Benni McCarthy | All 52 goals for Blackburn Rovers

Did you know, that Blackburn Rovers once managed to sign a Champions League proven striker for £2.5m, and that the same striker finished second only to Didier Drogba in the Premier League golden boot race in his first season in England?

Yes, this really happened. The striker? South African hitman, Benni McCarthy. Blackburn Rovers pulled off quite the coup in bringing the forward to England, back in July 2006. Having won the Champions League at Porto under Jose Mourinho two years earlier, and being a recognised goal scorer, Benni McCarthy arrived at Ewood Park to much excitement.

Rovers needed a replacement for the departing Craig Bellamy, the Welshman having signed for Liverpool after only one season at Rovers, and Benni fit the bill. McCarthy’s first goal for Rovers came on his home debut, a 1-1 draw against Everton at Ewood Park and there was plenty more of that to come.

Benni would go on to enjoy a blistering first campaign during the 2006/7 Season, scoring 18 Premier League goals and finishing second in the golden boot race ahead of the likes of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo. The fact that McCarthy only scored two goals less than the winner, Didier Drogba (20), shows the impact he made in his first season.

Benni scored 24 goals in all competitions in his debut campaign, as Rovers finished 10th in the Premier League and reached the semi finals of the FA Cup and the Round of 32 in the UEFA Cup. Most memorably, Benni capped off a stunning move, crafted by Tugay, to deliver a knockout blow to Liverpool at Ewood on Boxing Day 2006.

He also scored a superb winner against Arsenal at Ewood Park in an FA Cup 5th Round replay in February 2007. A strike which will live long in the memory of all Rovers fans who witnessed it.

The following season saw Benni’s goal output lessen somewhat, but this can be put down to a combination of injuries, fitness issues and the arrival of new forward, Roque Santa Cruz, who became the main man upfront. Despite this, Benni still managed to score 11 goals in all competitions in his second season at Rovers. In 2008/9, McCarthy chipped in with 13 goals in all competitions, 10 of those in the Premier League, proving to be crucial in helping Rovers to avoid the drop.

Benni McCarthy spent four seasons as a Blackburn Rovers player in all and his contribution in a Rovers shirt places him amongst the very best of strikers to have played for the club.

Making 140 appearances for the club and scoring 52 goals. Here are all 52 of Benni’s goals in a Rovers shirt.

Goes inside the area might still fall for B McCarthy shoots towards goal and it is a goal for Betty McCarthy on his home day D at Ewood Park RS have scored from one free kick in this match Pon hits towards goal It’s On Target keeper spells now fli it for field towards McCarthy

Who’s got Linker behind him left hand corner of the penalty area skips back in on his right foot drills towards [Applause] goal Roberts now might get in for robers he’s got there ahead of kin McCarthy rolls the ball gallager with a shot spilled mcy it’s

Three two gu will take over 30 yards out works with one way still going looking for the runner through towards Pon wonderful ball back towards mcy and it’s a Savage now puts it back in good cross the Hera comes in and Rover have the lead against Kirkland right footed steps [Applause]

Up coming forward right on side could be a chance right at the end of the half mcarthy with a header and it is an equalizing goal right on the stroke of halim he on on side left hand side faced by senderos he’s gone infield opens up for the shot it’s just magical from

Benny [Applause] McCarthy right footed He steps up and drills it into the bottom corner it’s the third time McCarthy steps up just about gets it in blackb Rovers look as though they’re on their way to victory in the [Applause] derby McCarthy One n now again on his

Right his left man standing in towards McCarthy classic goal from Blackburn Rovers scored by The Rovers Hitman Benny McCarthy just jockey doesn’t really fancy taking the Cross on waret does in towards McCarthy and he gives Blackburn rers the lead 22 for the season as he overrun that one the answer

Is no he stops IT dead on the line chance for pison to cross Whits in towards n hanaman is there McCarthy Will T him Oya will return to pis he’s just stands it up towards McCarthy black Rover’s lead right hand side keeps the ball in puts the cross in it’s a deep

One McCarthy with a bicycle kick that is special from Benny McCarthy Corner comes in it’s a deep one towards Samra at the back post head Square Santa Cruz is there saved by schmeichel but he can’t get up to save South African will step up and he goes both Strikers in the center Santa

Cruz and McCarthy Here Comes McCarthy is Central he’s brought down by zakura McCarthy tries a shot is deflected and he goes in via the inside of the post qua get their edge of the box he does actually puts a low shot in McCarthy’s there and McCarthy gives

Robers the lead run up right footed smashes it in it’s McCarthy against yasal and McCarthy steps up put robers back in front the answer is [Applause] yes coming forward in added time darish with a low cross in McCarthy gets there first and he scores Benny McCarthy One n

To robers I think they’ve Linked UP well and they’re doing it again but Robertson T the penalty area one-on-one with the keeper it’s out to McCarthy McCarthy scores it’s RS three Stoke City nil up a cross another poor delivery Falls though for Robert Goods McCarthy’s there and

McCarthy scores right on the stroke of halim maccy scores sble will jum once more inside the area to Roberts it’s in from Betty McCarthy and rers have pulled the game back level we find out it is a ball flicked in McCarthy heads home and Benny McCarthy has surely put Rovers into

Round five of the FA Cup lead McCarthy 2- n and that might ensure safety with the free kick from the left hand side lovely delivery and it’s gone in and Benny mcarthy claims McCarthy in support slides it to the South African should be game over is surely game over

And it’s a lark goal for Benny McCarthy his 50th for blackb Rovers up steps the South African sends Hario the wrong [Applause] way