Ex-Man Utd coach needs Blackburn Rovers job as he’ll ‘lay life on the road for membership’
Former Manchester United coach and Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy has thrown his name in the hat for the new head coach role at Ewood Park after Michael O’Neill’s departure
Benni McCarthy was last seen in English football as the strikers coach at Manchester United(Image: Manchester United via Getty Images)
A former Manchester United coach is keen on a return to English football after admitting he would take the current vacant job at Blackburn Rovers “in a heartbeat”
Blackburn Rovers icon Benni McCarthy, now 48, has spoken of how he wants to help get his old team back in the Premier League because he loves the club.
The South African, who is currently managing Kenya, played 140 games for Blackburn between 2006 and 2010 with over 50 goals scored.
Now McCarthy has spoken of his desire to one day manage the club while potentially throwing his name in hat the hat to replace Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill. Blackburn are left looking for a new head coach at the end of the season following O’Neill decided he did not want to stay on at Ewood Park.
Speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire, McCarthy suggested maybe its time for the club to not go for “tried and tested” and put faith in someone who would lay their life on the line for the club.
He told them: “I love Blackburn Rovers and I would put my life down that I would want that club to succeed so bad, to get them in the Premier League. And maybe that’s what they need instead of always going for the tried and tested?
“The decision-makers are always there to make those hard decisions but if one day that call comes, I would be there in a heartbeat.”
McCarthy admits he is a “young manager” and “new in this game” but brought up how Blackburn’s local rivals Burnley took a chance on Vincent Kompany, who now manages Bayern Munich.
Kompany led Burnley back into the Premier League in an impressive first season at Turf Moor, but suffered relegation the next year.
The former West Ham striker has played for some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Ajax and Porto, but Blackburn has left a special place in his heart.
He added: “But Blackburn Rovers is where I was at home. That is where my family is and there’s nothing greater than that. There’s not a single thing that I wouldn’t want to do to see that club succeed again.
“And if you have an opportunity one day to work there, I would lay my life on the line for that football club.”
Rovers are currently on the search for a new boss after O’Neill finished the season steering the club to Championship safety as he took 20 points from his 15 games in charge.
The 56-year-old had offered encouragement to Blackburn fans hoping he might stay as he talked up his Ewood Park experience, describing discussions with the club as “very positive” and speaking of finding an agreement that “suited all three parties”. Instead he has decided his future remains in international football.
McCarthy faces competition from some experienced managers for the Blackburn Job with former West Ham boss Slaven Bilic rumoured to be among those considered.
