Footage has emerged from Steve McClaren’s first training session as Jamaica manager – and fans have been left in stitches.
McClaren left Manchester United to take up the Jamaica position in July after the departure of Heimir Hallgrimsson, who had been appointed as the Republic of Ireland boss.
The 61-year-old had been out of management for five years prior to the Reggae Boyz appointment, having been sacked by Queen’s Park Rangers in 2019.
One of McClaren’s first acts was to convince Jamaica-eligible players to switch their international allegiances.
Speaking about his new role in a press conference on Tuesday, McClaren said: “It’s been a long build-up since I first came over to Jamaica.
“From the first day [of the training camp] the players came in, it’s been great energy and spirit amongst them. They’ve shown that on the training field.
“We can control the controllable, which we’ve tried to do. We just have keep things simple.
“I’m going to concentrate on the performance – if we get the performance from the players, normally you get the win.”
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Footage from McClaren’s first training session has now emerged – and it has left viewers in stitches.
The clip sees the former Middlesbrough boss learning Jamaican greetings and phrases – and it takes him a few seconds to work out what he’s doing.
He performs a thumb signal with one of the members of the squad, which is referred to as ‘big up’.
McClaren then says: “Big up! Big up!
“You said something else this morning? No, something else. It was something…”
Once he is told it means ‘Seal it up’, he triumphantly shouts: “That’s what he said!
“Look me in the eye – seal it up.”
McClaren takes charge of the Reggae Boyz for the first time on Saturday when they take on Cuba in a home CONCACAF Nations League match.
Featured Image Credit: Twitter/Jamaica Football Federation
Topics: Steve McClaren, Jamaica, Football, Manchester United