The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has officially appointed Benni McCarthy as the head coach of the Kenya national football team. The 47-year-old South African football legend brings a wealth of experience, both as a player and a coach, to the Harambee Stars.
Coaching Team
McCarthy’s technical bench will include:
- Assistant Coach: Vasili Manousakis
- Goalkeepers Coach: Moeneeb Josephs
- Performance Analyst: Pilela Maposa
The quartet has signed two-year contracts and is expected to bring a fresh approach to the national team setup as Kenya prepares for its upcoming international fixtures.
Immediate Tasks
McCarthy’s immediate focus will be on the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Kenya is set to resume its qualification campaign with an away match against The Gambia, followed by a home fixture against Gabon later this month. The Harambee Stars currently trail Group F leaders Ivory Coast by five points but have six matches remaining, providing ample opportunity to improve their standings.
Background and Experience
As a player, McCarthy enjoyed a distinguished career, earning 80 caps for South Africa and scoring at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. He played in the Premier League for Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United and was part of the FC Porto squad that won the UEFA Champions League in 2004 under José Mourinho.
In his coaching career, McCarthy has managed South African clubs Cape Town City and AmaZulu. Most recently, he served on the coaching staff at Manchester United for two seasons under manager Erik ten Hag, working as a coach for the strikers.
Expectations
FKF President Hussein Mohammed expressed confidence in the new technical team, highlighting McCarthy’s experience, vision, and commitment to developing Kenyan football. The federation believes that under McCarthy’s leadership, the Harambee Stars can instill tactical discipline, structure, and a winning mentality as they gear up for future competitions.
McCarthy’s appointment marks a new era for Kenyan football, with hopes that his leadership will elevate the national team’s performance on the continental and global stages.
