Jamaica national football team

Infobox National football team
Name = Jamaica
Badge = Jamaica_football_federation.gif
FIFA Trigramme = JAM
Nickname = The Reggae Boyz
Association = Jamaica Football Federation
Confederation = CONCACAF (North America)
Coach = flagicon|JAM John Barnes
Asst Manager = flagicon|JAM Theodore Whitmore
Captain = Ricardo Gardner | Most caps = Durrant Brown (107)
Top scorer = Theodore Whitmore (24)
Home Stadium = Independence Park
FIFA Rank = 105
FIFA max = 27
FIFA max date = August 1998
FIFA min = 108
FIFA min date = August 2008
Elo Rank = T77
pattern_la1=_Jamaica1|pattern_b1=_Jamaica1|pattern_ra1=_Jamaica1
leftarm1=FFFF00|body1=FFFF00|rightarm1=FFFF00|shorts1=000000|socks1=F7EB29
pattern_la2=_Jamaica2|pattern_b2=_Jamaica2|pattern_ra2=_Jamaica2
leftarm2=00CC00|body2=00CC00|rightarm2=00CC00|shorts2=F7EB29|socks2=73B24A
First game = flagicon|Haiti|civil Haiti 1 - 2 Jamaica flagicon|Jamaica|1906
(Haiti; March 9, 1925)
Largest win = flagicon|Jamaica Jamaica 12 - 0 BVI flagicon|British Virgin Islands
(Grand Cayman, Cayman Isls.; March 4, 1994)
flagicon|Jamaica Jamaica 12 - 0 Saint-Martin flagicon|Saint-Martin
(Kingston, Jamaica; November 24, 2004)
Largest loss = flagicon|Costa Rica Costa Rica 9 - 0 Jamaica flagicon|Jamaica
(San José, Costa Rica; February 24, 1999)
World cup apps = 1
World cup first = 1998
World cup best = Round 1, 1998
Regional name = CONCACAF Gold Cup
Regional cup apps = 6
Regional cup first = 1991
Regional cup best = Third place shared, 1993 The Jamaica national football team, or "The Reggae Boyz", is the national team of Jamaica and is controlled by the Jamaica Football Federation. After decades in CONCACAF obscurity, they gained many fans throughout the world after they qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup.Jamaica have won the Caribbean Cup three times: in 1991, 1998, and 2005, finished second twice and have come third twice.

Recently the squad has struggled, leading some Jamaicans to dub them "The Reggae Toyz". The team did not make it past the first stage of 2007 Caribbean Cup qualifying despite hosting the round, meaning Jamaica would not be in the Gold Cup.

However, with the return of former coach Renê Simões (who led Jamaica to the 1998 World Cup), there has been heavy optimism in the Reggae Boyz camps. Especially after impressive victories over El Salvador and Guatemala in the latter part of 2007. Many believe they have a shot at actually making a return to the World Cup in 2010. Also many players have come back to the national programme such as Marlon King, Ian Goodison, Deon Burton, and Donovan Ricketts.

History

Jamaica's first international appearance was against their Caribbean neighbors Haiti in 1925. They were invited to the French-speaking Caribbean island by Andre Chevalon, president of the then United Sporting Society and it was for a three-match series between the 2 countries. Jamaica won all three games by 1-0, 2-1 and 3-0. The following year Jamaica hosted their Haitians counterparts at Sabina Park and won by 6-0. The Haitians remained frequent opponents and it was not until 1932 that their run of defeats was broken with a 4-1 home win in Port-au-Prince.

Between 1925 and when Jamaica gained it's independence 1962, Jamaica had regular games with Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, Cuba and clubs like Racing and Violette from Haiti, Corinthians of Britain, the Tigers from Argentina, and even a series of matches with a Caribbean ALL Stars team in 1952. The Caribbean All Star team included such notables as Michael (The Ruin) Kruin from Suriname and also representing Jamaica were Lindy Delapenha and Gillie Heron. The four games were shared equally with Jamaica winning the second 2-1 and the fourth 1-0 and the All Stars winning the first 5-1 and the third 1-0.

Those friendly international games were the start of Jamaica's football journey with most of the home matches being played at Sabina Park. Many clubs were established during this time including Kensington, Melbourne, Kingston, Lucas and St. George's Old Boys, thus providing the talent Jamaica needed at the time.

In 1965 under the leadership of Brazilian coach Jorge Penna, Jamaica made its first attempt at World Cup qualifying. This was for the 1966 World Cup finals in England. The preliminary group included Cuba, the Netherlands Antilles, and Jamaica. Jamaica's first game was against Cuba which they won 2-0 at Jamaica's National Stadium. In the qualifying match against the Netherlands Antilles, Jamaica also had a 2-0 victory with both goals coming. In the away games Jamaica was held to a goaless draw with the Netherlands Antilles and suffered a 2-1 defeat to Cuba. Jamaica then advanced to the final group of 3 which included Costa Rica and Mexico. The winner in this group would represent the CONCACAF region. Jamaica lost at home to Mexico 3-2 and in the return leg in Mexico City the high altitude proved to much for the Jamaicans and they were defeated 8-0. Jamaica lost 7-0 to Costa Rica in their first encounter and had a 1-1 tie when they played at home.

In 1968 coach George Hamilton took leadership as Jamaica made an attempt to qualify for the 1970 World Cup Finals in Mexico. Jamaica had only a couple remaining players from the previous World Cup team and had to rebuild because most of the players had retired or migrated to North America and England. Jamaica lost all of their qualifying games in that year. Jamaica's participation in the 1974 World Cup elimination saw the suspension of 17 players on the team because of poor behavior on a tour to Bermuda. Jamaica withdrew from the elimination in order to restructure their team.

