Hearts: Champions League winner who spent time with Hibs claims he reached ‘final three’ for Tynecastle job

Benni McCarthy claimed he was in the ‘final three’ for the Hearts job

South African football legend Benni McCarthy claims he was interviewed for the Hearts job – and reached the final three candidates.

Daniel Stendel was confirmed as Craig Levein’s successor on Saturday before being unveiled to the media on Tuesday.

McCarthy, who won the Champions League with Porto and starred for Ajax as well as in the Premier League, confirmed that he had put his name forward for the position and claimed he had met with the club.

Benni McCarthy claims he was in the final three candidates for the Hearts job. Picture: SNS

He told South African outlet Soccer Laduma: "Hearts are a big club and I figured that I would only get an opportunity if I put my own name into the hat, I have to be proactive about things.

“For me to get into the final three for the job when there were some major names who sent in their CVs alongside mine was a big thing for me, and I’ll take a lot of lessons from the conversations that we had.

“I’ll keep looking for opportunities, not just here in Europe but all over, and I’m excited about what lies ahead wherever my next step is.”

McCarthy is familiar with Scottish football having spent time at both Celtic and Hibs as he began to make his way in coaching.

South Africa’s all-time top scorer has had two managerial stints already in his career.

Rob Moore, explained that it was a new experience for the former City man, especially given that it’s the first time that he’s actively applied for a position after being headhunted for his last two jobs.

His agent Rob Moore said: “Hearts are a big club with a lot of history, and for him to have reached the level of interview that he did was a great experienc.

“Benni had been headhunted for his previous coaching roles at Saint-Truiden and Cape Town City, so it was new ground for him going into an interview situation. But the Hearts people were fantastic and Benni wishes Daniel and all those at the club only the best in their next chapter.

“Benni’s looking to try and forge a good name for himself in Europe now after he worked – and won silverware – in South Africa.”