Shock as Harambee Stars Coach Benni McCarthy Linked With Surprise Exit

Benni McCarthy instructs his Harambee Stars players during Kenya vs Gabon match at Nyayo Stadium. Photo/FKF Media

Shock as Harambee Stars Coach Benni McCarthy Linked With Surprise Exit

Stephen Awino 17:30 - 18.04.2025

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has been tipped for a coaching role with with former club.

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has emerged among the top names being associated with the coaching role at South African giants Orlando Pirates.

The Bafana Bafana legend is just months into his Harambee Stars tenure, having taken over on March 3.

This appointment followed his coaching stints at South African sides AmaZulu and Cape Town City, as well as a first-team coach role at Manchester United as part of former manager Erik ten Hag's backroom staff.

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Benni McCarthy during his unveiling as Harambee Stars coach.
Benni McCarthy during his unveiling as Harambee Stars coach.

The Harambee Stars tactician has been linked with a coaching role at the South African giants following reports that Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro is expected to depart the club at the end of the season.

According to Goal.com, Riveiro's departure leaves room for high-profile replacements, McCarthy among them.  

"The Buccaneers offer McCarthy the stage to make history by becoming the first person to win both the UEFA Champions League and the CAF Champions League - an achievement that would cement his legacy on a continental scale," the publication noted.

A reunion with The Buccaneers is seen as an opportunity for McCarthy to continue his South African football legacy.

McCarthy already has a history with the side, having won the South African Championship when he returned to the motherland from Europe after stints with Porto, Ajax, and Blackburn Rovers.

McCarthy retired following his Pirates stint in 2017.

His first job as head coach started in 2017 when he was handed the reins at Cape Town City, whom he led to their first trophy, the MTN8, in 2018.

He was dismissed in 2019 before he took the AmaZulu coaching role, whom he guided to second place before his Manchester United role.

Benni McCarthy's Harambee Stars Job

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy.
Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy. (Credit: FKF Media)

The South African tactician has been tasked with rejuvenating the Kenyan national football team.

This is particularly with the 2027 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in mind, which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.

McCarthy has already overseen two fixtures for the Harambee Stars during the March international break in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.

His debut against Gambia ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw, before his second outing saw the Harambee Stars fall 2-1 to Gabon.

The tactician's immediate focus is the remainder of their Qualifiers against Gambia, Seychelles, Burundi, and Ivory Coast.

The 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in August, also to be co-hosted with Uganda and Tanzania, presents another task for the tactician as Harambee Stars coach.