Benni McCarthy Reveals Key Lesson Learned from Erik ten Hag at Manchester United

Newly appointed Kenya head coach Benni McCarthy has opened up about the valuable insights he gained while working under Dutch tactician Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.

McCarthy’s Journey from Manchester to Kenya

McCarthy recently took charge of the Kenya national team on a two-year contract, marking his return to management after leaving Manchester United in June 2024. The former Bafana Bafana striker had been part of United’s coaching setup since 2022, serving as the club’s strikers’ coach under Ten Hag.

During his tenure, he played a role in the Red Devils’ success, helping the team secure both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup across two seasons. His work with star forwards like Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcus Rashford was particularly notable, with Rashford enjoying his best-ever campaign in 2022/23, scoring 30 goals and providing nine assists.

Lessons from Ten Hag

Reflecting on his time at United, McCarthy expressed his admiration for Ten Hag’s leadership and work ethic, emphasizing the key lesson he learned from the Dutchman.

“I was given an incredible opportunity to work with one of the biggest and best clubs in the world under the guidance of Erik ten Hag,” McCarthy told BBC Sport Africa.

“I learned utmost professionalism because the manager I worked under was not just a disciplinarian, but he was the best and one of the most unbelievable professionals I’ve ever seen in the game.

“Extremely hard-working, very dedicated, very passionate, he planned on being the Manchester United coach for the next 10 years. That was his vision.”

Despite United’s struggles in the latter stages of Ten Hag’s tenure, McCarthy remains proud of the achievements they managed during his time at the club.

“Everyone is talking about how bad, how terrible Manchester United is. We still managed to win the FA Cup, we still managed to win the Carabao Cup. I was proud that I was part of that regime.”

A New Chapter with Kenya

Now at the helm of Kenya’s national team, McCarthy will be looking to apply the professionalism and tactical discipline he learned at United as he embarks on his latest coaching challenge. With World Cup qualification on the horizon, his experience at Old Trafford could prove invaluable in shaping Kenya’s footballing future.