Newly appointed Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy is set to earn a substantial monthly salary after taking on the challenging task of reviving Kenya’s national men’s football team.
McCarthy was officially unveiled in an upbeat ceremony at the Serena Hotel on Monday, March 3, where he signed a two-year contract that will see him lead the team through the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign.
According to sources within the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), the South African tactician will receive a base salary of approximately Ksh2.2 million per month, excluding performance-based bonuses.
However, this figure could rise depending on the specific terms of his contract.
Performance incentives are expected to play a significant role in McCarthy’s earnings.
He stands to receive bonuses for achievements such as improving Harambee Stars’ FIFA World Ranking and guiding the team to the latter stages of major continental tournaments, including the upcoming AFCON qualifiers in August.
While his current earnings are significant, they are considerably lower than his previous wages at Manchester United, where he reportedly made Ksh6.6 million per week – amounting to roughly Ksh26.5 million per month.
Who is Benni McCarthy?
McCarthy played as a forward during his career and has since transitioned into coaching.
McCarthy’s football journey began in his hometown of Cape Town, where he grew up in Hanover Park on the Cape Flats, an area known for its challenges with gang violence and unemployment.
He started playing at local clubs, including Young Pirates and Crusaders, before joining Seven Stars at age 17.
At Ajax from 1997 to 1999, McCarthy joined the Eredivisie side and quickly made an impact, scoring 9 goals in his debut season (1997–98) and helping the team win the league title
McCarthy’s career peaked at Porto in Portugal from 2001 to 2006, with a brief loan spell in 2001–02.
Initially on loan, Porto permanently signed him in 2003 for €7.856 million. Under José Mourinho, he won the Primeira Liga in 2002–03 and 2003–04, the Taça de Portugal in 2002–03, and the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira in 2003 and 2004.
In 2006, McCarthy moved to the English Premier League with Blackburn Rovers for £2.5 million.
In his first season (2006–07), he scored 18 league goals (24 across all competitions), finishing as the league’s second-top scorer. He tallied 52 goals in 140 appearances over four seasons.
His stint at West Ham United from 2010 to 2011 was marred by injuries and limited success, with no goals in 14 appearances.
Returning to South Africa, he joined Orlando Pirates from 2011 to 2013 and achieved a treble in the 2011–12 season, winning the Premier Soccer League (PSL), MTN8, and Nedbank Cup. He retired in 2013 with 18 goals in 49 appearances for the club.
Internationally, McCarthy represented South Africa’s national team, Bafana Bafana, from 1997 to 2012, earning 80 caps and scoring a record 31 goals, making him the country’s all-time leading scorer.
He played in the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups, scoring South Africa’s first World Cup goal in 1998 against Denmark.
He also featured in multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, notably scoring four goals in a single match against Namibia in 1998.
After retiring, McCarthy transitioned into coaching. His first head coaching role was with Cape Town City from 2017 to 2019, where he led the team to the MTN8 title in 2018.
He then managed AmaZulu in the PSL from 2020 to 2022, achieving a second-place finish in the 2020–21 season, the club’s best-ever league result.
In July 2022, he joined Manchester United as a first-team coach under Erik ten Hag, staying until June 27, 2024, when his contract ended.
