Bafana Bafana’s all-time top scorer, Benni McCarthy, is back on South African soil after two years as a Manchester United first-team coach.
Following two mediocre years with the Red Devils he was replaced by another football great, Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Since his release, McCarthy has been linked with several American Major Soccer League (MLS) and Saudi Pro League clubs.
There was even chatter about him returning to AmaZulu FC, who was recently in the hunt for a head coach but decided to hire Arthur Zwane and Vusimuzi Vilakazi as co-managers instead.
Is Benni McCarthy trying to get the Bafana Bafana job?
During a conversation with the On The Whistle Podcast crew, it became apparent that the Champions League winner was unsure whether Hugo Broos was the right man for the job.
“It’s a good generation of players, a lot of young players breaking through. So it was a massive opportunity for Bafana Bafana [to win the 2023 AFCON]. They had a group of talented players coming through and they found themselves in a lucrative position to be in the semi-final,
“But there are a little bit of shortages, but you know you accept it because Bafana over the last few years have been nowhere. They have not qualified for any World Cups, they have underachieved quite a lot.
“So the fact that they have gone on to the semi-final of AFCON is good. I think with the current squad, the current generation of players that they have to choose from, they should be there and there about,
“I don’t know if they have the right manager, and if not, whichever right man comes in, hopefully, he can take this group of players to the next level”, McCarthy concluded.
A sparkling career
One of the most decorated South African sportsmen, McCarthy won the Champions League with Jose Mourinho’s valiant Porto and netted 31 goals for Bafana Bafana – a national record – and 161 throughout his club career.
His life as a manager began for Belgium Pro League side Sint-Truiden in 2015-16 before returning to Cape Town City for two years. He then took over the reins at AmaZulu FC before heading to Manchester United as one of Erik ten Hag’s backroom staff.
Where should McCarthy manage next?
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