Steve McClaren Appointed Head Coach of Jamaica's Men's National Team

 

Steve McClaren Appointed Head Coach of Jamaica's Men's National Team

Former England manager Steve McClaren has been named the head coach of Jamaica's men's national team. The 63-year-old has signed a two-year contract, which will commence following his departure from Manchester United's backroom staff.

The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) announced that McClaren's primary objective is to guide the Reggae Boyz to the 2026 World Cup finals. Jamaica's only previous World Cup appearance was in France 1998, where they were eliminated in the group stage.

McClaren expressed his enthusiasm for the new role, stating, "I am extremely proud and excited to take on this challenge. I had no hesitation in accepting a position that is ideally suited to me at this stage of my career."

McClaren's managerial career has been diverse and notable. He served as Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant at Manchester United before taking charge of Middlesbrough in 2001. At Middlesbrough, he won the League Cup in 2004 and reached the UEFA Cup final in 2006. In 2006, he was appointed England manager but was dismissed after the team failed to qualify for Euro 2008.

McClaren returned to Manchester United in May 2022 as a member of Erik ten Hag's backroom staff. Ten Hag praised McClaren, saying he had been "an invaluable source of support and advice." He added, "Steve and I have been friends for 16 years since we first worked together at FC Twente, and that relationship will continue as he embarks on this next challenge, as will his bond with Manchester United."

McClaren will oversee the return of United's international players to pre-season training before leaving the club when the squad returns from their tour of the US. He expressed his gratitude to 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."

Before rejoining Manchester United, McClaren had worked with Jamaica as a technical adviser at FIFA. Reflecting on that experience, he said, "I quickly came to realize 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."

As McClaren takes on this new role, the football world will be watching to see if he can lead Jamaica to their second World Cup appearance and build a stronger future for the Reggae Boyz.