View source for Benni McCarthy

{{Short description|South African footballer and coach (born 1977)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Benni McCarthy
| image = BenniMcCarthy.jpg
| image_size = 
| caption = McCarthy warming up for [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] in 2010
| full_name = Benedict Saul McCarthy<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/RulesandRegulations/~/media/Files/PDF/TheFA/PlayerRegistrations/February%202010.ashx/February%202010.pdf |title=List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 1 February 2010 and 28/0<!-- immutable date -->2/2010 |publisher=The Football Association |page=6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012065328/http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/RulesandRegulations/~/media/Files/PDF/TheFA/PlayerRegistrations/February%202010.ashx/February%202010.pdf |archive-date=12 October 2012}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|11|12|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Cape Town]], South Africa
| height = 1.83 m<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.premierleague.com/page/PlayerProfile/0,,12306~28125,00.html |title=Premier League Player Profile |access-date=4 April 2011 |publisher=Premier League |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001170240/http://www.premierleague.com/page/PlayerProfile/0%2C%2C12306~28125%2C00.html |archive-date=1 October 2012 }}</ref>
| currentclub = [[Kenya national football team|Kenya]] (manager)
| position = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = Young Pirates
| youthyears2 = 
| youthclubs2 = Crusaders
| years1 = 1995–1997
| clubs1 = [[Seven Stars (South African soccer club)|Seven Stars]]
| caps1 = 49
| goals1 = 42
| years2 = 1996–1997
| clubs2 = → [[Cape Town Spurs F.C.|Cape Town Spurs]] (loan)
| caps2 = 7
| goals2 = 3
| years3 = 1997–1999
| clubs3 = [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]
| caps3 = 36
| goals3 = 20
| years4 = 1999–2003
| clubs4 = [[Celta de Vigo|Celta Vigo]]
| caps4 = 66
| goals4 = 10
| years5 = 2003–2006
| clubs5 = [[FC Porto|Porto]]
| caps5 = 85
| goals5 = 46
| years6 = 2006–2010
| clubs6 = [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]]
| caps6 = 109
| goals6 = 37
| years7 = 2010–2011
| clubs7 = [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]]
| caps7 = 11
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2011–2013
| clubs8 = [[Orlando Pirates FC|Orlando Pirates]]
| caps8 = 24
| goals8 = 10
| totalcaps = 387
| totalgoals = 168
| nationalteam1 = [[South Africa national under-23 football team|South Africa U23]]
| nationalcaps1 = 13
| nationalgoals1 = 
| nationalyears2 = 1997–2012
| nationalteam2 = [[South Africa national football team|South Africa]]
| nationalcaps2 = 79
| nationalgoals2 = [[list of international goals scored by Benni McCarthy|31]]
| manageryears1 = 2017–2019
| managerclubs1 = [[Cape Town City F.C. (2016)|Cape Town City]]
| manageryears2 = 2020–2022
| managerclubs2 = [[AmaZulu F.C.|AmaZulu]]
| manageryears3 = 2025–
| managerclubs3 = [[Kenya national football team|Kenya]]
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's [[association football|football]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|RSA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Africa Cup of Nations]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[1998 Africa Cup of Nations|1998 Burkina Faso]]|}}
}}
'''Benedict Saul McCarthy''' (born 12 November 1977) is a South African professional [[association football|football]] coach and former player who is currently the manager of the [[Kenya national football team|Kenya national team]]. A former [[forward (association football)|forward]], McCarthy is the [[South Africa national football team|South Africa national team]]'s all-time top scorer with 31 goals.<ref name=31g>{{cite web |title=Benni McCarthy urges South Africa strikers to break his record |url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/1659/south-africa/2011/11/11/2750821/benni-mccarthy-urges-south-africa-strikers-to-break-his |publisher=www.goal.com |access-date=23 November 2011 |date=11 November 2011}}</ref> He is also the only South African to have won the [[UEFA Champions League]], doing so with [[FC Porto|Porto]] in [[2004 UEFA Champions League final|2004]].

McCarthy previously worked as the head coach of [[South African Premier Division]] sides [[Cape Town City F.C. (2016)|Cape Town City]] and [[AmaZulu F.C.|AmaZulu]], and as striker's coach at [[Premier League]] club [[Manchester United]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/articles/local/categories/south-africa/confirmed-benni-returns-to-the-dugout/691086|title=Confirmed: Benni Returns To The Dugout|date=14 December 2020|website=Soccer Laduma}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Molobi|first=Timothy|title=Benni in the Bafana Zone|url=https://www.news24.com/citypress/sport/benni-in-the-bafana-zone-20210502|access-date=2 May 2021|website=Citypress|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/manchester-united-to-appoint-benni-mccarthy-as-striker-coach/ |title=Manchester United to appoint Benni McCarthy as striker coach |website=FourFourTwo |date=30 July 2022 }}</ref>

==Early life==
Benni McCarthy was born in [[Cape Town]] and grew up in [[Hanover Park, Cape Town|Hanover Park]] in the [[Cape Flats]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Mitten |first=Andy Vianney |title=Benni's shop window of opportunity |work=The Independent |location=London |date=22 February 2004 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/bennis-shop-window-of-opportunity-570812.html |access-date=18 April 2009}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> an area notorious for its high unemployment rate and gang violence. He is the son of Dudley and Dora McCarthy and has two brothers and a sister.<ref name="Benni McCarthy's father dies">{{cite web |title=Benni McCarthy's father dies |publisher=sport24.co.za |date=13 November 2008 |url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Content/Soccer/266/e25223c5ba1c4320a0e725a1039f4a73//Benni_McCarthys_father_dies |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911134131/http://www.sport24.co.za/Content/Soccer/266/e25223c5ba1c4320a0e725a1039f4a73//Benni_McCarthys_father_dies |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 September 2012 |access-date=18 April 2009}}</ref> His older brother is [[Jerome McCarthy]], a former professional footballer who played for [[Kaizer Chiefs F.C.|Kaizer Chiefs]] and [[Manning Rangers F.C.|Manning Rangers]], among other clubs, while his younger brother Mark played football at [[Franklin Pierce University]] in the United States.<ref name="Benni McCarthy's father dies" />

