Former England manager Steve McClaren has been named head coach of Jamaica’s men’s national team, having signed a two-year contract following his departure from Manchester United’s backroom staff.
The Jamaica Football Federation announced that McClaren’s goal is to lead the Reggae Boyz to the 2026 World Cup finals. Jamaica’s only World Cup appearance came in 1998, where they were eliminated in the group stage.
Expressing his enthusiasm, McClaren said he felt “extremely proud and excited” to take on his first managerial role since being sacked by QPR in April 2019. “I had no hesitation in accepting a position that is ideally suited to me at this stage of my career,” he added.
McClaren previously served as Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Manchester United before leaving in 2001 to manage Middlesbrough, where he won the League Cup in 2004 and reached the UEFA Cup final in 2006. He later became England manager in 2006, succeeding Sven-Goran Eriksson, but was dismissed after the team failed to qualify for Euro 2008.
After a return to Manchester United in May 2022 as part of Erik ten Hag’s coaching staff, McClaren was recognized by Ten Hag as “an invaluable source of support and advice.” Ten Hag reflected on their 16-year friendship, which began at FC Twente, and expressed continued goodwill as McClaren embarks on this new challenge.
Before fully committing to the Jamaica role, McClaren will oversee the return of United’s international players to pre-season training and will officially leave the club when the squad comes back from their tour of the United States.
McClaren expressed gratitude towards Manchester United, stating, “I wish to say a huge thank you to everyone at Manchester United for their friendship, help, and support during the past two years.”
Previously, McClaren had collaborated with Jamaica as a technical adviser for FIFA. He noted, “I quickly came to realise the potential the country possessed. In the years since, that potential has grown significantly, and there is every reason to believe that with continued hard work and development, a bright future lies ahead.”
Credit: BBC Sport
