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John Herdman

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John Herdman

John Herdman (born 19 July 1975) is an English professional football manager widely recognized for his contributions to Canadian soccer. He is the first coach to have led both a women’s and men’s national team from the same country to a FIFA World Cup. Herdman coached the Canada women’s national team from 2011 to 2018, guiding them to back-to-back Olympic bronze medals (2012, 2016) and a quarter-final finish at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. He then transitioned to the men’s program, where he led the Canada men's national team to its first FIFA World Cup appearance in 36 years in 2022, and oversaw a significant rise in international competitiveness and ranking. Herdman is credited with reshaping Canada’s national team culture. He helped elevate the profile of Canadian soccer at home and abroad, laying foundational groundwork ahead of the country’s co-hosting of the 2026 World Cup. He most recently served as head coach of Toronto FC in Major League Soccer, from 2023 to 2024.

Infobox

Full name
John Herdman
Date of birth
(1975-07-19) 19 July 1975 (age 50)
Place of birth
Consett, County Durham, England
Height
1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Years
Team
2006–2011
New Zealand Women
2011–2018
Canada Women
2018–2023
Canada Men
2023–2024
Toronto FC

Tables

· Managerial statistics
mw- G
mw- G
Team
mw- G
From
W
To
D
Record
L
Record
Win %
New Zealand women's
New Zealand women's
Team
New Zealand women's
From
1 January 2006
To
31 August 2011
Record
61
Record
16
Record
7
Record
38
Record
026.23
Canada women's
Canada women's
Team
Canada women's
From
1 September 2011
To
8 January 2018
Record
109
Record
62
Record
14
Record
33
Record
056.88
Canada men's
Canada men's
Team
Canada men's
From
8 January 2018
To
28 August 2023
Record
58
Record
36
Record
8
Record
14
Record
062.07
Canada under-23 men's
Canada under-23 men's
Team
Canada under-23 men's
From
8 January 2018
To
17 July 2018
Record
4
Record
1
Record
2
Record
1
Record
025.00
Toronto FC
Toronto FC
Team
Toronto FC
From
10 October 2023
To
29 November 2024
Record
44
Record
16
Record
6
Record
22
Record
036.36
Total
Total
Team
Total
From
276
To
131
Record
37
Record
108
Record
047.46
Team
From
To
Record
mw- G
W
D
L
Win %
New Zealand women's
1 January 2006
31 August 2011
61
16
7
38
026.23
Canada women's
1 September 2011
8 January 2018
109
62
14
33
056.88
Canada men's
8 January 2018
28 August 2023
58
36
8
14
062.07
Canada under-23 men's
8 January 2018
17 July 2018
4
1
2
1
025.00
Toronto FC
10 October 2023
29 November 2024
44
16
6
22
036.36
Total
276
131
37
108
047.46

