Former England manager Steve McClaren has been named head coach of Jamaica’s men’s national team.

The 63-year-old has signed a two-year contract after leaving Manchester United’s backroom staff.

The Jamaica Football Federation says McClaren’s target is to guide the Reggae Boyz to the 2026 World Cup finals.

Their only World Cup appearance to date came at France 1998, when they were knocked out in the group stage.

McClaren said he was “extremely proud and excited” to take his first managerial post since he was sacked by QPR in April 2019.

“I had no hesitation in accepting a position that is ideally suited to me at this stage of my career,” he added.

McClaren served as Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Manchester United before taking charge of Middlesbrough, where he won the League Cup.

He was appointed England manager as Sven-Goran Eriksson’s successor in 2006 but was relieved of his duties after the Three Lions failed to qualify for Euro 2008.

McClaren returned to United in May 2022 as a member of Erik ten Hag’s staff.

Prior to that he had worked with Jamaica while working as a technical adviser at Fifa.

“I quickly came to realise the potential the country possessed,” he said.

“In the years since, that potential has grown significantly and there is every reason to believe that with continued hard work and development a bright future lies ahead.”