking force. His work saw players like Rashford hit top form, with the English forward enjoying one of his most prolific seasons under McCarthy’s guidance.