Benni McCarthy was born on November 12th 1977 in Cape Town, South Africa. In 1997, after an impressive showing at the African Youth Cup and FIFA World Youth Championship, this live-wire forward joined the Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam, where he scored 9 goals as they were crowned champions in his first season.
Benni McCarthy was born on November 12th 1977 in Cape Town, South Africa. In 1997, after an impressive showing at the African Youth Cup and FIFA World Youth Championship, this live-wire forward joined the Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam, where he scored 9 goals as they were crowned champions in his first season. After a relatively successful 1998-99 season he was sold to Spanish side Celta Vigo for €6m, at the time the most expensive transfer fee paid for a South African player. After two seasons at the Galician club, he was loaned to struggling FC Porto for the 2001-02 season whom he helped to third place in the league and automatic qualification for the UEFA Cup by scoring an impressive 12 goals in only 10 matches.
In 2002-03 he returned to Celta Vigo before Porto finally acquired the €3.5 M. to buy him. In season 2004, he grabbed the Golden Boot award (with 20 goals in 23 games) on the final day with a terrific hat-trick, and was instrumental in Porto's superb run in the UEFA Champions League, which they won. After winning another Portuguese national championship with FC Porto in the 2005-06 season, , McCarthy signed a four year contract with Blackburn Rovers on 25th July, 2006 for an £2.5m fee. Right from scoring goals to helping the team to shine, Benedict McCarthy is definitely showing to the Rovers fans that he is a class act. He has won 62 South African caps and scored 22 goals.
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