Benni McCarthy eager to take Blackburn Rovers managerial role

Former Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy has publicly declared his interest in returning to the club as head coach. The 48-year-old, who enjoyed a prolific four-year spell at Ewood Park between 2006 and 2010, stated he would accept such an offer "in a heartbeat."

Blackburn is currently in the process of recruiting a new permanent manager after Michael O'Neill, who stabilized the team in the Championship following Valerien Ismael's departure, opted to remain with the Northern Ireland national team. McCarthy, currently managing the Kenya national team, suggested the club might benefit from a change in philosophy regarding their recruitment.

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? If one day that call comes, I would be there in a heartbeat. Benni McCarthy

McCarthy’s coaching resume includes roles at Hibernian, head coaching positions in South Africa with Cape Town City and AmaZulu, and a stint as a first-team striker coach at Manchester United. While he acknowledges his relative inexperience in the Championship, he pointed to Vincent Kompany’s success as evidence that taking a chance on a younger coach can yield significant rewards.