Former Boyz goalkeeper hails appointment of McClaren

FORMER Reggae Boyz goalkeeper Ryan Thompson has hailed the appointment of Englishman Stephen McClaren as the new Reggae Boyz head coach.

McClaren, a former England manager, left Manchester United at the end of last season. He was a member of manager Erik ten Hag’s coaching staff.

“I think a coach of his calibre coming into the national team set up speaks volumes. It tells you that the job itself is very attractive to those on the outside. The biggest thing now is the support that he will receive from the federation and the public. It’s less about what he’ll bring as a coach and more about the support that is around him,” he stated.

McClaren was appointed on a two-year contract. His main job is to see the Reggae Boyz safely through the qualification phase of the ongoing 2026 World Cup. Thompson believes the two-year deal gives McClaren enough time to build a team for the World Cup.

“Obviously there’s the World Cup ahead, two years from now, and this will be a good measuring stick. If he gets all the support I genuinely believe that with the talented group of players that we have there should be success. That success could then turn into an extension of his contract, it’s short but that’s just the reality of it,” Thompson added.

Veteran football administrator Clyde Jureidini believes the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) was locked in a situation where time was against them as they moved to appoint a new coach following Heimir Hallgrimsson’s sudden resignation.

“I think the JFF was in a position where they had no choice. Hallgrimsson is gone and they had to make a quick decision,” Jureidini said.

Jureidini added that based on Jamaica’s current ‘English-based’ style of football McClaren simply falls in line with this approach. According to the Harbour View Football Club general manager it was a no-brainer that Hallgrimsson’s replacement would come from that footballing landscape.

“We’ve gotten ourselves stuck into investing in English-based players. Therefore, we have to go with the squad that we have and select someone from that region. Someone from the United Kingdom was the most likely choice,” Jureidini said.

orane.buchanan@gleanerjm.com