Benni McCarthy, the first team coach at Manchester United, has expressed his desire to test himself as a head coach against some of his former peers who have transitioned into coaching roles. Among these legends of his generation are Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard, both of whom are making names for themselves on the sidelines.
McCarthy, who is currently living his dream by working at the club he supported while growing up, has been part of Erik ten Hag’s technical team at Manchester United. His contributions have earned him laurels since he took on the role at the start of last season.
However, there may come a time when the Bafana Bafana all-time record goalscorer wants to be on the sidelines as a coach himself.
In a recent interview with iDiski Times’ Rob Delport, McCarthy shared his aspiration to measure himself against his former peers who are now successful coaches:
“That is a dream too, to one day get to a stage where you are up against your former peers whom you used to play against. Because it’s Robin van Persie who is starting to be a manager. Xabi Alonso is already making waves as a coach at Bayer Leverkusen. Steven Gerrard is making his mark in Saudi Arabia, and then there’s Frank Lampard, who, despite some challenges, is also managing. And let’s not forget Wayne Rooney. So, it’s our generation—the next coaches for the next 10 to 15 years—until the generation after us takes over. This is our time to flourish. Yes, of course, my hope is to get the opportunity to manage my team against a Xabi Alonso team or a Steven Gerrard team, and others.”
McCarthy’s ambition to compete against these football legends reflects his passion for coaching and his desire to leave his mark in the world of football management. As he continues to learn and grow, perhaps we’ll see him on the sidelines leading his own team in the future.