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Benedict McCarthy Bio
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Benni McCarthy signed for West Ham United in January 2010 after falling out of favour at Blackburn.
Beginning his career in South Africa with Seven Stars, an 18-year-old McCarthy scored 27 goals in 29 games in the 1995-96 season. Earning him a transfer to Cape Town Spurs, which merged with his old side two years later to form Ajax Cape Town.
In 1997, he joined Ajax in Holland and scored nine goals in his first season, winning the league as well. After a relatively successful 1998-99 season he was sold to Spanish side Celta Vigo for a sum reported to be over €6 million, at the time the most expensive transfer for a South African player.
Although he was seen as one of the best African players of his generation, McCarthy never made his mark at Celta and after two poor seasons he was loaned to FC Porto where he rediscovered his form and helped the team into Europe.
At Porto, McCarthy helped the side to UEFA Cup qualification and scored an impressive 12 goals in 10 matches under manager Jose Mourinho. Despite wanting to stay in Portugal, Poro's finances wouldn't allow the transfer and McCarthy returned to Celta in 2002-03.
McCarthy spent a lot of time on the bench at Celta, while Porto won the League and UEFA Cup. Porto eventually acquired the funds to buy the striker when they sold Helder Postiga to Tottenham, and the South African signed for a sum of €3.5 million.
His return to Porto was triumphant and he sealed the Golden Boot (with 20 goals in 23 games) and was influential in Porto's 2002 UEFA Champions League success, scoring two goals in the defeat of Manchester United.
When Mourinho left for Chelsea he considered a transfer but stayed at Porto and was rewarded by another Portugese championship title. Eventually, Blackburn Rovers persuaded Porto to sell him in July 2006 for £2.5 million.
McCarthy, who signed a four year contract with Rovers, proved to be an instant hit at Ewood Park scoring a impressive 18 goals in 36 appearances in his first season in the Premier League. But, after that, he struggled to hold down a first-team place and was continually linked with a move.
It came, in January 2010, when he signed an two and a half year deal with West Ham for an undisclosed fee.