Hallgrímsson lays out plans for national programme
ICELANDER Heimir Hallgrímsson says he has been given a mandate by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) to complete two projects as its senior men’s football team head coach.
These, he says, are to develop talent and to support the national team.
Hallgrímsson, who was officially announced to the public in a press conference yesterday, signed a four-year deal taking him through the next Fifa World Cup qualifying cycle which the JFF hopes will result in qualification for the 2026 tournament, to be staged across North America.
Hallgrímsson describes himself as being different from most coaches as his income in Iceland came from being a dentist, rather than a coach, since football is at an amateur level in that country.
Although he previously coached at Al-arabi in Qatar, a nation known for spending heavily on its football programme, he says taking the Jamaica job was not about money, given the JFF’S limited financial resources. Instead, he says, it is an attempt to “fix what is broken”.
“[The number one] task is to build a team for the World Cup in 2026,” Hallgrímsson said at the press conference yesterday. “We have a year until we start the group stage for the World Cup, so we have to start quickly to try to find and stabilise the Jamaica national team. The second job is assisting in improving football here in Jamaica — the coaching education, working with elite players — and we are happy to be a part of this and assist in that.”
But Hallgrímsson says while doing this he will be mindful of the expectation to win games, as poor results would probably cost him his job.
He says that for these plans to be implemented he first needs to learn the culture of football in Jamaica, then he can adapt his coaching style and philosophy.
“I have to adapt first, and then we find the compromise,” he stated. “Yes, I have my ideas how to be successful internationally, and these will be in my first months, to try to learn as much as possible.”
Hallgrímsson said he considered sitting in the stands during Jamaica’s next international friendly match against Argentina in New Jersey on September 27, but decided to instead take charge of the team in that game. He says this is a game against a team that is potentially the next world champions.
“It would have been good for me to hide, but I think now is a great opportunity because they will expose all our weaknesses, especially defensive weaknesses,” he reasoned. “Probably, we will defend most of the game so it presents a good chance to see how we are, how when we compare to the best in the world.”
JFF President Michael Ricketts says the timing of Hallgrímsson’s appointment is ideal for him to build a philosophy and football identity for the national programme.
Swedish Coach John Erik Wall will join Hallgrímsson as his assistant coach, as will Merron Gordon who previously served in the same capacity under former Head Coach Theodore Whitmore. Icelander Guðmundur Hreiðarsson takes over from Warren Barrett as the team’s goalkeeping coach.