Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has reiterated his desire to return to club management, signaling that while his time with Kenya has been rewarding, the limitations of international football have left him eager for the daily engagement of club life.

Speaking to acclaimed sportscaster Robert Marawa on Marawa Sports Worldwide on Tuesday, the former South African striker reflected on past “what-if” scenarios, including a near-move to Orlando Pirates after retiring from playing. “What-ifs to me don’t exist no more because I’ve been in plenty of situations, even with Orlando Pirates. I was very close to managing Pirates after my playing career and then nothing materialised. If they (Kaizer Chiefs) want, they know where I am. They know where to find me, they know how to contact me, to make it happen. But if not, it’s just a rumour,” McCarthy said.

Chiefs are currently being managed by an interim technical bench led by Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef following the departure of Nasreddine Nabi in October last year, fueling speculation that McCarthy could be in line for a return to South African club football.

Benni had coaching experience at Cape Town City FC, AmaZulu, and internationally as a forwards coach at Manchester United under Dutchman Erik Ten Hag. On the interview, he reiterated his motivation to return to club management: “I want to go back into club football, you know, I want to manage because I feel like I miss the day-to-day and making players better, working closely with them and yeah, and just upsetting other coaches in other clubs. I love doing that. I thrive on that.”

McCarthy took over the Harambee Stars in March last year, following his stint at Manchester United. Under his guidance, Kenya made a memorable maiden appearance at the Africa Nations Championship, reaching the quarterfinals while recording landmark wins against eventual champions Morocco and Zambia. The South African has been credited with bringing tactical discipline and renewed confidence to the national squad, while also raising the profile of Kenya on the continental stage.

However, McCarthy’s tenure has had its lows. Last November, Harambee Stars suffered an 8-0 defeat to Senegal in an international friendly in Turkey, highlighting the challenges that come with managing a developing national team. Overall, his record stands at 6 wins, 6 losses, and 3 draws, a mixed but instructive period in his managerial journey.

Reflecting on his Kenyan experience, McCarthy acknowledged the personal and professional growth it offered but noted the limitations of international football in terms of player contact and development. “The experience in Kenya has been unbelievable,” he said. “But you’re too young to go so long without being active. You don’t have enough time with players. Like, I’ve not seen them for three months; when I see them, I’m only going to have a week to do what I can with them. After this experience with Kenya, I’m really looking to get back into managing a club.”