Steve McClaren Appointed As New Jamaica Head Coach

Steve McClaren has been appointed the new head coach of Jamaica. McClaren rejoined Manchester United in summer 2022 to serve as assistant to Erik ten Hag. But the ex-England manager is now set to take the reins with the Reggae Boyz on a two-year contract.

“We are truly elated to announce the appointment of Mr. McClaren as head coach of the Reggae Boyz,” said Jamaican football president Michael Ricketts. “We’re confident we made the right decision and look forward to him guiding our nation towards the World Cup.”

Prior to his Old Trafford return, McClaren had spells with Middlesbrough, FC Twente, and Wolfsburg. Moreover, his managerial career also saw him take charge of Nottingham Forest and Derby County. Beyond these roles, he held a brief tenure at Newcastle United, showcasing his adaptability across different leagues and footballing cultures.

Former England manager Steve McClaren has been named head coach of Jamaica’s men’s national team.

The 63-year-old has entered into a two-year contract, which he will commence subsequent to his departure from Manchester United’s backroom staff. The Jamaica Football Federation stated that McClaren’s objective is to lead the Reggae Boyz to the 2026 World Cup finals.

To date, their sole World Cup participation occurred at France 1998, where they were eliminated in the group stage.

McClaren expressed being “extremely proud and excited” about assuming his first managerial position since his dismissal by QPR in April 2019.

“I had no hesitation in accepting a position ideally suited to me at this stage of my career,” he remarked.
McClaren acted as Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Manchester United before departing in 2001 to manage Middlesbrough, where he secured the League Cup in 2004 and reached the Uefa Cup final in 2006.
He was appointed as England manager succeeding Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2006 but was dismissed after the Three Lions failed to qualify for Euro 2008.

McClaren rejoined United in May 2022 as a member of Erik ten Hag’s backroom staff. Ten Hag noted that McClaren had been “an invaluable source of support and advice.”
He said: “I wish to extend a sincere thank you to everyone at Manchester United for their friendship, help, and support over the past two years.”

Prior to his return to United, McClaren served as a technical adviser to Jamaica at FIFA.
“I quickly recognized the potential the country possessed,” he stated.
“In the years since, that potential has significantly grown, and there is every reason to believe that with continued hard work and development, a bright future lies ahead.”

McClaren has agreed to a two-year contract with the Jamaica Football Federation to lead the national senior men’s team, succeeding Icelander Heimir Hallgrimsson who resigned in June following an unsuccessful season with the Reggae Boyz.