Former Ajax, Porto and West Ham striker Benni McCarthy is planning on applying for the Hearts job again if it becomes available.
The South African, who won the Champions League under Jose Mourinho, claimed he’d made it to the final three of the recruitment process last year when Ann Budge appointed Daniel Stendel.
The German’s future at Tynecastle remains in the balance after a relegation break clause in his contract was activated after the Jambos were demoted to the Championship.
A reconstruction proposal remains their final hope of avoiding the drop and while Stendel said he was keen to return regardless, whether he’d accept the reduced terms he’d almost certainly be offered is another matter.
And despite only ever having managed Cape Town City in his homeland, McCarthy is ready to throw his hat back into the ring if the Gorgie club do find themselves searching for a new boss ahead of the new season.
“We’re monitoring that to see if the guy that took over — the German — is going to stay,” McCarthy revealed to the South African Football Journalists Association.
“It’s a club that’s just down the road from where I live, so it would be ideal for me, as well, to stay close to the family.
“A return to South Africa is not off the table, but it must be the right club… I must be able to work with the people taking the club forward, and it must have the same goals and ambitions as me.”
McCarthy isn’t a complete stranger to football in the capital however, having made a pre-season cameo appearance for Lowland League outfit Whitehill Welfare back in 2014.
He also had an informal stint coaching at Hibs under Alan Stubbs before claiming he’d be part of the coaching staff after Neil Lennon took the job, although no offer was forthcoming.
