Benni McCarthy has revealed Erik ten Hag wanted to be Manchester United manager for a decade, describing his former boss as an “unbelievable professional”.

McCarthy, 47, who was appointed as Kenya’s new head coach this week, worked as a first-team coach under the Dutchman for two seasons.

Ten Hag, who took charge at Old Trafford in April 2022, was sacked by United in October.

“I was given an incredible opportunity to work with one of the biggest and best clubs in the world under the guidance of Erik ten Hag,” McCarthy told BBC Sport Africa.

“I learned utmost professionalism because the manager I worked under was not just a disciplinarian, but he was the best and one of the most unbelievable professionals I’ve ever seen in the game.

“Extremely hard-working, very dedicated, very passionate, he planned on being the Man United coach for the next 10 years. That was his vision.”

Despite the premature end to Ten Hag’s reign, the pair did enjoy success during their time working together at the club.

United collected two domestic cup titles, while McCarthy’s poaching know-how in front of goal helped Marcus Rashford enjoy his most prolific season, finding the net 30 times during the 2022-23 campaign.

“Everyone is talking about how bad, how terrible Man United is,” added McCarthy.

“We still managed to win the FA Cup, we still managed to win the Carabao Cup. I was proud that I was part of that regime.”

McCarthy’s time at United came to an end in June with the expiration of his two-year contract.

As a player, the South African enjoyed a successful career in Europe, which included a six-season spell in the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers and West Ham.

He also played for Ajax, Celta Vigo and was a Champions League winner at Porto under the tutelage of Jose Mourinho.

Having moved into coaching, the self-declared Manchester United fan was delighted to find himself part of Ten Hag’s backroom team.

“History just smacks you in the face, because it’s the most iconic football club in the world,” he said of his time in Manchester.

“To have been part and parcel of that history was second to none. I was proud of being an African and having that opportunity.”

However, the former striker remains at a loss to explain the inability of numerous big-name coaches to arrest United’s slow decline since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.

“Honest to god, I don’t know what the issue is,” McCarthy admitted.

“It is just such a huge football club and the problems just seem to go on and on – and I don’t know how they’re going to resolve it.

“I’ve always been a fan. I love the club. It’s sad, and I just hope that the management, and the especially the coach, can rally the players, because they are very good players.”

Things have not got any better for United since the departures of Ten Hag and McCarthy and the appointment of Ruben Amorim at the beginning of November.

The club is currently on course to record its lowest ever Premier League points total, and Amorim even went as far as describing his side as “the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United” in January.

The Portuguese has lost 10 of his 25 games in charge, while United’s record goalscorer Wayne Rooney recently described him as “naive”.

However, McCarthy, who still leads his country’s list of all-time scorers, retains hope that Amorim can turn things around.

“He’s clever. He’s a smart coach. He’s young,” he explained.

“He might not have all the answers, but I think he’s got a good philosophy. He’s got a team behind him, that supports him very well, that he brought with him.”

Since Ferguson vacated the Old Trafford hotseat after 27 years in charge, United have recruited six full-time managers, as well as four different caretakers – a lack of stability that McCarthy has found uncomfortable.

But as he looks to prosper in his own leading role with Kenya, the South African will still be watching United with keen interest, hoping to employ a very Ferguson-esque way of toasting success.

“I want him (Amorim) to succeed. I want him to win things so that we can enjoy our weekends, have a glass of wine and chill, relax, because you know your team is going to do the business.”