Speid set to return as Reggae Boyz head coach

The Gleaner can report that the Jamaica Football Federation has offered to re-appoint Rudolph Speid as national coach of the senior men's team, under a short-term agreement.

According to our sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Speid's contract was set to start on August 1, 2026 and run for five months ending on December 31, or until a permanent head coach is named.

However, it's understood that the JFF board is set to ratify the contract before the next congress set for September 19.

The deal sees the veteran coach return to the helm of the Reggae Boyz for the third time.

Speid was first employed as interim head coach from December 15, 2025 until March 31, 2026 to guide the Reggae Boyz through the World Cup Intercontinental playoff matches, after Steve McClaren resigned.

The Michael Ricketts-led JFF subsequently allowed Speid to guide the squad during the Unity Cup Tournament held in England in May.

The current five-month contract suggests that the JFF is treating the appointment as an interim measure while its search for a long-term successor continues.

The Reggae Royz have been drawn to face Honduras, Guatemala, Suriname, Martinique and El Salvador in group 'B' of league 'A' of the 2026-2027 edition of the Concacaf Nations League.

The Boyz are set to play four games in the Fifa window that runs from September 21 to October 6.

The top two teams from each of the league 'A' groups will advance to the quarter-finals of the competition and join the United States, Mexico, Canada and Panama.

The four quarter-final winners will book their ticket to the 2027 edition of the Concacaf Gold Cup.

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