McCarthy began playing at a local side called Young Pirates, which was managed by his uncles. He then joined the youth structures of a local amateur club called Crusaders. At age 17, he was signed by first division club [[Seven Stars (South African Soccer Club)|Seven Stars]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Gaffney |first=Brian |title=How Crusaders groomed Benni for stardom |publisher=The People's Post |date=5 September 2007 |url=http://www.news24.com/Regional_Papers/Components/Category_Article_Text_Template/0,2430,1806-1831_2177560~E,00.html |access-date=18 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080323022059/http://www.news24.com/Regional_Papers/Components/Category_Article_Text_Template/0%2C2430%2C1806-1831_2177560~E%2C00.html |archive-date=23 March 2008 }}</ref>

==Club career==

===Seven Stars===
Playing for [[Seven Stars (South African Soccer Club)|Seven Stars]], the 18-year-old McCarthy scored 1 goal in 29 matches in the 1995–96 season, followed by another 12 goals in 20 matches, which earned him a transfer to Cape Town Spurs, which two years later merged with Seven Stars to form Dutch club [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]'s [[feeder team]], [[Ajax Cape Town]].

===Ajax===
In 1997, after an impressive showing at the [[African Youth Championship]] and [[1997 FIFA World Youth Championship|FIFA World Youth Championship in Malaysia]], he joined Ajax in the [[Eredivisie]], where he scored nine goals and was crowned champion in his first season. After a relatively successful [[1998–99 AFC Ajax season|1998–99 season]], he was sold to Spanish side [[Celta de Vigo|Celta Vigo]] for a transfer fee reported to be over €6&nbsp;million, at the time the most expensive transfer for a South African player.

===Celta De Vigo===
Although regarded as one of the best African players at the time, McCarthy never established himself as a regular choice for Celta's manager, [[Víctor Fernández]]. After two poor seasons at the [[Galicia (Spain)|Galician]] club, he was loaned to struggling [[FC Porto|Porto]] in the [[2001–02 Primeira Liga|2001–02 season]], where he soon rediscovered the form that took him to Europe.

At Porto, McCarthy played under the then newly appointed coach [[José Mourinho]] for an underperforming team that since winning the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] in [[1986–87 European Cup|1987]] had never been quite good enough to challenge for the top honours in Europe. However, that would soon change.

After representing ''Bafana Bafana'' in the [[2002 African Nations Cup]], where his national side was eliminated in the quarter-finals, McCarthy returned to Porto, where he became the main force behind the team's recovery. He helped them to third place in the [[Primeira Liga]] and automatic qualification for the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]] by scoring an impressive 12 goals in 11 matches, but Porto's finances did not allow them to keep the player, despite the desire of both sides to continue.

In 2002–03, McCarthy therefore returned to Celta, where he spent much of his time on the substitutes' bench as a squad player as Porto captured the [[2002–03 Taça de Portugal|Taça de Portugal]], the Portuguese League and the [[2002–03 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]]. When Porto sold striker [[Hélder Postiga]] to [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] ahead of the 2003–04 season, Porto finally acquired McCarthy for a sum of €7.856&nbsp;million,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.fcporto.pt/IncFCP/PDF/Investor_Relations/FactosRelevantes/CompraBenny15072003.pdf |title=Contratação do jogador Benny McCarthy |date=15 July 2003 |access-date=9 November 2010 |work=FC Porto |language=pt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205173315/http://www.fcporto.pt/IncFCP/PDF/Investor_Relations/FactosRelevantes/CompraBenny15072003.pdf |archive-date=5 December 2010 }}</ref> (later re-sold part of the rights to [[GestiFute]] and [[First Portuguese Football Players Fund]].)

===Porto===
{{BLP unsourced section|date=December 2020}}
For the [[2003–04 Primeira Liga|2003–04 Primeira Liga season]], he earned the Golden Boot award (with 20 goals in 23 matches) on the season's final matchday with a [[hat-trick]], and was instrumental in Porto's run in the [[2003–04 UEFA Champions League]], which [[2004 UEFA Champions League Final|they won]]. He scored two goals against [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] to defeat them in the second round.

===Blackburn Rovers===
On 25 July 2006, McCarthy flew out to England to undergo a medical and probable contract signing to join Blackburn Rovers.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=405481&CPID=8&clid=5&lid=&title=Benni+relishing+Rovers+move |title=Sky Sports &#124; Football News &#124; Premier League &#124; Blackburn Rovers |publisher=Home.skysports.com |date=25 April 2010 |access-date=29 April 2010}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Three days later, he signed a four-year contract with Blackburn for a £2.5&nbsp;million transfer fee. The move meant that Rovers regularly fielded a side that contained two South African Internationals, the other being [[Aaron Mokoena]] who joined the club the year previous.

After a disappointing performance in the side's 3–0 defeat to [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]], McCarthy found the net on his debut at [[Ewood Park]] against Everton on 23 August 2006. McCarthy further endeared himself to Rovers fans, scoring a goal on his European debut for the club in a 2–2 against [[FC Red Bull Salzburg|Red Bull Salzburg]] in the [[2006–07 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]], and scoring another in the return leg. He finished second top scorer in the Premier League in [[2006–07 FA Premier League|2006–07]] with 18 league goals, as well as 24 in all competitions.

