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Hallgrimsson didn’t see himself ‘continuing for another two years’ - Former Reggae Boyz coach speaks about early separation from Jamaica
January 09, 2025
Former Reggae Boyz head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said he could not continue working with the Caribbean team for another two years, as the working environment around the Jamaica national team was not motivating.
The Icelander joined the Reggae Boyz in September 2022, on a four-year contract, but only spent 20 months in the job before taking up a new deal with the Ireland national team.
Hallgrimsson, in an interview with the Irish Sun, spoke of his time with the Reggae Boyz and the vast difference in working with a country like Ireland and how his time with the Boyz became untenable.
"It (Ireland team) is a professional environment and the setting is top-notch; that's the biggest reason why I took on this job. Everyone who works around the national team is a professional to the core," he said.
"It was very good for me to come into this environment, an environment where I can learn from everyone around me.
"At Jamaica, I was more in a teaching role, so these are certain changes," he pointed out.
"We were trying to change quite a lot (in Jamaica), both in the work environment and within the union, and we criticised the way some things were done.
"Many employees were unhappy in their jobs. I was very clear to the staff around the team that if they were not happy, they always had the choice to quit and find another environment to work in.
"I then realised that there were certain things that I could not change or that it would take a very long time to change them.
"Then I was actually faced with the same choice as the staff who were not happy. I didn't see myself being able to continue for another two years in this working environment," Hallgrimsson expressed.
Nevertheless, he disclosed that while working with the Jamaica national team, he was always fully focused on the Boyz.
"While I was the Jamaica national team coach, I was regularly contacted and asked if I was ready to take on other teams.
"My answer was always the same, I was fully focused on Jamaica and I always intended to finish the final competitions that the team had entered, in the Nations League and the Copa America, before I would think about moving," he shared.
"I honestly don't remember exactly when the Irish first contacted me, but they were very interested.
"My requirement was always to complete these biggest projects with Jamaica before I went looking around," he reaffirmed.
Hallgrimsson was in charge of Reggae Boyz for 27 games; winning 10, drawing seven and losing 10.
His biggest accomplishments were taking the team to both the Gold Cup and Concacaf Nations League semi-finals.
Since taking over the Irish team, Hallgrimsson has two wins and four losses from six matches.
