McClaren impressed by Jamaica’s untapped potential

Describing his appointment as receiving the baton in a long-term development plan, newly appointed Reggae Boyz head coach Stephen McClaren said he is hoping to unlock Jamaica’s potential on the international stage.

McClaren was speaking at a press conference at the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) headquarters yesterday in his first public address as the Reggae Boyz head coach.

McClaren is no stranger to Jamaican football, having worked as a FIFA technical expert where he researched the national programme three years ago.

He said he was always interested in the Jamaican programme as he felt there is a lot of potential waiting to be unlocked.

“I always knew that this country had unbelievable potential and talent because I was technical expert for FIFA for two years, working on the ecosystem which analysed every country in the world,” he explained. “Jamaica has always been at the back of my mind because it is the one country in which the potential and the talent is here and there is such a lot to do.”

He gave credit to the work done by the JFF since his research in the national programme as a technical expert for FIFA.

McClaren said he has received a warm welcome so far in his time spent on the idea and is confident his appointment is the right decisions for the JFF, the Reggae Boyz and his career.

He also spoke with former head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson, who detailed his time as the head coach and the work he had done to help grow Jamaica’s international standing.

“I have had a real warm welcome and a really good feeling about coming here and taking this job with the vision of the World Cup in 2026,” he said. “What I have seen over the last two years is unbelievable development and is a credit to all the staff and the previous coach. It is my turn now to take the baton and to carry that on.”

We must believe

McClaren said one of the ways forward for the national programme will be to ensure the players and the fans all believe in the quality and the ability of the squad.

He said the aim is to ensure a culture of belief is fostered in Jamaica as the team aims towards qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“I knew the potential, I knew the talent and I knew what the JFF has been working towards for the last two or three years. It’s an exciting challenge, it’s the World Cup,” he said.

“That dream is what we must sell. We must sell it to everybody and everybody’s job on the island and every Jamaican’s job in the world is to make that dream come alive.”