A decade is a long time in football, and Miguel Coley says his overseas coaching experience has better equipped him to lead the Reggae Boyz now than during his first stint.

As reported by the Jamaica Observer last week, Coley and Rudolph Speid are the front-runners for the senior men’s team assistant and head coach, respectively, with the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) set to decide this week.

The two were appointed on a four-month interim basis last November, after the departure of Steve McClaren and his technical staff who failed to automatically book their spot for the 2026 FIFA World Cup during the final round of Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers.

Coley and Speid led Jamaica during last month’s intercontinental play-offs in Guadalajara, Mexico, where they lost to DR Congo in the final to end their hopes of competing at this summer’s showpiece.

If reappointed Coley would continue his second stint as national assistant coach, after serving from 2014-2016 under then Head Coach Winfried Schaefer which included a finals appearance at the 2015 Concacaf Gold Cup. At that time he was head coach of perennial high school football champions Jamaica College (JC).

After leaving JC in 2017, Coley spent the last eight years coaching top-flight clubs across Asia while gaining his UEFA Pro Licence, making him one of the few from the Caribbean to do so.

He told the Observer that experience has greatly improved his tactical and managerial approach, which he believes translated during last month’s play-offs.

“I would have been a much more qualified coach,” he said. “I would have made more impact in terms of the world of football, and in terms of myself, having more confidence to speak to the player [and tell them] exactly what I want in a more concise way. So I think over the years, with the experience, I have learned to read the room better, to read the body language of the player as best as possible.

“Ten years ago I was extremely young. I say ‘young’ because I started very early, but I think that I would have adapted to the international football very well — and that’s one of the reasons why I’ve been able to be one of the first head coach[es] from this region in Asia. So, things that I’ve done over the years in terms of being a better person and a better coach would have given me enough in terms of quality.”

Prior to his return last November, Coley was often linked to a return to the technical staff but was ultimately overlooked, with some stakeholders questioning his credentials due to his ties to Schaefer’s failed 2018 World Cup campaign and the perception that his main success came at the high school level.

However, Coley says his achievements can’t be downplayed.

“One thing I can say is that wherever I’ve been, I have been successful,“ he said. ”I’ve been successful at Jamaica College, I’ve been successful at Barbican, I’ve been successful in Iran, I’ve been successful in UAE, I’ve won titles in Qatar and now, I’m in the semi-final of the Champions League in Iraq. So, any narrative persons want to say, they just have to look at my track record.”

While he lacks coaching experience in Europe — widely regarded as the highest standard — Coley says the quality in Asian leagues is strong and has contributed significantly to his development.

“In Asia we have the best facilities,” Coley said. “When you look at Qatar World Cup [in 2022], the facilities are second to none. We have some of the best international footballers playing in Asia, maybe not at a young age but you see now they’re coming in at 28, they’re coming in as early 30s, so we have a lot of professional players that we work with.

“We have some of the best coaches in Asia. The coach from PSG [Christophe Galtier] is fired — he comes to Qatar. Coach [Roberto] Mancini got fired from Italy — he’s coaching in Qatar. Brendan Rodgers [former Liverpool and Celtic manager], he’s coaching also in Asia. The profile of the coaches that are coaching in Asia are some of the best coaches in the world, and to compete against those coaches as a Jamaican, you can think about the experience that I would have gained from that.”

After returning from Guadalajara with the Reggae Boyz, Coley wasn’t ready to make a firm decision on his future with the national team, despite receiving JFF President Michael Ricketts’s approval.

He maintains, however, that he can be a major long-term asset if he commits.

“I would love the opportunity to, because I know I can get the job done,” Coley said. “I know over the years I would have equipped myself in the best way possible. I know what’s best in terms of how we want to play as a country; I understand the people, I understand the emotions, I understand how difficult it is for them to miss out on another World Cup.

“Having this passion and having this big pressure is something that I am strengthened by; it’s something that pushes me to the limit to know that my country needs this — and as a warrior for my country and as an ambassador for my country, I have to get it done.”

Jamaican coach Miguel Coley poses with the Qatar Football Association Radiff League trophy after his Umm Salal SC Under-23s won the title in 2022. .

From left: Ian Fray, Dwight Merrick, Nickalia Fuller, Miguel Coley, Tyrese Hall, Kyle Ming, Norman Campbell and Leon Bailey having a discussion during a Reggae Boyz training session on Sunday, March 29 at Verde Valle in Guadalajara, Mexico, ahead of their FIFA World Cup play-off final against DR Congo.  (Photo: JFF)

Reggae Boyz Assistant Coach Miguel Coley during training at Verde Valle in Guadalajara, Mexico, on March 29, 2026 ahead of their FIFA World Cup Play-offs final against DR Congo.(Photo: JFF)