In a significant move to bolster Jamaica’s national football team, former Reggae Boyz Assistant Coach Miguel Coley has agreed to rejoin the program. This marks the first major step in Interim Head Coach Rudolph Speid’s strategy to assemble a strong technical team ahead of Jamaica’s critical Inter-Confederation World Cup qualifying play-off in March 2026. Sources confirmed that Coley and the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) finalized the agreement yesterday, with additional appointments expected in the coming weeks to ensure a complete staff complement well before the team’s final push for World Cup qualification.
Coley, 43, brings extensive international experience to his return. He was identified as the JFF’s top choice for the assistant head coach position following Speid’s appointment on November 21. After days of negotiations, both sides reached an agreement. Coley, a Pro Licence holder renowned for his tactical acumen, has spent the last four seasons in the Middle East, currently serving as head coach of Umm Salal’s reserve team in the Qatar Stars League.
Coley first gained prominence during a successful tenure with Jamaica College, leading the school to five Manning Cup titles. His achievements earned him an initial role with the Reggae Boyz as assistant to former Head Coach Winfried Schäfer, with whom he later reunited at Iranian club Esteghlal. His international coaching experience expanded with stints at Baniyas in the United Arab Emirates in 2019 and Al-Khor in Qatar in 2021.
Coley’s return is expected to be the first of several additions to Speid’s technical staff. The JFF is actively engaging with overseas-based coaches and former national players to enhance the program’s technical expertise. Among the targeted candidates is former Jamaican international Aaron Lawrence, currently head coach of the Turks and Caicos national team, who is being recruited as goalkeeping coach. Ricardo “Bibi” Gardner, a standout from Jamaica’s 1998 World Cup campaign, is also expected to join, alongside former national wing back Tyrone Marshall, now head coach of FC Cincinnati’s reserve team.
Jamaica’s path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup involves a crucial play-off against New Caledonia on March 26, 2026, in Mexico. If successful, they will face DR Congo on March 31, with the winner securing World Cup qualification. This play-off became necessary after Jamaica failed to secure automatic qualification in the Concacaf Final Round Qualifiers, following a 0-0 draw with Curacao on November 18. The result led to the resignation of former head coach Steve McClaren, who had been appointed 18 months prior.