Steve McClaren has stepped down as Jamaica’s head coach after the Reggae Boyz failed to secure direct qualification for the World Cup.
Jamaica needed a win against Curacao to seal their place, but a tense goalless draw changed everything on the final whistle.
Curacao topped the group instead. They created history by qualifying for the World Cup as the smallest nation ever to achieve the feat.
Their unbeaten run in the group earned them 12 points and a place alongside Panama and Haiti on the World Cup stage.
McClaren confirmed his resignation with a heartfelt statement.
“Over the last 18 months, I have given everything I have to this job, to this role,” he said.
“I carried the weight and pride of this job with the deepest respect. Leading this team has been one of the greatest honours of my career.
“But football is a results business and tonight we have fallen short of our goal, which was to qualify from this group.”
He added: “It is the responsibility of the leader, myself, to step forward, take accountability and make decisions in the best interests of the team for them to go forward.
“After deep reflection and an honest assessment of where we are and where we need to go, I have decided to step down as head coach of the Jamaican national team.”
Curacao pushed through despite missing their head coach Dick Advocaat, who was absent for personal reasons.
Yet the players fought through the pressure and sealed their historic qualification.
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