Is Benni McCarthy keen to leave Harambee Stars job? ‘national team job is holding me back’
By Joel Masibo, March 5, 2026Kenya national men’s football team, Harambee Stars, head coach Benni McCarthy has once again signalled that he is unlikely to remain in charge of the side beyond the end of his current agreement.
The South African tactician, whose contract with the Harambee Stars runs until after the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, indicated that he does not intend to prolong his stay once the deal expires. In his recent interview, McCarthy explained that international football has not provided the level of engagement he prefers in his coaching career.
At 48, the former Blackburn Rovers forward said working with the Kenyan team has been a valuable experience, but the limited number of matches played annually has not given him the fulfilment he seeks. He noted that he enjoys being actively involved with players on a daily basis, both during training sessions and on matchdays.
Too young to be inactive
“This experience in Kenya has been unbelievable, remarkable; it has been nice, but I think I am still too young to go so long without being active,” McCarthy said during an interview hosted by a South African journalist.
“I am an everyday-on-the-training-pitch kind of person…smell the grass…I want to improve players, and I feel that [the national team job] is holding me back from doing that because you do not have enough time with players.”
According to McCarthy, the nature of international football leaves him with little opportunity to fully implement his ideas. National team players often assemble only during FIFA international windows, meaning he sometimes works with them for just a week before competitive matches.
“Like, I have not seen them [for] three months, and when I see them, I will only have a week to do what I can with them,” he added, describing one of the main challenges he faces in the role.
Despite appreciating the opportunity to coach Kenya, McCarthy hinted that he sees his future returning to club football after completing his tenure with the national team.
“No, I think when I get to Hugo Broos’ [Bafana Bafana coach] age, then I want to go back into the national team, but after this experience with Kenya, I am really looking to get back into managing a club.”
The former Manchester United first-team coach has previously spoken about his interest in managing a major African club, hinting at managing South African giants Kaizer Chiefs when granted the chance.
CHAN success
Benni McCarthy led Harambee Stars to the quarter-finals of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN 2024), where the team was bundled out of the competition by Madagascar at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani in September 2025. He is expected to be in the dugout for the national side in the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2027) that will be staged in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.