Benni eyes coaching job in Europe
Benni McCarthy and his agent‚ Rob Moore‚ have been putting out feelers for the Bafana Bafana legend’s next coaching position in Portugal and Scotland‚ while not ruling out a return to the Premier Soccer League.
Former Ajax Amsterdam and Blackburn Rovers striker McCarthy, 41, revealed he had applied for the job of Heart of Midlothian manager after being fired by Cape Town City in November.
Hearts in December preferred more experienced 46-year-old German ex-Barnsley manager Daniel Stendel.
He said with Hearts relegated as the Scottish Premier League called off their 2019/2020 season due to the coronavirus in May‚ he would see if there is another opportunity there.
McCarthy revealed interesting links‚ too‚ to the club with which he won the 2004 Uefa Champions League‚ FC Porto‚ and another Portuguese Primeira Liga team‚ Rio Ave.
“My agent‚ Rob‚ has been putting out the feelers and seeing what’s out there for me‚” McCarthy told an online press conference of the SA Football Journalists Association. Something interesting came up, but obviously in this crazy time you can’t react.
“But in Portugal he spoke to one of my old teammates [Andre Vilas Boas‚ not to be confused with the former Chelsea manager] who was still coming up [when McCarthy was playing at Porto]‚ and who is now the sporting director at a club called Rio Ave.
“And he actually gave my agent a few good tips on what to do and what might be on the horizon‚ and what would be a good opportunity for me.
“So once things got back to normal I’ll definitely be following up. It could be valuable for me because I think it’ sa place [Portugal] that I know exceptionally well and where I’m very much loved‚ as much as in SA.”
McCarthy said upcoming presidential elections at Porto might decide his chances of a job in their coaching structures.
McCarthy began his coaching career as assistant manager at St Truiden in Belgium in 2015/2016.