The following season got off to a poor start for McCarthy when he was stretchered off in the [[2007–08 FA Premier League|Premier League]] opening day win against [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]. McCarthy was out of action for a few weeks and found first team opportunities limited, largely because the form of new striking arrival [[Roque Santa Cruz]]. Despite being limited to largely substitute appearances, McCarthy did find the net 11 times in all competitions.

In the [[2008–09 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season|2008–09 season]], McCarthy appeared to be out of favour with new manager [[Paul Ince]], as the club's strike force was strengthened with the arrivals of [[Carlos Villanueva (Chilean footballer)|Carlos Villanueva]] and [[Robbie Fowler]] to join the already established Roque Santa Cruz, [[Jason Roberts (footballer)|Jason Roberts]] and [[Matt Derbyshire]]. However, McCarthy answered these critics by scoring his first goal of the campaign – a 94th-minute equaliser in a [[2008–09 Premier League|Premier League]] match against Middlesbrough.

In all competitions for Blackburn, McCarthy scored 52 goals in 140 matches.

===West Ham United===
McCarthy completed a move to West Ham United for an undisclosed fee on transfer deadline day, 1 February 2010. He signed a two-and-a-half-year contract that was due to run until the summer of 2012. He made his Premier League debut for West Ham against [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]] at [[Turf Moor]] in a 2–1 defeat on 6 February 2010, where he sustained an injury which would keep him out for six weeks.<ref>{{cite web |title=McCarthy a happy Hammer |publisher=whufc.com |date=1 February 2010 |url=http://www.whufc.com/articles/20100201/mccarthy-a-happy-hammer_2236884_1951301 |access-date=1 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100204002501/http://www.whufc.com/articles/20100201/mccarthy-a-happy-hammer_2236884_1951301 |archive-date=4 February 2010 }}</ref> In February 2011, having played just 326 minutes of football, making only three starts and failing to score any goals for West Ham, McCarthy was omitted from West Ham's 25-man squad for the remainder of the [[2010–11 Premier League|2010–11 season]]. He was also offered a £1&nbsp;million pay-off in exchange for terminating his contract prematurely.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-23919715-benni-mccarthy-misses-west-ham-squad-cut.do |title=Benni McCarthy misses West Ham squad cut &#124; Football |work=Evening Standard |location=London |access-date=2 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310051230/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-23919715-benni-mccarthy-misses-west-ham-squad-cut.do |archive-date=10 March 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Burt |first=Jason |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/west-ham/8297209/West-Hams-unwanted-striker-Benni-McCarthy-rejects-1m-pay-off-as-club-try-to-clear-the-decks.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/west-ham/8297209/West-Hams-unwanted-striker-Benni-McCarthy-rejects-1m-pay-off-as-club-try-to-clear-the-decks.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=West Ham's unwanted striker Benni McCarthy rejects Ł1m pay-off as club try to clear the decks |publisher=Telegraph |date=28 January 2011 |access-date=2 February 2011 |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In April 2011, McCarthy left West Ham by mutual agreement after the parties agreed to terminate his contract.<ref>{{cite web |title=Benni departs |publisher=whufc.com |date=12 April 2010 |url=http://www.whufc.com/articles/20110412/benni-departs_2236884_2336815 |access-date=12 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430053303/http://www.whufc.com/articles/20110412/benni-departs_2236884_2336815 |archive-date=30 April 2011 }}</ref> He made only two Premier League starts and fourteen appearances in all competitions scoring no goals.<ref>{{cite news |title=Striker Benni McCarthy exits West Ham by mutual consent |publisher=whufc.com |date=13 April 2011 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13059217 |access-date=13 April 2011}}</ref>

===Orlando Pirates===
After leaving West Ham, McCarthy trained with former club Ajax Cape Town during the [[ABSA Premier League]] off-season. On 2 August, [[Orlando Pirates F.C.|Orlando Pirates]] confirmed the signing of McCarthy on a two-year deal, ending his 14-year spell in Europe. On signing, McCarthy said, "I'm thrilled and delighted and hope I can show my appreciation by coming in and playing good football and hope to score as many goals as possible to put the team where they belong."<ref name=BMSA>{{cite news |title=South Africa's Benni McCarthy joins Orlando Pirates |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/14373278 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=2 August 2011 |date=2 August 2011}}</ref> McCarthy began the season by scoring on debut and vowed to score more goals.

McCarthy scored two goals in the final half-hour to help the Pirates defeat the [[Lamontville Golden Arrows F.C.|Golden Arrows]] 4–2 on 19 May 2012 to retain their [[2011–12 Premier Soccer League|Premier League]] title.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/18130362 |title=Pirates deny Swallows glory as champions retain the title |date=19 May 2012 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref> He finished his successful season with ten league goals, ending the campaign as the fourth leading goal-scorer in the Premier League, helping the club secure their second successive treble. Having already won a league championship with Ajax in the Netherlands as well with Porto both domestically and in Europe, McCarthy would make football history by winning the league championship with Orlando Pirates in South Africa. This meant McCarthy was the first South African footballer to win three league titles with three different football clubs on two different continents.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1074622/mccarthy-seals-sa-title-for-orlando-pirates-?cc=5901 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715013742/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1074622/mccarthy-seals-sa-title-for-orlando-pirates-?cc=5901 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 July 2012 |title=McCarthy seals title for Pirates |website=Soccernet}}</ref>

