Jamaica: Steve McLaren resigns as manager after missing automatic World Cup qualification

The words hide a massive blow to McClaren’s professional pride.

Leaving Manchester United in the summer of 2024, where he was assistant manager to Erik ten Hag, the attraction of signing the contract with Jamaica was the avenue it opened to the World Cup, given the three current Concacaf heavyweights – USA, Mexico and Canada – all have automatic qualification for next year’s tournament as co-hosts.

McClaren vowed he would be “back” after the England torment. On the international stage, this was supposed to be it.

Never had Jamaica had a better chance of emulating the 1998 team of Robbie Earle, Fitzroy Simpson and Frank Sinclair by reaching the World Cup for the second time in their history.

It was not straightforward.

For a start, the failed efforts to bring Mason Greenwood into the group were first delayed by a documentation issue then, after the former Manchester United striker was granted citizenship in August, he declined a call-up the following month, saying he was not ready to commit to Jamaica.

Over the past week McClaren had been sweating on the availability of another UK-born player, Brentford defender Rico Henry, who was only given clearance to make his debut in Thursday’s draw with Trinidad and Tobago in the hours before the game.

It had been anticipated that Michail Antonio would also be part of his squad, but the former West Ham striker has not played a competitive game since he featured for Jamaica in their Gold Cup campaign in the summer, which was his comeback from a horrific car accident six months earlier.

Then there is being part of a Confederation where the conditions can change from freezing cold and snow to blistering heat in the space of a flight.

“These 18 months have been hard – really hard,” said McClaren. “I have had to learn lessons very quickly.

“The experience of Concacaf football has been unique for me. Caribbean football is different to central American football, which is different to north American football. I have not experienced that before.”