Benni McCarthy has reportedly left Manchester United after spending two years as a member of Erik ten Hag’s back room staff FILE - Former Cape Town City and AmaZulu head coach Benni McCarthy has opened up about his desire to coach of the Soweto giants, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. Photo: Phando Jikelo/Independent Newspapers
Image: Phando Jikelo/Independent Newspapers
South African football icon Benni McCarthy has revealed he is still open to chance of being in charge of Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs or Orlando Pirates.
Between 2017 and 2022, McCarthy was the head coach of Cape Town City and AmaZulu in South Africa's top flight. During that time, he was continuously linked with both Soweto giants and Bafana Bafana, but he was never appointed.
After he was sacked by AmaZulu 2022, Bafana's top goalscorer found himself at Old Trafford as a member of Erik ten Hag's backroom staff at Manchester United. And after two seasons, which delivered the League Cup and FA Cup, he left the club after his contract expired.
Now on the hunt for a new job, his name has been linked with Mamelodi Sundowns, but he revealed earlier this week that he had held interviews with three teams from Major League Soccer in the United States.
Speaking to Robert Marawa, McCarthy revealed the number of times he could have been appointed by either of the Soweto giants.
“After coach Gavin Hunt left Kaizer Chiefs, there was a possibility that I could’ve gotten the job but never did,” McCarthy said.
“Just before coach -Nasreddine] Nabi, there was opportunity, there was cry from everybody, but I never got because for whatever reason, never.
“Pirates – I played at Pirates – before coach Jose Riveiro came there was an opportunity, I was doing exceptionally well with one of the teams one would probably least expect – AmaZulu – there would’ve been an opportunity to go there, but it didn’t happen.
“Why not? Exactly, that’s just the trend. You get to that stage where you think, that is my home, I love South Africa, I love our football, but I’m probably never going to manage there unless it is your Richards Bay, your AmaZulu, your Cape Town City.
“So, you rather say stuff that, let me rather go and knock on every door I possibly can in Europe and one day it’s gonna open and if it opens things is going to change. Then I’ll have the opportunity I always wanted.”
IOL Sport