McCarthy, who is affectionately known as "Big Brother" by the Orlando Pirates faithful, was handed a red card for dissent in the MTN 8 secondleg semi-final played on 25 August 2012 after he charged [[Franklin Cale]] after a reckless challenge on [[Daine Klate]]. This incident lead to protesting fans whom, in their view, Cale was equally guilty in the incident and should have also been shown red. McCarthy announced his retirement from professional football on 6 June 2013, aged 35.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22796553 |title=Benni McCarthy retires from football at the age of 35 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 June 2013 |access-date=7 June 2013}}</ref>

===Whitehill Welfare===
On 13 July 2014, McCarthy made a guest appearance for Scottish Lowland league club [[Whitehill Welfare F.C.|Whitehill Welfare]] in a pre-season friendly against a [[Hamilton Academical]] XI, scoring in the 14th minute and providing an assist for Whitehill Welfare player Kerr Dodds to score in the 20th minute.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whitehillwelfare.co.uk/news/article/282/ |title=2-goal Doddsy steals Benni's show |publisher=Whitehill Welfare official club site |date=14 July 2014 |access-date=14 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715004010/http://www.whitehillwelfare.co.uk/news/article/282/ |archive-date=15 July 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.whitehillwelfare.co.uk/news/gallery/282/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=14 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715005246/http://www.whitehillwelfare.co.uk/news/gallery/282/ |archive-date=15 July 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> McCarthy has a connection with the club through one of the Whitehill players, John Hall.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.midlothianadvertiser.co.uk/sport/local-sport/african-star-benni-mccarthy-turns-up-at-whitehill-welfare-1-3022706 |title=African star Benni McCarthy turns up at Whitehill Welfare |publisher=Midlothian Advertiser |date=5 August 2013 |access-date=13 July 2014}}</ref>

==International career==
{{See also|List of international goals scored by Benni McCarthy}}

McCarthy made his full international debut for [[South Africa national football team|South Africa]] in a friendly against the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]] on 4 June 1997.

Along with veteran [[Egypt national football team|Egyptian]] striker [[Hossam Hassan]], McCarthy was the joint top scorer in the [[1998 African Cup of Nations]] in Burkina Faso with seven goals, including four in 13 minutes against [[Namibia national football team|Namibia]]. In addition, he was named Player of the Tournament.

The [[1998 FIFA World Cup]] in France was the first time South Africa's national football team had reached the later stages of the competition, and McCarthy was one of their key players. After a 3–0 defeat against eventual champions [[France national football team|France]], South Africa played their second match against [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]]. Trailing since the 13th minute, McCarthy tied the game at 1–1 in the 52nd minute and gave South Africa a chance for qualification after a 1–1 draw. However, the third match also ended in a draw, against [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]], which left the South Africans in third place and eliminated from the competition.

The [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002 World Cup]] saw history repeating for the South Africans. After a 2–2 draw against [[Paraguay national football team|Paraguay]] and a 1–0 victory over [[Slovenia national football team|Slovenia]], McCarthy's 30th-minute equaliser in the last match against [[Spain national football team|Spain]] was not enough, as South Africa eventually lost 3–2 and finished with another third place in the group stage.

There was often conflict over McCarthy's lack of participation in national team matches (whose interests often collide with his club's) and he actually retired from international matches after the 2002 World Cup. However, he returned to the national team in 2004 and eventually set the record for most international goals for South Africa; McCarthy's strike in the second half of a 3–0 win against Paraguay in a 2008 friendly eclipsed the previous record of 29 goals held by [[Shaun Bartlett]].

Prior to the [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010 World Cup]], held in South Africa, McCarthy announced his support for the Gun-Free World Cup campaign being run by International Action Network on Small Arms. He said, "This World Cup will be the biggest in football history and the fact that it is taking place in South Africa is a chance for us to show the world everything that is good about our country. It's great that guns will be banned from stadiums – it's going to be a fantastic party, and guns have no place in that."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thecitizen.co.za/index/article.aspx?pDesc=125483,1,22 |title=SA stars back gun free World Cup |publisher=Thecitizen.co.za |access-date=9 May 2010}}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> After struggling with his fitness and facing criticism in his nation for being overweight, McCarthy was omitted from the final South African 23-man squad for the 2010 World Cup, which was announced on 1 June 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8654863.stm |title=World Cup 2010: Benni McCarthy dropped by South Africa |work=BBC News |date=1 June 2010 |access-date=1 June 2010}}</ref>

==Managerial career==
===Hibernian===
Living in [[Edinburgh]] since 2013, McCarthy confirmed in April 2015, that he had joined the coaching staff of [[Alan Stubbs]] at Scottish club [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]].<ref>[https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/articles/local/categories/german-bundesliga/benni-mccarthy-getting-coaching-experience-at-hibernian-fc-in-scotland/206444 Benni Getting Coaching Experience At Hibs], soccerladuma.co.za, 10 April 2015</ref> Stubbs had invited McCarthy so he could just learn the coaching side of things. McCarthy knew Stubbs back from their playing days when McCarthy was at [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] and Stubbs was at [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]. McCarthy said, that he was going to help out with the U20s, and assisting with the first team.

===Sint-Truiden===
In February 2015, he did a short internship at [[Sint-Truidense V.V.|Sint-Truidense]] under [[Yannick Ferrera]]. On 8 September 2015, McCarthy was appointed assistant manager to manager [[Chris O'Loughlin (football manager)|Chris O'Loughlin]], who replaced [[Yannick Ferrera]].<ref>[https://www.goal.com/en-za/news/4682/transfer-zone/2015/09/08/15161382/benni-mccarthy-is-sint-truidens-new-assistant-coach Benni McCarthy is Sint-Truiden's new assistant coach], goal.com, 8 September 2015</ref> Working his way through the different tiers of the UEFA Coaching Badges system, McCarthy met O'Loughlin.

