Late on Saturday evening, Manchester United officially confirmed that new supervisor Erik ten Hag had added to his backroom workforce with the appointment of South African soccer legend Benni McCarthy as a first-team coach.
WATCH: BENNI SPEAKS ABOUT HIS WELCOME AT MAN UNITED!
The South African was at Old Trafford on Sunday because the Reds drew 1-1 with Rayo Vallecano in United’s remaining pre-season pleasant, finishing a blockbuster transfer that hardly anyone noticed coming.
Reflecting on the appointment, Quinton Fortune has highlighted why it’s such a big transfer, for extra causes than one.
“This will be an out-of-this-world experience for Benni,” Fortune advised BBC Sport Africa. “If you look at what Benni has achieved in the game – a Champions League winner, league winner in Holland and Portugal, golden boot winner at the 1998 Nations Cup and in Portugal, together with his coaching qualifications, his appointment is a no-brainer,” the 45-year-old mentioned.
“I thought if Benni was going to be working only with the strikers, it was huge – but for me, it’s even bigger now that I’ve heard he will also be working with the midfielders and strikers.”
“It’s a great move by the manager because Benni can speak Dutch, Portuguese, and Spanish. This is so good because it will inspire the kids back home who can see one of their own now being part of the coaching staff at a club as big as Manchester United, who have a huge following in South Africa and across the world,” he added.
“It’s not only good for Benni but also for African coaches to show what’s possible.”
McCarthy’s agent Rob Moore just lately revealed how the favored coach needed to go for an interview, and in addition do a coaching evaluation, to beat different candidates to the job as he sought to impress Ten Hag.
“Erik didn’t know Benni, neither did Erik’s assistant Mitchell [van der Gaag]. They didn’t know each other very well. I mean obviously Benni and Mitch had played against each other in Portugal,” Moore mentioned on EnergyFM, as quoted by iDiski Times.
“This was done completely only with Erik. As I say, though, it was a process. He had to be interviewed by Erik and the Director of Football at Manchester United John Murtough was also in the interview.
“Then it had to be followed up, Benni had to do a session with the Man Utd U23 team under Erik’s watch. Erik was watching and analysing Benni’s suitability.
“Then there were other people in contention for this job as well. It was a process that Benni had to go through. It was really good and quite an interesting process.”
McCarthy might be teaching the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial amongst different attackers within the present Manchester United squad.
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Benni has been warmly welcomed at United
In an announcement launched on Monday, United mentioned “the former striker has both the pedigree and knowledge to assist in sharpening up the team’s attack”.
Ten Hag was on the look-out for another recruit to his backroom employees, in preparation for subsequent weekend’s Premier League opener towards Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford, and felt his fellow former Ajax man fitted the invoice.
“There was still one place in our coaching staff that I wanted to fill,” he advised MUTV. “Someone with a different voice and Benni is that one.
“He has experience as a manager. He was a coach in the professional level and he was a former striker, a really successful striker as well.”
The supervisor additionally elaborated on McCarthy’s particular position at Carrington, with the Reds making ready for all times at dwelling and overseas in 2021/22.
“He will focus on the positioning and attacking,” mentioned Ten Hag.
“I’m not saying only the strikers, but also the integration from the full-backs and midfielders. Our way of play has to be dynamic.”
You can watch a clip of Benni chatting in Man United colors beneath:
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