NAIROBI, Kenya – A new era for Kenyan football began on Monday, November 17, 2025, as the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) officially unveiled South African legend Benni McCarthy as the new head coach of the men’s national team, the Harambee Stars. The appointment signals a significant strategic shift for Kenya, with McCarthy immediately declaring his core philosophy: “if you are good enough, you are old enough.”

The announcement, made at a media briefing in Nairobi by FKF President Hussein Mohammed, confirmed McCarthy has signed a contract through the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Kenya is set to co-host with Uganda and Tanzania. This long-term commitment underscores the federation's faith in McCarthy to not only steer the team through the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers but also to build a formidable squad for the continental showpiece.

McCarthy, 48, replaces Turkish coach Engin Fırat, whose tenure ended in December 2024 following the team's failure to qualify for the 2025 AFCON and reported disputes over unpaid salary arrears. Francis Kimanzi had been serving as the interim coach.

A Coach of High Pedigree

McCarthy arrives with a decorated resume both as a player and a developing coach. He remains the only South African to have won the UEFA Champions League, a feat he achieved with FC Porto under José Mourinho in 2004. As South Africa's all-time leading goalscorer with 31 goals, his experience at the highest levels of European football—including stints at Ajax, Celta Vigo, and Blackburn Rovers—brings a new level of prestige to the Harambee Stars' technical bench.

His most recent role was a high-profile position as a first-team coach at English Premier League giants Manchester United, where he worked under manager Erik ten Hag from July 2022 to June 2024, specializing in coaching attacking plays and positioning. Before that, he managed South African top-flight clubs Cape Town City, where he won the MTN 8 cup in 2018, and AmaZulu, whom he guided to a historic second-place league finish and a debut in the CAF Champions League.

The Mission: Rebuilding and Youth Focus

FKF President Hussein Mohammed stated that McCarthy was selected for his vision and commitment to developing young talent. “We are confident that Benni is the right person to lead our national team forward,” Mohammed said during the unveiling. “His experience, vision, and commitment to developing Kenyan football align perfectly with our ambitions.”

McCarthy’s immediate challenge will be to improve Kenya's standing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where the team sits fourth in their group. However, his core mandate is clearly long-term. He has emphasized a philosophy of aggressive, attacking football and a commitment to scouting the local FKF Premier League for promising young players. This approach is seen as a crucial step in building a sustainable and competitive team for the future, particularly for AFCON 2027.

“We just need to change the mentality of the players,” McCarthy stated, expressing optimism about the team's potential. “This campaign can be successful and anything is possible. We will work hard with the players and staff.”

The State of Kenyan Football

The Harambee Stars are currently ranked 109th in the world by FIFA, a slight improvement from 111th earlier in 2025. The team has shown flashes of potential but has struggled for consistency, a situation the FKF hopes McCarthy’s leadership can rectify. His appointment has been met with cautious optimism by Kenyan fans and pundits, who are hopeful that his high standards and international experience can elevate the team's performance on the continental stage.

McCarthy's coaching style is heavily influenced by his mentor, José Mourinho, focusing on tactical discipline, player motivation, and a winning mindset. His immediate backroom staff will include fellow South Africans Vasilli Manausakis as assistant coach and Moeneeb Josephs as goalkeepers' coach, ensuring a cohesive technical team from the outset.

As Kenya prepares for its upcoming fixtures, the nation will be watching closely to see the first signs of the McCarthy effect—a revolution built on the promise of youth, tactical astuteness, and the ambition to restore the Harambee Stars as a force in African football.