On 20 April 2016, McCarthy stopped working with Sint-Truiden for personal reasons, after it was previously announced that his contract was not renewed.<ref>[https://www.stvv.com/nl/nieuws/a-kern/benni-mccarthy-stopt-als-t2 BENNI MCCARTHY STOPT ALS T2] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514034847/https://www.stvv.com/nl/nieuws/a-kern/benni-mccarthy-stopt-als-t2 |date=14 May 2016 }}, 20 April 2016</ref>

===Cape Town City===
On 13 June 2017, McCarthy was unveiled as the new [[Cape Town City F.C. (2016)|Cape Town City]] head coach,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/2017/06/13/Benni-McCarthy-unveiled-as-the-new-Cape-Town-City-head-coach |title=Benni McCarthy unveiled as the new Cape Town City head coach |access-date=13 June 2017 |archive-date=14 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614074338/http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/2017/06/13/Benni-McCarthy-unveiled-as-the-new-Cape-Town-City-head-coach |url-status=dead }}</ref> replacing [[Eric Tinkler]], who moved to manage [[SuperSport United F.C.|SuperSport United]]. 
McCarthy would complete his [[UEFA Pro License]] while coaching City, and would win his first silverware as a coach in 2018 when he guided City to the [[MTN 8]] cup.<ref name=":0" /> 
On 4 November 2019, McCarthy was dismissed as head coach of Cape Town City after just two wins in 18 games.

===AmaZulu===
On 14 December 2020, McCarthy was unveiled as the new [[AmaZulu F.C.|AmaZulu]] head coach, replacing [[Ayanda Dlamini]], who stepped down from the position on 7 December 2020. He took the club to a second-place finish in the [[DStv Premiership]], a record high for AmaZulu in the modern era of the game in South Africa. As a result, AmaZulu qualified for the preliminary rounds of the [[2021–22 CAF Champions League]]. McCarthy led AmaZulu to the group stages of the 2021–22 CAF Champions League in their debut season before exiting the competition. McCarthy and AmaZulu parted company on 25 March 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vardien |first=Tashreeq |date=25 March 2022 |title=Benni McCarthy, AmaZulu 'mutually' agree to terminate contract|url=https://www.news24.com/sport/soccer/psl/breaking-benni-mccarthy-amazulu-mutually-agree-to-terminate-contract-20220325 |access-date=2 June 2022 |website=News24.com}}</ref>

===Manchester United===

On 30 July 2022, McCarthy was appointed as a first-team striker's coach at [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3460056/2022/07/30/manchester-united-to-add-benni-mccarthy-to-erik-ten-hags-coaching-staff/ |title=Manchester United to add Benni McCarthy to Erik ten Hag's coaching staff |website=The Athletic |date=30 July 2022 }}</ref> Benni McCarthy's contract with Manchester United ended on [https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/benni-mccarthy-where-to-next-for-the-kaizer-chiefs-linked-coach-after-manchester-united-exit/blt5a6888155f31be3e 27 June 2024]. McCarthy chose not to renew his two-year contract so he could return to being a head coach.