The 1978 Word Cup in Argentina saw Jamaica playing Cuba and losing 3-1 at the National Stadium and then 2-0 in Havana Cuba. Jamaica did not qualify.

In 1982 Jamaica did not make an attempt for the World Cup Final set in Spain due to insufficient funds and a poorly prepared team. Jamaica did not participate in the 1986 World Cup because suspension for affiliation fees that was due to FIFA. In preparation for the 1990 World Cup with coach Jeffery Maxwell Jamaica won both preliminary games against Puerto Rico 1-0 in Jamaica and 2-0 at Puerto Rico. The U,S, were the next opponents and was held to a goaless draw. The return leg in the U.S. saw Jamaica losing 5-1 brining an end to their qualifying attempt. The United States hosted the World Cup 1994. In qualifying Jamaica beat Puerto Rico 2-1 and was then faced Bermuda, Canada, and El Salvador from which two teams would advance to the final round. Jamaica tied 1-1 with Canada and Bermuda and then lost 2-0 to El Salvador, 1-0 to Canada, 2-1 to El Salvador. Jamaica then beat Bermuda 3-2 but did not qualify.

Under Brazilian Professor Rene Simones and National coach Carl Brown, the Jamaican team has become a "Powerhouse" in the Caribbean region and received "Best Mover" award by FIFA in 1996. Their ranking continues to change as they get closer to the finals on their road to France. [http://www.thereggaeboyz.com/history.htm]

In 2007 with an U-23 team, they won the silver medal at the 2007 Panamerican Games that was played in the Brazilian city Rio de Janeiro. The striker Kemmar Daley was the top scorer (together with the Mexican player Enrique Esqueda) with four (4) goals.

tadium

The team plays their games at The National Stadium, known locally as "The Office," which is located in Kingston. The stadium opened in 1962 and holds 40,000 people. It got its name "The Office" from their 50 match unbeaten run from 1995-2001.

Kits

The team is currently equipped by Kappa an Italian kit provider, they debuted in their current set at the beginning of the World Cup qualifying campaign against The Bahamas. Previously there were outfitted by Uhlsport a German apparel company. The home kit is a yellow shirt, black shorts, and green socks. The away is a green, yellow, and green set. There is also a black away kit, but has yet to be worn as yet. The team has had this set from 05-08

Honours

*sport honours|Caribbean Cup|3|1991, 1998, 2005

World Cup record

*1930 to 1962 - "Did not enter" (as until 1962, named British Jamaica)
*1966 - "Did not qualify"
*1970 - "Did not qualify"
*1974 - "Withdrew from qualification"
*1978 - "Did not qualify"
*1982 - "Did not enter"
*1986 - "Withdrew in qualification semi finals"
*1990 - "Did not qualify"
*1994 - "Did not qualify"
*1998 - Round 1
*2002 - "Did not qualify"
*2006 - "Did not qualify"

CONCACAF Championship record

*1963 -1st round
*1965 - "Did not enter"
*1967 - "Did not qualify"
*1969 -6th place
*1971 - "Did not qualify"
*1973 - "Did not enter"
*1977 - "Withdrew"
*1981 - "Did not enter"
*1985 - "Withdrew"
*1989 - "Did not qualify"

Gold Cup record

*1991 - Round 1
*1993 - Third place shared
*1996 - "Did not qualify"
*1998 - Fourth place
*2000 - Round 1
*2002 - "Did not qualify"
*2003 - Quarterfinals
*2005 - Quarterfinals
*2007 - "Did not qualify"

Caribbean Cup record

*1989 - "Did not qualify"
*1991 - Winners
*1992 - Second place
*1993 - Second place
*1994 - Round 1
*1995 - Round 1
*1996 - Round 1
*1997 - Third place
*1998 - Winners
*1999 - Third place shared
*2001 - Round 2
*2005 - Winners
*2007 - Round 1

Panamerican Games record

*2007 Panamerican Games - Silver Medal

Current squad

The following players were called for the Fifa World Cup 2010 Qualifying matches against Mexico on October 11, 2008, and Honduras on October 15, 2008

Recent call ups

The following players have been called up for the team in 2008.

Notable former players

Goalkeepers

*Warren Barrett
*Aaron Lawrence

Defenders

*Tyrone Marshall
*Steve Malcolm
*Christopher Dawes
*Linval Dixon
*Durrant Brown
*Shavar Thomas
*Claude Davis
*Damion Stewart
*Ian Goodison
*Frank Sinclair

Midfielders

*Peter Cargill
*Theodore Whitmore
*Fitzroy Simpson
*Ricardo Gardner
*Omar Daley
*Jermaine Johnson
*Andy Williams

trikers

*Ricardo Fuller
*Luton Shelton
*Onandi Lowe
*Walter Boyd

Notable former coaches

*flagicon|Brazil Renê Simões (1994-2000, 2008)
*flagicon|Jamaica Carl Brown (2003)
* flagicon|SRB Bora Milutinović (2006-2007)
*flagicon|Brazil Jorge Penna (1965)
*George Hamilton (1968)
*Geoffrey Maxwell
*Wendell Downswell

Results & upcoming fixtures

"Matches since 2007, as well as any future scheduled matches"

External links

* [http://www.my-island-jamaica.com/sports_played_in_jamaica.html Sports In Jamaica]
* [http://www.jamaicafootballfederation.com/ Jamaican Football Federation]
* [http://www.reggaeboyzsc.com/ The Reggae Boyz Supporterz Club (Official Site)]