Erik ten Hag has explained why Manchester United signed Benni McCarthy to its coaching staff ahead of Premier League 2022/2023 season.
The South African was there at Old Trafford on Sunday as the Reds and Rayo Vallecano drew 1-1 in their preseason match.
His hiring as a first-team coach was announced over the weekend, and the former striker has the credentials and experience to help the team’s offense become more focused.
In need of a new addition to his coaching staff ahead of the Premier League season opener at Old Trafford next weekend against Brighton & Hove Albion, Ten Hag thought the retired Ajax player met the description.
Erik ten Hag on McCarthy
“There was still one place in our coaching staff that I wanted to fill,” he told MUTV. “Someone with a different voice and Benni is that one.
“He has experience as a manager. He was a coach in the professional level and he was a former striker, a really successful striker as well.”
In order to help the Reds get ready for life at home and abroad in 2022–2033, the manager went into further detail about McCarthy’s unique job at Carrington.
“He will focus on the positioning and attacking,” said Ten Hag.
“I’m not saying only the strikers, but also the integration from the full-backs and midfielders. Our way of play has to be dynamic.”
Benni McCarthy
Benni McCarthy, a former football player from South Africa and current first-team coach at Manchester United, was born on November 12, 1977. He most recently served as AmaZulu’s head coach in the South African Premier Division.
McCarthy, a former forward, now holds the record for most goals scored in the South Africa national team, with 31. Additionally, he is the only player from South Africa to have triumphed with Porto in the UEFA Champions League in 2003–2004.
Managerial and coaching career
Hibernian
McCarthy, who has been a resident of Edinburgh since 2013, announced in April 2015 that he had joined Alan Stubbs’ coaching team at Scottish club Hibernian.
McCarthy was invited by Stubbs so that he could merely get a feel for coaching. McCarthy and Stubbs were colleagues. McCarthy played for Blackburn Rovers while Stubbs played for Everton. McCarthy announced that he would assist with both the first team and the U20s.
Sint-Truiden
He had a brief internship with Yannick Ferrera at Sint-Truidense VV club in February 2015. McCarthy was named assistant manager to manager Chris O’Loughlin on September 8, 2015, after Yannick Ferrera was sacked.
McCarthy met O’Loughlin as he progressed through the UEFA Coaching Badges system’s several divisions.
McCarthy left Sint-Truiden on April 20, 2016, for personal reasons, after it had been made known that his contract would not be renewed.
Cape Town City
McCarthy took over as Cape Town City’s head coach on June 13 when Eric Tinkler left to manage SuperSport United.
McCarthy completed his UEFA Pro License while serving as City’s head coach, and took home his first coaching trophy in 2018 as City won the MTN 8 cup. After just two victories in 18 games, McCarthy was fired as Cape Town City’s head coach on November 4th, 2019.
AmaZulu
McCarthy was introduced as the new AmaZulu F.C. head coach on December 14, 2020, taking over for Ayanda Dlamini, who resigned from the role on December 7, 2020.
He led the team to a second-place finish in the DStv Premiership, a high point for AmaZulu in the country’s contemporary soccer history. AmaZulu thereby earned a spot in the 2021–22 CAF Champions League’s qualifying rounds.
In their inaugural season, McCarthy guided AmaZulu to the 2021–22 CAF Champions League group stages before they were eliminated. On March 25, 2022, McCarthy and AmaZulu decided to pathways.
Manchester United
McCarthy joined Manchester United’s first team as a coach on July 30, 2022.
