Former Man. U manager among front-runners for Reggae Boyz head coach job

Former Manchester United player and manager for several English clubs Steve Bruce has been linked as a strong candidate to take over as coach of the senior Reggae Boyz team.

The Reggae Boyz are without a coach since Icelander Heimir Hallgrimsson resigned from the job on June 28 to take up an offer with the Republic of Ireland.

63 year old Bruce, has not worked since he was sacked by West Bromwich Albion in October 2022 after eight months in charge at the Hawthorns.

However, according to a report in British tabloid Daily Mail, Bruce, who has also managed the likes of Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday, has held talks with officials from the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF).

Also on the short list is 64 year old Jose Santos Peseiro who had managed 16 clubs and was assistant at Real Madrid in 2003.

Peseiro managed Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Nigeria at the 2023 African Cup of Nations tournament where they lost 2-1 to host Ivory Coast in the final.

The Portuguese has been out of a job since March of this year. The others on the list are Miguel Coley and former Reggae Boy Deon Burton.

Radio Jamaica Sports understands that the JFF Technical Committee will bring its preferred candidate to the JFF  board on Wednesday for ratification.

August 1 has been earmarked as the date for the announcement of the new coach, with the Reggae Boyz to do battle in the Nations League on September 6 at the National Stadium.