Personal Life
Benedict ‘Benni’ Saul McCarthy was born on 12 November 1977 in Cape Town South Africa to his parents, father Dudley McCarthy and mother Dora McCarthy. He grew up in Cape, Flats an area that was known for violence and unemployment. Benni McCarthy has three siblings, two brothers and one sister. Football is a huge part of Benni McCarthy’s family. His elder brother Jerome McCarthy was a professional footballer while his younger brother Mark McCarthy turned out for Franklin University in the US.
Career
Having grown in an area where violence and unemployment was the order of the day, Benni McCarthy found an outlet that helped him escape this harsh reality. His first club was Young Pirates, managed by his uncles before he moved to Crusaders. At the age of 17, McCarthy signed for a national second division Seven Stars where he spent two seasons. He scored a total of 13 goals in 41 matches despite him not playing the majority of the games. He was the club’s second-highest scorer in his second season with 12 goals.
Following his impressive show, Benni McCarthy earned a call up to the junior national football team Bafana Bafana in 1997 with whom he went to the Africa Youth Championship and the FIFA Youth World Championship. Benni caught the eye and afterwards moved to European club Ajax Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
In his debut season, Benni McCarthy netted nine goals and won the Eredivisie. After two seasons in the Netherlands, he was sold to Spanish club Celta Vigo but did not settle at the club. Benni was loaned to the Portuguese side Porto for the 2001/2002 season. In Porto, Benni McCarthy helped the team return to the Champions League after he netted 12 goals in 11 matches. After his one season loan spell, he went back to Celta Vigo where he was at best a substitute.
In 2003/2004, Jose Mourinho was signed by Porto and the club went in for Benni McCarthy after its forward left for Tottenham. In his second stint at the club, he notched 20 goals in 23 games and was crowned the league’s top scorer. He was also influential in the clubs’ historic Champions League victory that season as he scored two goals against Manchester United en route to the title.
Benni McCarthy then moved to England where he joined Blackburn Rovers for £2.5 million. He spent four seasons at Blackburn and scored 52 goals in 140 matches and won the golden boot awards in his first season.
In 2010, McCarthy signed a two-year contract to join Westham United. His time at Westham must have been one of the most difficult as he suffered an injury that kept him out for six weeks. After one year, the club paid him off and terminated his contract. He only managed two starts and 14 appearances and didn’t score any goals.
Benni McCarthy returned to South Africa and joined Orlando Pirates. In his first season, he helped Orlando win the Premier League title and was the league’s fourth-highest scorer.
Salary
Benni McCarthy earned a cushy salary at the height of his career in Europe. When he signed for Ajax Amsterdam £80,000 per month. His salary at FC Porto wasn’t disclosed. At Westham United, Benni was paid £38,000 per week. As the current head coach of Amazulu Football Club, he’s reportedly paid R600,000 per month.
International career
Benni McCarthy has 79 caps for South African national team Bafana Bafana. He’s scored 31 goals and remains the highest number of international goals. During his time, he went to two FIFA World Cups, 1998 and 2002 and two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
In 2013, Benni McCarthy announced his retirement from football at the age of 35.
Managerial career
Benni McCarthy started his coaching career at Scottish club Hibernian where he worked as part of the club’s coaching staff. He continued his training at Sint-Truiden after which he landed his first managerial job at Cape Town City where he was for two years before he was sacked for poor perfomance.
In 2020, Benni McCarthy was appointed the head coach of Amazulu Football Club where he currently works. He has an impressive record as he steered the club out of relegation to a second-place finish in the 2020/21 season to secure a spot at the CAF Champions League. Reports suggest that he earns around R600,000 a month as Amazulu head coach, which doesn’t really come as a surprise considering his stature in South African football.
As he horns his coaching skills at the club level, Benni Mccarthy has previously been linked with Bafana Bafana. After Molefi Ntseki left his position as Bafana coach, McCarthy was speculated to be next in line for the job after a successful season with Amazulu but the job went to Hugo Broos.
Relationship
Benni McCarthy is now married to his Scottish wife Stacey Munro. The couple exchanged vows in 2014, seven years after Benni’s marriage to his now ex-wife Maria Santos crumbled. Benni and Maria got married in 2000 and divorced in 2007 after he signed for an English club Blackburn Rovers. According to Benni, Maria was unwilling to relocate thus their relationship couldn’t work.
Family
Benni McCarthy is a father to three daughters – Minna, Mya and Allegra – from his first marriage and two other children – Lima Rose and Lio Romero born in 2019 – with his current wife Stacey Munro.
Controversy
Women and football
Benni McCarthy failed to make the 2010 Bafana Bafana world cup squad after he invited women to his room when he was in camp. The incident happened when the team was preparing for its final practice match against Colombia, just before the then head coach Carlos Parreira announced his final squad. Initial reports claimed Benni was dropped from the team because he was overweight.
