McCarthy, who arrived at Selhurst Park from Charlton Athletic in 2008, has seen the club from every angle.
He made 134 appearances during his playing days, experiencing both the low point of administration and the subsequent rise to the Premier League.
And since hanging up his boots, he has twice stepped in as caretaker manager following the departures of Roy Hodgson and Patrick Vieira, and has also served on the backroom staff under Hodgson and now Oliver Glasner.
His early years at Palace were overshadowed by off-field turmoil, with the club coming close to extinction in 2010. Few could have imagined that 15 years later, Palace would be lifting two major trophies and embarking on their first-ever European campaign.
Tonight, the club face their first away trip on the continent as they look to seal a place in Friday’s Conference League League Phase draw against Fredrikstad.
Reflecting on Palace’s FA Cup and Community Shield triumphs, McCarthy feels the club should utilise those victories as a catalyst for greater success and believes European football is a natural fit for the club’s ambitions.
“From the time I came to the football club, the ambition, even though we were a Championship club at that time, was to become a Premier League club," said McCarthy.
“We went through some tough times with the administration. Steve and the other co-owners came in and saved the club from possible extinction.
“From there, it has been a steady incline and progress to get to where we are today. European football at Selhurst Park last week was an excellent occasion and something that everybody at the football club has deserved for working so hard over the years.
_(Image: Keith Gillard)_ “The big thing and the big message that we want to portray as a football club is that we are not satisfied or content, and we want to keep pushing forward. European football is exciting, but also befitting of our ambition as a squad, management team and football club.
“It’s something that the supporters who have been through thick and thin over the years deserve. We are at the beginning of a journey. We’ve laid solid foundations, and we want to keep progressing.
“Everyone who has laid those foundations over the years is remembered fondly by people in the crowd and around the football club. We want to continue our ambitious journey and have more days like we’ve had at Wembley over the last few months.
“We want to be in the rhythm of playing every couple of days. The players showed the fight and desire, we will only get stronger. It is our first time being exposed to Thursday-Sunday games in European competition.
“We’ve got a tough trip to Fredrikstad, so we have to be at our best to get into the group stages. If we do progress, we will get stronger and stronger as the games go by.”