SA Soccer legend Benni McCarthy joins Manchester United as a first-team coach

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By Liesl Smit


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Press Release:

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has added to his backroom team with the appointment of Benni McCarthy as a first-team coach.

The former South Africa striker is a boyhood Reds fan and scored twice against Manchester United for Porto in the 2003/04 Champions League knockout stages.

“I support Man United and always wanted to play for them,” he once said. “I loved players like Mark Hughes, Andy Cole and Ryan Giggs.”

The 44-year-old also represented the likes of Ajax, Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United during his distinguished career.

McCarthy left his post as AmaZulu head coach in March after guiding the South African team to a record second position in the league. In 2020/21, he was named the South African Premier League’s Coach of the Season.

The ex-forward will specialise in coaching attacking plays and positioning.

Liesl Smit
Liesl Smit
Liesl is the Smile 90.4FM News Manager. She has been at Smile since 2016, with nearly 20 years experience in the radio industry, including reading news, field reporting and producing. In 2008 she won the Vodacom Journalist of the Year Award, Western Cape region. liesl@smile904.fm

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