10 Players We Still Can't Believe Won The Champions League
9. Benni McCarthy
When McCarthy announced himself to the British media with two goals against Manchester United in 2004, the then-Irish boss Brian Kerr could have been forgiven for instantly rummaging through the South Africans Wikipedia page for any trace of an Irish link. With 34 goals in 74 appearances for FC Porto, McCarthy appeared to be one of the hottest properties in Europe, when Mourinho guided the unfancied Portuguese side to a UEFA Cup and Champions League double. However, within two years of that 2004 triumph over Monaco, McCarthy was signing on the dotted line for Mark Hughes Blackburn Rovers, where he notched 52 goals in 140 appearances. It was six years after that glorious pinnacle of his sporting career that the South African hitman truly hit rock bottom. In February 2010, struggling West Ham offered McCarthy a two year contract, only to exclude him from their 25-man 10/11 squad following just three starts and a return of zero goals. According to West Ham vice-chairman, Benni McCarthy was a big fat mistake. As time went by, he grew bigger and bigger and although he made an effort to slim down, hed passed the waistline of no return. Karren Brady, 2011.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
