Steve McClaren has resigned as Jamaica’s public platoon director following their failure to qualify for the World Cup, with reports suggesting the former England master was left in gashes after the disappointment.
The 64- time-old, who preliminarily missed out on Euro 2008 while in charge of the Three Lions, has again faced the bitter taste of falling short at a major event.
Jamaica was denied a place in the coming time’s World Cup in North America after a 0- 0 draw with Curacao, who came the lowest nation ever to reach a World Cup.
Speaking about his decision to step down, McClaren said: “Sometimes the best thing a leader can do is recognize when a fresh voice, new energy & a different perspective is required to move this team forward.”
Emotional Toll on McClaren After Jamaica Misses Out
The result against Curacao proved a cruel blow. Their assistant manager, Dean Gorre, who had to take charge in the absence of Curacao head coach Dick Advocaat, revealed the emotional impact on McClaren. “Steve was crying. It affected him that much,” Gorre said.
Back in 2015, both Steve McClaren and Dick Advocaat were managing in the Premier League with Newcastle United and Sunderland.
Ten years on, they will manage their current National Teams, Jamaica and Curaçao against each other, in a match with a place in the World Cup on the… pic.twitter.com/Y9UWYFxErj
— The European Football Express (@TheEuroFE) November 18, 2025
Jamaica contended notable players, including Brentford’s Rico Henry and former Everton defender Mason Holgate, but were unable to get the result they demanded.
McClaren had described the match as “the biggest game in Jamaica for many, many years”, underlining the significance of the occasion.
Curacao Makes History as the Smallest Nation to Qualify
Curacao finished the qualifying group as the only undefeated side, beating Group B with 12 points, just one ahead of Jamaica. Alongside Curacao, CONCACAF sides Panama and Haiti secured their spots for the event.
Curacao’s achievement is indeed more remarkable given the country’s small population. The Central Bureau of Statistics reports just 156,115 residents as of last January.
For the environment, Iceland, which had preliminarily been the lowest nation to qualify for a World Cup in 2018, has a population of just over 350,000.
The Caribbean side had hoped for a positive reversal after the desolation caused by a recent hurricane, with McClaren aiming to lift spirits.
“We will try to at least put some positivity and a smile on people’s faces in the midst of adversity … because there is nothing better than a Jamaican smile, I can guarantee you that,” he said.
For McClaren, this marks another chapter of heartbreak on the international stage. Once again, the manager who led England through Euro qualifying heartbreak finds himself leaving a job following a major disappointment, this time with Jamaica.