Bafana Bafana
During his club career in Europe, Benni McCarthy was accused of not giving his best to the national team Bafana Bafana. He once ruled himself out of the team as he claimed to have suffered a hamstring injury playing for Blackburn Rovers contrary to medical scans from Blackburn which showed he was well.
Car
Benni McCarthy has a stellar collection of cars. Amongst then includes a Bentley Continental GT priced at R3.8 million, a Porsche Panamera worth R1.7 million, a Range Rover that costs R900,000, a Mitsubishi SUV worth R625,000, a Volkswagen T-Roc worth R480,000, an Audi Q7 bought at R1.7 million and a sponsored Jaguar F-PACE 4X4 estimated to be R1.4 million.
House
Benni McCarthy has lived and worked in different parts of the world, circumstances that have allowed him to own houses in various places. He has a mansion in Edinburgh Scotland, Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England and a multimillion Rand home in Clifton, Cape Town South Africa.
Net Worth
Benni McCarthy is one of the most successful and richest footballers in South Africa. He made his millions during his lucrative career in Europe where clubs paid millions of pounds for his signature. Now, he works as a football coach and still commands top dollar. Benni McCarthy’s net worth is estimated to be $16 million, an equivalent of R242 million. This figure also included endorsement deals. He’s previously signed with sportswear giants Nike.
Awards & Recognition
Benni McCarthy is the only South African football player to have won three league titles in three different countries. Here is the list of club honours and individual awards he got during his illustrious career.
Ajax
1997/98: Eredivise title
1997/98 & 1998/99: KNVB Cup
Celta
2000: UEFA Intertoto Cup
Porto
2003/04 & 2005/06: Primera Liga
2005/06: Taca de Portugal
2003/04: UEFA Champions League
2004: Intercontinental Cup
Orlando Pirates
2011/12: Premier League
2011: MTN 8
Individual Record
2005: Top Scorer at the Taca de Portugal
2004: African Goal of the Year
2004: SJPF Player of the Month
2003/04: Portuguese Silver Ball
1998: Best Player & Top Scorer at the Africa Cup of Nations
1998: AFC Ajax Talent of the Year
Social Media
Benni McCarthy’s Twitter: @BenniMcCarthy17
Benni McCarthy’s Instagram: BenniMac17
Benni McCarthy’s Facebook: Benni McCarthy_Official
Q&A
How old is Benni McCarthy?
Born on 12 November 1977, Benni McCarthy’s age is 45
Who is Benni McCarthy’s wife?
Benni McCarthy married his Scottish wife Stacey Munro in 2014, seven years after he divorced his Spanish first wife Maria Santos. The two have two kids, Lima Rose and Lio Romero.
How much does Benni McCarthy get paid?
Benni McCarthy reportedly earns R600,000 per month as Amazulu head coach with an exit of R1.2 million. His salary makes him one of the highest-paid coaches in South African football.
Where is Benni McCarthy coaching now?
Benni McCarthy was appointed the head coach of Amazulu Football Club in 2020. His first season was successful as he helped the club to a second-place finish, their highest ever in the league, which secured them a spot at the CAF Champions League.
How much is Benni McCarthy worth?
Benni McCarthy is one of the richest footballers in South Africa. His net worth is estimated to be $16 million which he’s generated over the course of his lucrative career.
Where was Benni McCarthy born?
Benni McCarthy was born in Cape Town and grew up in Cape, Flats, an area that was known for violence and unemployment.
How old is Benni McCarthy’s wife?
Benni McCarthy’s wife Stacey Munro is thought to be in her mid-30s.
Which teams did Benni McCarthy play for?
Benni McCarthy played for several clubs. He began his career at Young Pirates before he moved to Seven Stars. He then moved to Ajax Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Celta Vigo, a one-year loan spell at Porto before the club signed him on a two-year deal. From Porto, he joined English club Blackburn Rovers and Westham United before he returned to South Africa and joined Orlando Pirates.
How many goals did Benni McCarthy score in his career?
Benni McCarthy scored a total of 161 goals in his club career and 31 for South African national team Bafana Bafana. He is still Bafana’s highest-scoring player.
What car does Benni McCarthy drive?
Benni McCarthy’s lineup of cars include Bentley Continental GT priced at R3.8 million, a Porsche Panamera worth R1.7 million, a Range Rover that costs R900,000, a Mitsubishi SUV worth R625,000, a Volkswagen T-Roc worth R480,000, an Audi Q7 bought at R1.7 million and a sponsored Jaguar F-PACE 4X4 estimated to be R1.4 million
Who is Benni McCarthy’s mother?
Benni McCarthy’s mother is called Doreen McCarthy.
Who is Benni McCarthy’s father?
Benni McCarthy’s father is called Dudley McCarthy.
What race is Benni McCarthy?
Benni McCarthy is black
How much was Benni McCarthy’s salary a week when he was playing overseas?
During his time at Westham United, Benni McCarthy earned £38,000 per week. His weekly salary at FC Porto, Blackburn Rovers and Ajax Amsterdam was not disclosed.
