Benni McCarthy, a former Blackburn Rovers striker, says he would return to the club as head coach “in a heartbeat” if the opportunity arises. He previously scored 52 goals in 140 games for Blackburn from 2006 to 2010 and is currently the manager of the Kenya national team. Blackburn are recruiting a new head coach after Michael O’Neill kept the club safe in the Championship in 2025-26 but declined the permanent role to remain with Northern Ireland. McCarthy emphasizes his love for Blackburn and believes the club may need a different approach. He also describes other meaningful clubs in his career, including Porto, Ajax, and his family connection to Blackburn.
"“I love Blackburn Rovers and I would put my life down that I would want that club to succeed so bad, to get them in the Premier League,” McCarthy told BBC Radio Lancashire. “And maybe that's what they need instead of always going for the tried and tested? The decision-makers are always there to make those hard decisions but if one day that call comes, I would be there in a heartbeat.”"
"After retiring from playing in 2013, McCarthy joined the coaching staff at Scottish Premiership side Hibernian before going on to manage Cape Town City and AmaZulu in his home country of South Africa. He was also Manchester United's first-team striker coach between 2022 and 2024 and has been with the Kenya national team since March 2025."
"“Porto always has a special place because of my achievements as an individual, as a team,” the ex-South Africa international said. “Ajax Amsterdam, a special place because it was my first club that took me from Africa and gave me the platform to be in Europe. But Blackburn Rovers is where I was at home. That is where my family is and there's nothing greater than that.”"
Read at www.bbc.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]