Erik ten Hag given two reasons why Benni McCarthy appointment is a 'great move' for Man United

Benni McCarthy's appointment as a coach at Manchester United has been described as a "great move".

The former Blackburn Rovers striker joined United as a coach last week. The 44-year-old will work with the first-team squad at Carrington and will offer insight to the forwards, having had a successful career as a striker in the European game.

Former United midfielder Quinton Fortune believes the move will be a huge boost for South Africans keen to make their mark in the game, while his ability to speak three different languages will also be a massive plus for United.

READ MORE: Why United are bringing Tom Huddlestone to the club

He told the BBC: "This will be an out-of-this-world experience for Benni. This is so good because it will inspire the kids back home who can see one of their own now being part of the coaching staff at a club as big as Manchester United, who have a huge following in South Africa and across the world.

"It's a great move by the manager because Benni can speak Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish."

McCarthy has managed Cape Town City and AmaZulu in his homeland but left his role with the latter in March. He has now accepted a role with United to begin a coaching career in Europe. McCarthy is a big United fan and has experience in the Premier League, having spent three-and-a-half seasons with Blackburn before moving to West Ham.

READ NEXT: