Late on Saturday night, Manchester United officially confirmed that new manager Erik ten Hag had added to his backroom team with the appointment of South African soccer legend Benni McCarthy as a first-team coach.
The South African was at Old Trafford on Sunday as the Reds drew 1-1 with Rayo Vallecano in United’s final pre-season friendly, completing a blockbuster move that hardly anybody saw coming.
Reflecting on the appointment, Quinton Fortune has highlighted why it’s such a significant move, for more reasons than one.
“This will be an out-of-this-world experience for Benni,” Fortune told BBC Sport Africa. “If you look at what Benni has achieved in the game – a Champions League winner, league winner in Holland and Portugal, golden boot winner at the 1998 Nations Cup and in Portugal, together with his coaching qualifications, his appointment is a no-brainer,” the 45-year-old said.
“I thought if Benni was going to be working only with the strikers, it was huge – but for me, it’s even bigger now that I’ve heard he will also be working with the midfielders and strikers.”
“It’s a great move by the manager because Benni can speak Dutch, Portuguese, and Spanish. This is so good because it will inspire the kids back home who can see one of their own now being part of the coaching staff at a club as big as Manchester United, who have a huge following in South Africa and across the world,” he added.
“It’s not only good for Benni but also for African coaches to show what’s possible.”
McCarthy’s agent Rob Moore recently revealed how the popular coach had to go for an interview, and also do a training assessment, to beat other candidates to the job as he sought to impress Ten Hag.
“Erik didn’t know Benni, neither did Erik’s assistant Mitchell [van der Gaag]. They didn’t know each other very well. I mean obviously Benni and Mitch had played against each other in Portugal,” Moore said on EnergyFM, as quoted by iDiski Times.
“This was done completely only with Erik. As I say, though, it was a process. He had to be interviewed by Erik and the Director of Football at Manchester United John Murtough was also in the interview.
“Then it had to be followed up, Benni had to do a session with the Man Utd U23 team under Erik’s watch. Erik was watching and analysing Benni’s suitability.
“Then there were other people in contention for this job as well. It was a process that Benni had to go through. It was really good and quite an interesting process.”
McCarthy will be coaching the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial among other attackers in the current Manchester United squad.
In a statement released on Monday, United said “the former striker has both the pedigree and knowledge to assist in sharpening up the team’s attack”.
Ten Hag was on the look-out for one more recruit to his backroom staff, in preparation for next weekend’s Premier League opener against Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford, and felt his fellow former Ajax man fitted the bill.
“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.”
The manager also elaborated on McCarthy’s specific role at Carrington, with the Reds preparing for life at home and abroad in 2021/22.
“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.”
You can watch a clip of Benni chatting in Man United colours below:
Benni in the 18 area pic.twitter.com/k6zst5F4LQ
— Bheki Nkosi (@Mgedeza88) July 31, 2022
