A former Manchester United assistant coach, who left the club with Benni McCarthy last month, has now landed a surprising new role.
English tactician Steve McClaren has been appointed as the new head coach of the Jamaica national team just weeks after he left his role as an assistant coach at Old Trafford.
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Please help us welcome the New Coach of the Jamaica Senior Men's National Team Mr. Stephen McClaren ???? pic.twitter.com/UoOeeGWXVw
— Official J.F.F (@jff_football) July 31, 2024
Following a middling season in the Premier League, the Red Devils hierarchy reshuffled the club's technical team, with both McClaren and McCarthy making way for the arrivals of Dutch coaching duo Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake.
McLaren now will oversee a national team for the first time since he served as England manager between 2006 and 2007.
A statement on the Jamaica Football Federation's official website reads: "The Jamaica Football Federation is delighted to announce that Steve McClaren has been appointed as the Head Coach of the Senior Men's National Team.
"McClaren will be given a two (2) year deal to guide the Reggae Boyz towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted in Canada, Mexico and the United States. President of the Jamaica Football Federation Michael Ricketts has expressed great optimism about the appointment.
"... We are confident we made the right decision and we are looking forward to him guiding our nation towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup. We now ask the nation to get behind our new Head Coach and by extension the team as we commence our CONCACAF Nations League campaign in September and resume the World Cup Qualifiers in June next year."
McLaren said of his appointment: "I am extremely proud and excited to take up the position of Head Coach for the Jamaica Men's National Team. I had no hesitation in accepting a position that is ideally suited to me at this stage of my career.
"Prior to returning to Manchester United for a second spell, I spent time at FIFA as a Technical Advisor on their Global Eco Analysis project. Jamaica was one of the teams I worked with and 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."
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