It’s the question that had many holding their breath: would Steve McClaren whip out a Jamaican accent after being appointed the nation’s new manager?
On Thursday, as the 63-year-old was ambushed by a television crew minutes after landing, we had our answer.
Under the cover of the night, the former England boss revealed it was a ‘pleasure to be here’ and stated his intention to ‘find a hotel’.
‘A pleasure to be here. [I will] Find a hotel, have a good rest, have a good sleep, and I’ll see you all tomorrow,’ he told Television Jamaica.
Steve McClaren carried the hint of a Jamaican accent as he was ambushed by a reporter
The Jamaica manager went on to discuss his plans to tempt Mason Greenwood into the set-up
What did it feel like stepping off the plane? ‘No problem. I love the heat.’
Football fans had anticipated, with some trepidation, the return of McClaren’s accent antics. A defining memory of his title-winning time with Twente in the Netherlands is his attempt at a subtle Dutch accent while speaking English.
‘I’m extremely worried about the prospect of Steve McClaren having a Jamaican accent in his interviews,’ as one user wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
But sociolinguistics professor Rob Drummond told The Athletic in January that it was ‘genuinely positive’ for people to switch accents and shows their communication skills, speaking after Eric Dier was cruelly mocked for his German tint upon joining Bayern Munich.
McClaren was tight-lipped outside the airport when asked if he would try to lure Mason Greenwood to the Reggae Boyz, but opened up on his plans in his first press conference.
He insisted he would try to recruit foreign-born stars like Isaac Hayden and Greenwood – who recently joined Marseille for £30million – who could play for his national team.
‘I know the players. I met Mason and we had a little conversation. I want to go and meet everyone when I get back and find out whether they actually want to come here and play for Jamaica,’ he said, as per McAnuff Sports, an X account which posted a picture from his first press conference.
‘Again, it’s the commitment. I will be making sure that we have a conversation with all the players. We have a list.
McClaren had been assistant coach to Erik ten Hag at Man United until he left for the job
He revealed that he has already spoken with Greenwood about a potential switch to Jamaica
‘We want to get to a World Cup. To be a good team, we must get the best players. If that means we can use heritage players, we will do it. Local players must be good enough. Heritage players must be good enough.’
He also revealed a desire to re-integrate Aston Villa star Leon Bailey into the set-up after he stepped away from the national team in January.
‘As soon as I get back to England, I will contact all the players. I will contact Leon and see what his mind is like,’ he said.
‘I like recruiting. The most important thing with Leon is to talk and communicate with him. It’s a clean sheet. I know a little bit about the history. I know about top players and I understand them. It is a conversation we will have.’
He added: ‘I’ve had a real warm welcome and a really really good feeling about coming here and taking this job with the vision of the World Cup in 2026. I always knew this country had unbelievable talent and potential.’
McClaren had been assistant coach at Manchester United before stepping down at the end of July to take up the Jamaica role.
Previously assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson, he returned to Old Trafford at Erik ten Hag’s side two seasons ago when the Dutchman was tasked with leading the club back to silverware success.
McClaren is also aiming to bring Leon Bailey back into the fold after he quit the national team
Leon Bailey was seen on stage dancing alongside a man in cricket gear while his team struggled at the Copa America
He said: ‘We finished on a high and won the FA Cup. I thought it was the ideal time to leave Manchester United. I love a challenge and this is an exciting one. It’s a World Cup! We must sell the dream of a World Cup to everyone. We must make this dream come alive.’
Mail Sport previously revealed that Jamaica had also held talks with Steve Bruce.
