Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has emerged as a frontrunner to take over the reins at South African giants Orlando Pirates, amid strong speculation that current boss Jose Riveiro is set to depart at the end of the season.
Sources close to the Buccaneers suggest that Riveiro’s expected exit has prompted the club to consider high-profile successors, with McCarthy seen as a leading candidate.
Should the former Bafana Bafana striker land the role, he would be presented with a unique opportunity to chase footballing immortality—becoming the first individual to win both the UEFA Champions League and the CAF Champions League.
McCarthy’s deep ties with Orlando Pirates, coupled with his stellar playing career at European clubs like Ajax and Porto—where he lifted the UEFA Champions League—make him a compelling option. He also won the South African Championship after returning to domestic football, strengthening his legacy.
His coaching journey began at Cape Town City in 2017, where he claimed the MTN8 title just a year later. Despite a setback with his dismissal in 2019, he quickly rebounded at AmaZulu, guiding them to a historic second-place league finish. His recent stint includes a role at Manchester United as a first-team coach before taking over as head coach of the Harambee Stars.
Now leading Kenya’s national team with an eye on AFCON 2027 and CHAN 2024—both co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania—McCarthy faces pressure to deliver. But with Pirates calling, a monumental decision could soon define his coaching legacy.
