Steve McClaren walked away from another national post with a familiar ache — the same sense of failure that haunted him nearly two decades ago when England were eliminated from the race for Euro 2008. This time, the setting was Kingston rather than Wembley, but the emotion was strikingly similar.
After Jamaica’s goalless home stalemate with Curacao — a result that sealed the island nation’s historic first World Cup qualification while leaving the ‘Reggae Boyz’ in despair — McClaren confirmed the conclusion of his 18-month spell in charge.
He addressed the press with composure, insisting he had poured all his energy into the role and acknowledging that the team had fallen short of the primary target: advancing directly from the group.
He accepted responsibility, saying that leaders must know when to step aside for renewal and fresh thinking. Behind those measured words, however, lay a heavy blow to his pride.
Leaving Manchester United in 2024 to take up this opportunity, McClaren believed he had found the clearest path back to the World Cup stage, especially with the three major regional powers — the United States, Mexico, and Canada — already assured of qualifying as tournament hosts.
A campaign shaped by setbacks
Jamaica’s route was never smooth. Efforts to integrate Mason Greenwood — who received Jamaican citizenship in August — proved unsuccessful when, the following month, he chose not to accept an invitation, stating he could not commit. The availability of Brentford full-back Rico Henry was also in doubt until the hours before his debut against Trinidad and Tobago, when he was finally granted permission to participate.
Michail Antonio had been expected to contribute but has not appeared competitively since the summer’s Gold Cup, which itself marked his return from a serious car crash earlier in the year. McClaren also faced the unpredictable conditions of Concacaf competition, where climates vary dramatically from one venue to another. He admitted the challenge of adapting quickly to the contrasting football cultures across the region.
The late goal conceded against Trinidad and Tobago the previous week proved pivotal, leaving Curacao needing only a point in the decisive fixture. What began as a buoyant evening in a packed National Stadium — complete with music, horns, and soaring anticipation — soon dissolved into anxiety. Jamaica struggled to assert control and produced just a single attempt on target during a frustrating performance.
A night of narrow margins
The hosts struck the frame of the goal three times during a chaotic second half, only to see every opening squandered. A stoppage-time penalty briefly offered salvation, but the video assistant referee overturned the decision. Even a motivational appearance from Usain Bolt before kick-off could not alter the outcome.
Jamaica’s World Cup ambitions are not entirely over; they still have a chance through a six-team play-off in Mexico, where two wins would take them to a final against DR Congo or Iraq. Yet their task now looks far tougher.
For McClaren, though, the journey ends here. After England’s collapse in 2007, he retreated to the Caribbean for a holiday in Barbados. This time, he leaves the region with regret, unable to lift a nation still recovering from the destruction left by Storm Melissa and unable to deliver the joy he often spoke about bringing to Jamaican supporters.
Although he has achieved success in club football, his international memories remain overshadowed by disappointment.