===Kenya===

On 3 March, 2025, McCarthy was named as [[Kenya national football team|Kenya]] team head coach<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Sergio |date=2025-03-04 |title=Benni McCarthy assumes new Kenyan coaching role |url=https://www.bona.co.za/entertainment/benni-mccarthy-assumes-new-kenyan-coaching-role/ |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=Bona Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mokhesi |first=Tokelo |date=2025-03-03 |title=Benni McCarthy takes Kenya helm, with full SA technical team in tow |url=https://farpost.co.za/2025/03/03/benni-takes-kenya-helm-with-full-sa-technical-team-in-tow/ |access-date=2025-03-22 |work=FARPost |language=en-US}}</ref> in an event graced by Kenya Olympic Committee President, [[Paul Tergat]], FKF president Hussein Mohammed, his deputy [[McDonald Mariga]] and Odibets GM Dedan M.<ref>{{Cite web |title=South African legend Benni McCarthy unveiled as new Kenya coach |url=https://www.cafonline.com/news/south-african-legend-benni-mccarthy-unveiled-as-new-kenya-coach/ |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=South African legend Benni McCarthy unveiled as new Kenya coach |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bafana legend Benni McCarthy appointed as new head coach of Kenya national football team |url=https://thestar.co.za/sport/soccer/2025-03-03-bafana-legend-benni-mccarthy-appointed-as-new-head-coach-of-kenya-national-football-team/ |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=The Star |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-27 |title=South African Benni McCarthy arrives in Kenya ahead of unveiling as Harambee Stars coach |url=https://nation.africa/kenya/sports/football/south-african-benni-mccarthy-arrives-in-kenya-ahead-of-unveiling-as-harambee-stars-coach-4944342 |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=Nation |language=en}}</ref> Since his appointment as Kenya head coach in March 2025, McCarthy has focused on raising standards within the [[Kenya national football team|Harambee Stars]], stressing that selection depends on discipline, consistency and commitment as much as talent. He recorded his first win in charge in June 2025 with a 2–1 friendly victory over Chad, and later guided Kenya to an unbeaten group stage run at the [[African Nations Championship]], finishing with three wins and a draw. McCarthy has been credited with instilling higher levels of professionalism and accountability among players, setting a new bar for the national team.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-08 |title=Benni McCarthy sets the bar for Harambee Stars players |url=https://blog.ke.sportpesa.com/2025/09/08/benni-mccarthy-sets-the-bar-for-harambee-stars-players/ |access-date=2025-09-13 |website=blog.ke.sportpesa.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Personal life==
In 2004, McCarthy married Maria Santos from Spain. They have three daughters together: Minna, Mya and Allegra. In 2007, they separated.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/2011/08/07/money-don-t-buy-you-s-happiness-says-benni |title=TimesLIVE |website=www.timeslive.co.za}}</ref> In May 2014, McCarthy married Scottish model Stacey Munro. Together, they have one daughter, Lima Rose, born 2012<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citypress.co.za/sport/benni-mccarthy-marries-scottish-model/ |title=Benni McCarthy marries Scottish model - City Press |access-date=3 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103185358/http://www.citypress.co.za/sport/benni-mccarthy-marries-scottish-model/ |archive-date=3 November 2014 }}</ref> and one son, Lio Romero, born in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.news24.com/drum/celebs/benni-mccarthy-welcomes-his-5th-child-and-its-a-boy-20190807 |title=News24 |website=www.news24.com|date=6 August 2019 }}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes [[KNVB Cup]], [[Copa del Rey]], [[Taça de Portugal]], [[FA Cup]]}}
!colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes [[Football League Cup]]}}
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]
|[[1997–98 AFC Ajax season|1997–98]]
|[[Eredivisie]]
|17||9||1||0||colspan="2"|–||5{{efn|name=UC}}||1||colspan="2"|–||23||10
|-
|[[1998–99 AFC Ajax season|1998–99]]
|Eredivisie
|19||11||1||0||colspan="2"|–||5{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]]}}||0||0||0||25||11
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!36!!20!!2!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!10!!1!!0!!0!!48!!21
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[RC Celta de Vigo|Celta Vigo]]
|[[1999–2000 Celta de Vigo season|1999–2000]]
|[[La Liga]]
|31||8||4||2||colspan="2"|–||10{{efn|name=UC|Appearances in [[UEFA Cup]]}}||6||colspan="2"|–||45||16
|-
|[[2000–01 Celta de Vigo season|2000–01]]
|La Liga
|19||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||6{{efn|name=UC}}||0||colspan="2"|–||27||0
|-
|[[2001–02 Celta de Vigo season|2001–02]]
|La Liga
|2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||3{{efn|name=UC}}||1||colspan="2"|–||5||1
|-
|[[2002–03 Celta de Vigo season|2002–03]]
|La Liga
|14||2||0||0||colspan="2"|–||5{{efn|name=UC}}||3||colspan="2"|–||19||5
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!66!!10!!6!!2!!colspan="2"|–!!24!!10!!colspan="2"|–!!96!!22
|-
|[[FC Porto|Porto]] (loan)
|[[2001–02 Primeira Liga|2001–02]]
|[[Primeira Liga]]
|11||12||1||1||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||12||13
|-
|rowspan="4"|Porto
|[[2003–04 FC Porto season|2003–04]]
|Primeira Liga
|29||20||5||1||colspan="2"|–||11{{efn|name=UCL}}||4||2{{efn|One appearance in [[Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira]], one appearance in [[UEFA Super Cup]]}}||0||47||25
|-
|[[2004–05 FC Porto season|2004–05]]
|Primeira Liga
|23||11||1||0||colspan="2"|–||8{{efn|name=UCL}}||3||3{{efn|One appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, one appearance in UEFA Super Cup, one appearance in [[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]]}}||0||35||14
|-
|[[2005–06 FC Porto season|2005–06]]
|Primeira Liga
|23||3||4||3||colspan="2"|–||4{{efn|name=UCL}}||1||colspan="2"|–||31||7
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!86!!46!!11!!5!!colspan="2"|–!!23!!8!!5!!0!!124!!58
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]]
|[[2006–07 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season|2006–07]]
|[[Premier League]]
|36||18||5||3||1||0||8{{efn|name=UC}}||3||colspan="2"|–||50||24
|-
|[[2007–08 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season|2007–08]]
|Premier League
|31||8||1||0||2||1||4{{efn|name=UC}}||2||colspan="2"|–||38||11
|-
|[[2008–09 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season|2008–09]]
|Premier League
|28||10||5||3||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||33||13
|-
|[[2009–10 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season|2009–10]]
|Premier League
|14||1||0||0||5||3||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||19||4
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!109!!37!!11!!6!!8!!4!!12!!5!!colspan="2"|–!!140!!52
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]]
|[[2009–10 West Ham United F.C. season|2009–10]]
|Premier League
|5||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||5||0
|-
|[[2010–11 West Ham United F.C. season|2010–11]]
|Premier League
|6||0||0||0||3||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||9||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!11!!0!!0!!0!!3!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!colspan="2"|–!!14!!0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!308!!113!!30!!13!!11!!4!!69!!24!!5!!0!!422!!153
|}
{{notelist}}

