Steve McClaren leaves Manchester United coaching staff to become ...

Steve McClaren has left his role as first-team coach at Manchester United to take over as Jamaica head coach.

The 63-year-old was given a changed role by Erik ten Hag during his staffing restructure this summer, but McClaren wanted to take on a new challenge with the Caribbean country.

The Reggae Boyz had been looking for a manager since Heimir Hallgrimsson resigned at the end of last month to take charge of the Republic of Ireland.

Steve Bruce also held talks with Jamaica, but McClaren has been appointed new head coach on a two-year deal.

He said: “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 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.”

McClaren, who was Sir Alex Ferguson’s No 2 between 1999-2001, returned to United as assistant manager in the summer of 2022 after Ten Hag’s appointment.

Having kept his job at the end of last season, Ten Hag evaluated his staff and decided changes were needed, with Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake arriving as assistant managers, with Jelle ten Rouwelaar joining as goalkeeper coach, and Mitchell van der Gaag, Benni McCarthy and Richard Hartis leaving.

McClaren’s role was reduced to senior first-team coach. But rather than travel with the squad on the US tour he stayed at Carrington to pick up returning players from the European Championship and Copa America and now McClaren has decided to depart. Sporting director Dan Ashworth has worked to ensure a smooth exit.

McClaren had an 18-year managerial role including 15 months in charge of the England national team alongside spells at Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, Derby County and Queen’s Park Rangers, among others.

Last week, Lillestrom head coach Andreas Georgson joined United as a first team coach with Ten Hag saying the Swede would work specifically in areas of “individual development” and “set plays”.Darren Fletcher has switched from technical director to first-team coach and is a regular in training matches in Los Angeles.

(Matt McNulty/Getty Images)

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