Ex-Reggae Boyz Head Coach Nets Irish Job
Heimir Hallgrímsson back in the international arena following recent Jamaica departure
The Reggae Boyz may well tackle their recently departed head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson at the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals.
The 57-year-old, who resigned this month following Jamaica’s unceremonious exit from the Copa America, has been unveiled as the new Republic of Ireland head coach.
He is a surprise choice to lead the Irish, world ranked no60, who had been scouring the availability of someone with experience coaching at the World Cup finals.
Hallgrimsson masterminded his home nation of Iceland to their most successful period when he was joint-manager, guiding them to the heady heights of world no.18. He helped them reach the Euro 2016 quarter-finals and the 2018 World Cup finals, but left his role following a dismal display at Russia 2018.
Hallgrimsson coached Qatar’s Al-Arabi in the Qatari League from 2018 to 2021, before he joined Jamaica in their quest to become a highly competitive Caribbean team.
With money from a lucrative adidas shirt deal, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) wanted a left-field and ambition appointment.
In stepped Hallgrimsson, whose remit included qualifying for the 2026 World Cup finals as well as to improve the team and introduce players who plied their trade on the Caribbean island to the international scene.
It became pretty clear once Hallgrimsson took over he was never going to be able to establish the Boyz’ identity. His tactics and line-ups resulted in unattractive displays, with fans not enthralled by their constant insipid performances.
With the Boyz lacking any rhythm and Hallgrimsson heavily reliant on players based in Europe and US, he ground out some unconvincing results.
However, he somehow steered Jamaica to the 2023 Gold Cup semi-finals and a third-place finish in the last CONCACAF Nations League. When they crashed at the Copa America with a hat-trick of defeats, it was not a shock that he called it quits.
The relationship between the JFF and Hallgrimsson had gradually turned so sour that, since the start of the year, he had returned to live in Iceland and only returned to Jamaica when required. It appeared to be a part-time role on a full-time salary, which irked the JFF.
With no noticeable improvement since he took charge in September 2022, but was not at the helm until January 2023, the split seems beneficial to both parties.
Now the Boyz are searching for a new head coach with Gregg Berhalter a possibility after he was sacked today following an on-off five-year stint with the United States.
Meanwhile, Hallgrimsson will be trying to impose his Scandinavian attitude of being calculated and super organised on the Republic of Ireland.
Hallgrimsson will oversee two matches a-piece against England, Finland and Greece in this year’s UEFA Nations League. Hallgrimsson will be aiming to repeat his most famous result against England, when he was joint-manager of Iceland with Lars Lagerback, of the last 16 victory at Euro 2016.
If he imposes himself with the Republic of Ireland, who had been on the hunt for a replacement head coach for eight months, then the Irish could be one of the 16 UEFA nations to be competing in the 2026 World Cup finals and he may well come face-to-face with Jamaica.
The Boyz are expected to sail through their World Cup qualifiers, as their main rivals in the CONCACAF region of Canada, Mexico and the United States have been given automatic berths as co-hosts.
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