Late on Saturday night, Manchester United officially confirmed that new manager Erik ten Hag has added to his backroom team with the appointment of South African soccer legend Benni McCarthy as a first-team coach.
Late on Saturday night, Manchester United officially confirmed that new manager Erik ten Hag has added to his backroom team with the appointment of South African soccer legend Benni McCarthy as a first-team coach.
McCarthy is set to work with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Jadon Sancho and others when it comes to their “positioning and attacking plays”.
In no uncertain terms, this is a blockbuster move for McCarthy, who has been assessing his options ever since leaving AmaZulu earlier this year.
Understandably, social media has exploded ever since the news became public knowledge, and you can check out some of that reaction below:
As we start a brand new day, remember the magnitude of this appointment!! This is HUUUUGE!!! A son of the soil achieving the unachievable!! Good luck son!!🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾 pic.twitter.com/9JDUvKj8VQ— robertmarawa (@robertmarawa) July 30, 2022
Pleased about Benni McCarthy. A character who can coach forwards. Speaks 4 languages and he owes MUFC after those goals for Porto. I like a man who is proud not be welcome in La Coruna – because of the way he celebrated a goal in Galician derby.— Andy Mitten (@AndyMitten) July 30, 2022
If you saw how his football career was…If you saw how quickly he got his badges…If you saw what he did with Cape Town City and AmaZulu…Then you will know how ambitious Benni McCarthy has always been 👌🏽Still scoring goals after he retired 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/4kB2r3qrw8— Shakes Rampedi (@ShakesRampedi) July 30, 2022
Benni McCarthy appointed striker coach at #mufcDarren Fletcher also given permanent coaching role along with existing technical director position. McCarthy will provide much-need specialised coaching for Rashford/Martial— James Robson (@jamesalanrobson) July 30, 2022
BENNI MCCARTHY TO COACH CRISTIANO RONALDO 14 years ago, they battled it out for the EPL Golden Boot 🔥1. Drogba (Chelsea) – 20 ⚽2. McCarthy (Blackburn) – 18 ⚽3. Ronaldo (Manchester United) – 17 ⚽ pic.twitter.com/TxQ7vO0KkA— Samkelo CeboLihle ™️ (@SamkeloLumile) July 30, 2022
Happy to see Benni McCarthy included as part of the coaching staff. It’s outside the box thinking, but a man who is very familiar with how to operate inside the four white lines of the penalty area. Decent move. #MUFC— Tom McDermott (@MrTomMcDermott) July 30, 2022
Manchester United have appointed 🇿🇦Benni McCarthy as first team head coach He will specifically oversee the attacking roles at United.The former AmaZulu head coach’s team recorded the club’s best scoring season in over half a decade while at the club. pic.twitter.com/Rhkys621se— Yaw Ampofo Jr (@Yaw_Ampofo_) July 30, 2022
Erik Ten Hag has officially included Benni McCarthy in his backroom staff as one of the first team coaches.He’s assigned with a special role of working on the attacking play of the forwards.HUGE for an AFRICAN. pic.twitter.com/YkR8KxXAdV— Kofi Ricky (@sirricky6) July 30, 2022
Benni McCarthy:AJAX – Eredivisie 🏆 97/98KNVB Cup 97/98, 98/99PORTO – Primeira Liga 🏆 03/04, 05/06Taca de Portugal 05/06UCL 🏆 03/04Intercontinental Cup 2004PIRATES – PSL 🏆 11/12MTN 8 2011192 career goalsSA’s all time top goal scorer The greatest we’ve ever had 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/gq9cZ6UKy7— ً (@1992sFinest) July 30, 2022
Benni McCarthy joins United as a Striker Coach. Someone tell the glazers to get the bread up cause Martial’s Ballon D’or clause is active. Benni in the 18 area is like Morne Steyn dropping kicking, that ball is going through the sticks. From Cape Town to Carrington, massive. pic.twitter.com/ru8fr6znnU— Football and Friends (@FootyNFriends) July 30, 2022
Benni Mccarthy will be coaching Ronaldo at Manchester United. Another W for South Africans. 🙌🇿🇦— Lebzit ➐ (@Lebzit) July 30, 2022
You’d have needed to be locked up in a mental asylum if you told me 10yrs ago that Benni McCarthy would be coaching Ronaldo at UTD.😂 https://t.co/3b5clm7bfa— RED🔴 (@LoRd_HIGHbury) July 30, 2022
Benni is in the Old Trafford 18 area, halakasha!Benni McCarthy returns to his old stomping ground as mentor👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽Congratulations Benni. We are proud of you👍🏽U are already a winner 👏🏽👏🏽 pic.twitter.com/gBS4XyuEB8— Lucky (@JesusisGodetern) July 30, 2022
Yoh 😭😭😭😭😭😭 I’m so happy for Benni McCarthy 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭— Kabelo Kungwane (@KabeloKungwan) July 31, 2022
Manchester United released the following statement after confirming Benni McCarthy’s appointment:
The former South Africa striker was a boyhood Reds fan and scored twice against us 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.The coaching team is now in place ahead of the start of the 2022/23 season, with Brighton & Hove Albion visiting Old Trafford on Sunday 7 August in our Premier League opener.
Ten Hag will work closely with assistants Mitchell van der Gaag and Steve McClaren, with Benni slotting in alongside Eric Ramsay and Darren Fletcher as coaches. Former midfielder Fletcher also has a wider remit as technical director, overseeing the path from Academy to the first team, plus players out on loan.
Richard Hartis and Craig Mawson are the goalkeeping coaches.Everybody would like to extend a warm welcome to Benni, upon joining the club.