===International===
:''Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each McCarthy goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Benni McCarthy<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/6116/Benni_Mccarthy.html | title = Benni McCarthy (Player) | website = national-football-teams.com | access-date = 14 June 2022}}</ref>
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| align="center"|1 || rowspan="4"|16 February 1998 || rowspan="4"|[[Stade Général Aboubacar Sangoulé Lamizana|Stade Municipal]], [[Bobo-Dioulasso]], Burkina Faso || rowspan="4"|{{fb|NAM}} || align="center"|1–0 || rowspan="4" style="text-align:center"|4–0 || rowspan="4"|[[1998 African Cup of Nations]]
|-
| align="center"|2 || align="center"|2–0
|-
| align="center"|3 || align="center"|3–0
|-
| align="center"|4 || align="center"|4–0
|-
| align="center"|5 || 22 February 1998 || [[Stade Municipal (Ouagadougou)|Stade Municipal]], [[Ouagadougou]], Burkina Faso || {{fb|MAR}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|2–1 || 1998 African Cup of Nations
|-
| align="center"|6 || rowspan="2"|25 February 1998 || rowspan="2"|[[Stade du 4 Août]], [[Ouagadougou]], Burkina Faso || rowspan="2"|{{fb|COD}} || align="center"|1–1 || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|2–1 || rowspan="2"|1998 African Cup of Nations
|-
| align="center"|7 || align="center"|2–1
|-
| align="center"|8 || 6 June 1998 || Sportanlage Baiersbronn, [[Baiersbronn]], Germany || {{fb|ISL}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–1 || [[Friendly (association football)|Friendly]]
|-
| align="center"|9 || 18 June 1998 || [[Stade de Toulouse]], [[Toulouse]], France || {{fb|DEN}} || align="center"|1–1 || align="center"|1–1 || [[1998 FIFA World Cup Group C|1998 FIFA World Cup]]
|-
| align="center"|10 || rowspan="2"|16 December 1998 || rowspan="2"|[[FNB Stadium]], [[Johannesburg]], South Africa || rowspan="2"|{{fb|EGY}} || align="center"|1–1 || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|2–1 || rowspan="2"|Friendly
|-
| align="center"|11 || align="center"|2–1
|-
| align="center"|12 || 27 February 1999 || [[Odi Stadium]], [[Mabopane]], South Africa || {{fb|GAB}} || align="center"|4–1 || align="center"|4–1 || [[2000 African Cup of Nations qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|13 || 5 June 1999 || [[Kings Park Stadium]], [[Durban]], South Africa || {{fb|MRI}} || align="center"|2–0 || align="center"|2–0 || 2000 African Cup of Nations qualification
|-
| align="center"|14 || 7 June 2000 || [[Cotton Bowl (stadium)|Cotton Bowl]], [[Dallas]], United States || {{fb|MEX}} || align="center"|1–2 || align="center"|2–4 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|15 || 11 June 2000 || [[Giants Stadium]], [[New York City]], United States || {{fb|IRL}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–2 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|16 || 24 March 2001 || Telkom Park Stadium, [[Port Elizabeth]], South Africa || {{fb|MRI}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|3–0 || [[2002 African Cup of Nations qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|17 || 5 May 2001 || FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa || {{fb|ZIM}} || align="center"|2–0 || align="center"|2–1 || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF second round|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|18 || 15 January 2002 || [[Mmabatho Stadium]], [[Mafikeng]], South Africa || {{fb|ANG}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–0 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|19 || rowspan="2"|23 May 2002 || rowspan="2"|[[Hong Kong Stadium]], Hong Kong || rowspan="2"|{{fb|TUR}} || align="center"|1–0 || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|2–0  || rowspan="2"|Friendly
|-
| align="center"|20 || align="center"|2–0
|-
| align="center"|21 || 12 June 2002 || [[Daejeon World Cup Stadium]], [[Daejeon]], South Korea || {{fb|ESP}} || align="center"|1–1 || align="center"|2–3 || [[2002 FIFA World Cup Group B|2002 FIFA World Cup]]
|-
| align="center"|22 || 22 May 2003 || Kings Park Stadium, Durban, South Africa || {{fb|ENG}} || align="center"|1–1 || align="center"|1–2 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|23 || 15 November 2003 || [[Cairo International Stadium]], [[Cairo]], Egypt || {{fb|EGY}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–2 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|24 || 18 August 2004 || [[Tunis]], Tunisia || {{fb|TUN}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|2–0 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|25 || 10 October 2004 || [[National Stadium (Uganda)|National Stadium]], [[Kampala]], Uganda || {{fb|UGA}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–0 || [[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Group 2|2006 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|26 || 9 February 2005 || Kings Park Stadium, Durban, South Africa || {{fb|AUS}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–1 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|27 || 4 June 2005 || [[Estádio da Várzea]], [[Praia]], Cape Verde || {{fb|CPV}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|2–1 || 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
| align="center"|28 || 7 September 2005 || [[Weserstadion]], [[Bremen]], Germany || {{fb|GER}} || align="center"|2–3 || align="center"|2–4 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|29 || 14 January 2006 || Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt || {{fb|EGY}} || align="center"|2–1 || align="center"|2–1 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|30 || 8 September 2007 || [[Newlands Stadium]], [[Cape Town]], South Africa || {{fb|ZAM}} || align="center"|1–3 || align="center"|1–3 || [[2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|31 || 26 March 2008 || [[Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium]], [[Pretoria]], South Africa || {{fb|PRY}} || align="center"|2–0 || align="center"|3–0 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|32 || 15 October 2008 || [[Free State Stadium]], [[Bloemfontein]], South Africa || {{fb|GHA}} || align="center"|1–1 || align="center"|2–1 || Friendly
|}

===Managerial===
''As of 18 March 2022'' 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|From
!rowspan="2"|To
!colspan="5"|Record
|-
!G!!W!!D!!L!!Win %
|-
|align=left|[[Cape Town City F.C. (2016)|Cape Town City]]
|align=left|13 June 2017
|align=left|3 November 2019
{{WDL|89|37|21|31}}
|-
|align=left|[[AmaZulu F.C.|AmaZulu]]
|align=left|14 December 2020
|align=left|25 March 2022 
{{WDL|60|23|22|15}}
|-
!colspan="3"|Total
{{WDLtot|149|60|43|46}}
|}

==Honours==

=== Player ===
'''Ajax'''
*[[Eredivisie]]: [[1997–98 Eredivisie|1997–98]]
*[[KNVB Cup]]: [[1997–98 KNVB Cup|1997–98]], [[1998–99 KNVB Cup|1998–99]]

