Benni McCarthy: From Champions League Glory to Coaching Success

Benni McCarthy, a renowned figure in South African football, holds the record as Bafana Bafana’s top scorer with 31 goals in 80 appearances. He is the only South African to have won the UEFA Champions League. Born in Cape Town, McCarthy’s illustrious playing career included stints at Ajax, Celta Vigo, FC Porto, Blackburn Rovers, and West Ham United. Notably, he scored 18 goals for Blackburn in the 2006-07 Premier League season.

McCarthy’s coaching career began at Sint-Truiden as an assistant manager before leading Cape Town City and AmaZulu. His achievements include winning the MTN9 with Cape Town City and guiding AmaZulu to their first CAF Champions League appearance. Currently, he serves as the head coach of Kenya’s Harambee Stars.

In his playing days, McCarthy achieved significant success with Orlando Pirates, winning the South African league title and domestic cups. He was also a two-time Primeira Liga champion with Porto and an Eredivisie winner with Ajax.