Steve McClaren quits Man Utd as left-field return to management confirmed

Steve McClaren has been confirmed as the new head coach of the Jamaica national team, leaving Manchester United two years after returning as part of Erik ten Hag’s backroom staff. The 63-year-old is the last of the three coaches who Ten Hag brought with him to Old Trafford in 2022, completing a shake-up overseen by INEOS this summer.

Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy had already departed, with Rene Hake and Ruud van Nistelrooy replacing them in the coaching ranks.

Lillestrom manager Andreas Georgson – who previously worked at Southampton, Brentford and Arsenal – was the latest addition last week, seemingly replacing McClaren.

On Wednesday, the Jamaica Football Federation announced that McClaren had signed a two-year contract with the task of guiding the nation to the 2026 World Cup.

Michael Ricketts, President of the Jamaica Football Federation, said: “We are truly elated to announce the appointment of Mr McClaren as Head Coach of the Reggae Boyz.

“We are confident we made the right decision, and we are looking forward to him guiding our nation towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”

McClaren also expressed his delight as he prepares to return to management for the first time since his Queens Park Rangers sacking in April 2019.

“I am extremely proud and excited to take up the position of Head Coach for The Jamaica Men’s National Team,” the former England manager explained.

“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 didn’t travel to the United States as part of United’s pre-season tour, staying behind at Carrington to work with the club’s returning international players.

Ten Hag, Hake, Van Nistelrooy, Georgson and Darren Fletcher are Stateside, but one could return to M16 to cover for McClaren’s absence.

Executives Omar Berrada, Dan Ashworth, Jason Wilcox and Sir Dave Brailsford are also across the Atlantic as they continue to bond at the start of their working relationship under the INEOS banner.