'''Celta Vigo'''
*[[UEFA Intertoto Cup]]: [[2000 UEFA Intertoto Cup|2000]]

'''Porto'''
*[[Primeira Liga]]: [[2003–04 Primeira Liga|2003–04]], [[2005–06 Primeira Liga|2005–06]]
*[[Taça de Portugal]]: [[2005–06 Taça de Portugal|2005–06]]
*[[Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira]]: [[2003 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira|2003]], [[2004 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira|2004]]
*[[UEFA Champions League]]: [[2003–04 UEFA Champions League|2003–04]]
*[[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]]: [[2004 Intercontinental Cup|2004]]

'''Orlando Pirates'''
*[[Premier Soccer League|Premier League]]: [[2011–12 Premier Soccer League|2011–12]]
*[[MTN 8]]: [[2011 MTN 8|2011]]
*[[Telkom Knockout]]: 2011
'''South Africa'''
* [[Africa Cup of Nations|African Cup of Nations]] runner-up: [[1998 African Cup of Nations|1998]]
*[[Afro-Asian Cup of Nations]]: [[1997 Afro-Asian Cup of Nations|1997]]
* [[HKSAR Reunification Cup|Reunification Cup]]: 2002
'''Individual'''
*[[African Cup of Nations]] Best Player: [[1998 African Cup of Nations|1998]]
*African Cup of Nations Top Scorer: [[1998 African Cup of Nations#Scorers|1998]] (shared with [[Hossam Hassan]])
*African Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament: [[1998 African Cup of Nations#CAF Team of the Tournament|1998]]
*[[CAF Awards#African Goal of the Year|African Goal of the Year]]: 2004
*[[List of AFC Ajax records and statistics#AFC Ajax prize winners|Ajax Talent of the Year (Marco van Basten Award)]]: [[1997–98 AFC Ajax season|1997–98]]
*[[SJPF Player of the Month]]: January 2004, May 2004, October 2004
*[[Bola de Prata (Portugal)|Primeira Liga Top Scorer]]: 2003–04
*[[Taça de Portugal]] Top Scorer: 2005–06

=== Manager ===
'''Cape Town City'''
*[[MTN 8]]: [[2018 MTN 8|2018]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Makhaya |first=Ernest |date=29 September 2018 |title=MTN8 final: Benni McCarthy and Cape Town City the deserved winners |url=https://www.goal.com/en-za/news/comment-benni-mccarthys-cape-town-city-deserved-to-win-the/bpv0mmw8jhau1gthvfqcu81zr |access-date=1 August 2022 |website=Goal}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
In 1998, McCarthy collaborated with South African [[kwaito]] music group [[TKZee]] in "[[Shibobo]]". The song released in the run-up to the 1998 World Cup in France samples greatly on "[[The Final Countdown (song)|The Final Countdown]]" by [[Europe (band)|Europe]] and features McCarthy rapping part of the lyrics. He also appears in the [[association football|football]]-themed music video for the song. Sales of the single topped the 100,000 mark in just over a month in South Africa, making "Shibobo" the fastest and biggest selling CD single by TKZee or other South African recording artists. The song was also a hit in other African music charts. The song enjoyed a comeback in a re-release in 2010–11.

==Discography==
===Singles===
*1998: "[[Shibobo]]" by [[TKZee]] featuring Benni McCarthy<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mMvuQXzp0A Music video of "iShibobo" with TKZee feat. Benni McCarthy]</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Soccerbase}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121001170240/http://www.premierleague.com/page/PlayerProfile/0%2C%2C12306~28125%2C00.html Benni McCarthy] at the Premier League official website (archived 1 October 2012)

{{Current managers of CAF national teams}}
{{Navboxes
| bg = #F7EB29
| fg = #006400
| bordercolor = #006400
| title = South Africa squads
| list1 =
{{South Africa squad 1998 African Cup of Nations}}
{{South Africa squad 1998 FIFA World Cup}}
{{South Africa men's football squad 2000 Summer Olympics}}
{{South Africa squad 2002 African Cup of Nations}}
{{South Africa squad 2002 FIFA World Cup}}
{{South Africa squad 2006 Africa Cup of Nations}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title       = Awards
| bg          = Gold
| bordercolor = #000000
| list1       =
{{1998 Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament}}
{{Africa Cup of Nations top scorers}}
{{Africa Cup of Nations Player of the Tournament}}
{{Primeira Liga top scorers}}
{{Taça de Portugal top scorers}}
{{AFC Ajax Talent of the Year}}
{{Africa U-20 Cup of Nations awards}}
{{PSL Coach of the Season}}
}}
{{Kenya national football team managers}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McCarthy, Benni}}
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:South African men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:AFC Ajax players]]
[[Category:RC Celta de Vigo players]]
[[Category:FC Porto players]]
[[Category:Blackburn Rovers F.C. players]]
[[Category:West Ham United F.C. players]]
[[Category:National First Division players]]
[[Category:South African Premier Division players]]
[[Category:Eredivisie players]]
[[Category:La Liga players]]
[[Category:Primeira Liga players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:South Africa men's international soccer players]]
[[Category:1998 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic soccer players for South Africa]]
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[[Category:1998 African Cup of Nations players]]
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[[Category:Cape Coloureds]]
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[[Category:Cape Town City F.C. (2016) managers]]
[[Category:South African soccer managers]]
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[[Category:Soccer players from Cape Town]]
[[Category:Manchester United F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:21st-century South African sportsmen]]
[[Category:Kenya national football team managers]]
[[Category:South African expatriate soccer managers]]
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[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Kenya]]