Benni McCarthy, former South Africa striker and part of Manchester United's coaching staff, is facing an uncertain future as his contract is set to expire in the summer. McCarthy, who joined Old Trafford in July 2022 as part of Erik ten Hag's coaching team, has not been approached by the club about signing a new deal. The 46-year-old, known for his popularity among players and staff, has been responsible for overseeing United's forwards, including helping Marcus Rashford score 30 goals last season.
If McCarthy departs, he has expressed ambitions of returning to management after previous stints with Cape Town City and AmaZulu in South Africa. Manchester United declined to comment on McCarthy's situation when contacted by sources.
The uncertainty surrounding McCarthy's future adds to the speculation regarding Erik ten Hag's long-term prospects at the club. Ten Hag, along with assistants Mitchell van der Gaag and Steve McClaren, has faced pressure following a disappointing second season in charge and the arrival of new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Ratcliffe and his INEOS team, led by Sir Dave Brailsford, reportedly have reservations about Ten Hag. However, the decision on Ten Hag's future will be left to the new football leadership team, expected to be led by incoming sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox.
Despite concerns about Ten Hag, Manchester United is facing a challenge in finding standout candidates to potentially replace him. The club could face competition from other top clubs like Liverpool, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich, who are also in the market for new managers ahead of the summer.
In other news, Manchester United announced that football director John Murtough will be stepping down this week. Until the arrival of Ashworth and Wilcox, the day-to-day management will be overseen by deputy football director Andy O'Boyle, director of player negotiations Matt Hargreaves, and director of football operations David Harrison.