References

  1. "With inspiration and motivation, John Herdman is changing the face of Canadian soccer"
    https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/john-herdman-canada-men-soccer-1.5322990
  2. "John Herdman: The brain behind the brawn of Canada's World Cup dream"
    https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/john-herdman-the-brain-behind-the-brawn-of-canadas-world-cup-dream/article24834240/
  3. "Herdman takes over Canadian women's soccer team"
    https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/herdman-takes-over-canadian-women-s-soccer-team-1.1001299
  4. Stuff (company)
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/5552775/Herdman-finishing-as-Football-Ferns-coach
  5. "John Herdman named Canada's Women's National Team Head Coach"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120703060540/http://www.womenssoccerunited.com/profiles/blogs/john-herdman-named-canada-s-women-s-national-team-head-coach
  6. Samoa Football
    https://www.footballsamoa.ws/archives-407/
  7. "Former NRFL player becomes national hero as Canada qualifies for World Cup"
    https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2022/03/28/from-nrfl-to-world-cup-glory-the-amazing-story-of-john-herdman/
  8. Global News
    https://globalnews.ca/news/150283/canadian-soccer-association-names-john-herdman-as-head-coach-of-womens-team/
  9. Neil Davidson, "FIFA Women's World Cup: Canadian coach John Herdman is master motivator – 'Black Flash' challenges team
    https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/fifa-women-s-world-cup-canadian-coach-john-herdman-is-master-motivator-1.3100361
  10. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3898702/2022/11/23/john-herdman-canada-world-cup/
  11. "Canada wins gold at Guadalajara 2011"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20191128080246/https://www.canadasoccer.com/canada-wins-gold-at-guadalajara-2011-p145170
  12. "Canada's women's soccer team has plenty to prove"
    http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/opinion/2012/01/canadas-women-soccer-team-has-plenty-to-prove.html
  13. "Canadian women confident ahead of Olympic soccer qualifiers – 2 berths available for London 2012", The Canadian Press /
    https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/canadian-women-confident-ahead-of-olympic-soccer-qualifiers-1.1275446
  14. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/aug/07/the-fiver-women-football-olympics
  15. The Vancouver Sun
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120419214457/http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Team+Canada+hopes+from+good+great/6005119/story.html
  16. The Vancouver Sun
    https://web.archive.org/web/20180714051532/http://www.vancouversun.com/opinion/Christine+Sinclair+Captain+Canada+lifts+team+Olympic+bronze+women+soccer/7066067/story.html
  17. Team Canada - Official Olympic Team Website
    https://olympic.ca/canadian-olympic-hall-of-fame/london-2012-womens-soccer-team/
  18. Canada Soccer: "Canada WNT Recognized as 2012 Canadian Press Team of the Year", December 28, 2012.
    https://canadasoccer.com/news/canada-wnt-recognized-as-2012-canadian-press-team-of-the-year/
  19. Jeremy Freeborn, "2015 FIFA Women's World Cup", Canadian Encyclopedia, 25 September 2015; updated 28 October 2015.
    https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/2015-fifa-womens-world-cup
  20. "England ousts Canada from FIFA Women's World Cup"
    https://olympic.ca/2015/06/27/england-ousts-canada-from-fifa-womens-world-cup/
  21. Team Canada - Official Olympic Team Website
    https://olympic.ca/2016/08/19/canada-defeats-brazil-to-win-olympic-soccer-bronze-at-rio-2016/
  22. Canada Olympics: "Canada defeats Brazil to win Olympic soccer bronze at Rio 2016" 19 August 2016.
    https://olympic.ca/2016/08/19/canada-defeats-brazil-to-win-olympic-soccer-bronze-at-rio-2016
  23. "Back-to-back bronze medals tops 2016 Canada Soccer Moments - Canada Soccer"
    https://canadasoccer.com/news/back-to-back-bronze-medals-tops-2016-canada-soccer-moments/
  24. The Globe and Mail
    https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/canadian-women-finish-2017-at-no-5-in-fifa-world-soccer-rankings/article37341980/
  25. "John Herdman departs Canada Soccer Men's National Team - Canada Soccer"
    https://canadasoccer.com/news/john-herdman-departs-canada-soccer-mens-national-team/
  26. Joshua Kloke, "Canada drone scandal: How did it happen, questions over Herdman’s role, what must change", The Athletic,
    https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5719108/2024/08/24/canada-drone-herdman-olympics-investigation
  27. CBC Sports
    http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/john-herdman-takes-over-canadas-mens-program-1.4478560
  28. BBC Sport
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42617838
  29. "Under John Herdman, the Canadian men's team has become a winning band of brothers", Canadian Press / CTV, 11 November 2
    https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/article/under-john-herdman-the-canadian-mens-team-has-become-a-winning-band-of-brothers/
  30. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/sep/04/canada-usa-world-cup-2022-qualifier-football-soccer-john-herdman
  31. "Canada Delivers Historic 2:0 win over USA at Home Fortress in Toronto", Sport Information Resource Centre, 16 October 2
    https://sirc.ca/news/canada-delivers-historic-20-win-over-usa-at-home-fortress-in-toronto/
  32. Neil Davidson, "Canadian men's soccer team ends 34-year winless run against U.S. – Davies, Cavallini lead Canada to vict
    https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/nations-league-canada-united-states-first-leg-recap-1.5322137
  33. mlssoccer
    https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/canada-2-united-states-0-2019-concacaf-nations-league-match-recap?utm_source=chatgpt.com
  34. CTV News
    https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/article/canadian-men-earn-most-improved-side-honours-in-end-of-year-fifa-rankings/
  35. CBC Sports
    https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/canada-soccer-men-fifa-ranking-33-1.6346344
  36. www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca
    https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canada-at-the-2022-fifa-world-cup
  37. Canadian Soccer Daily
    https://canadiansoccerdaily.com/2024/03/18/new-canada-soccer-general-secretary-kevin-blue-shoots-down-bankruptcy-fears-seeks-to-calm-the-waters/
  38. BBC Sport
    https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60144426
  39. CBC Sports
    https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/soccer-world-cup-qualifying-canada-jamaica-march-26-1.6399334
  40. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/18/john-herdman-canada-soccer-coach-world-cup-qatar-2022
  41. Stuff
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/128202920/how-mori-wisdom-helped-football-coach-john-herdman-on-the-road-to-world-cup-glory
  42. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37629102/lecturer-women-coach-taking-men-qatar-2022
  43. TSN
    https://www.tsn.ca/fifa-world-cup/alphonso-davies-first-goal-canada-fifa-world-cup-qatar-1.1884763
  44. "Belgium spoil Canada's World Cup return behind Thibaut Courtois masterclass"
    https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/belgium-spoil-canada-s-world-cup-return-behind-thibaut-courtois-masterclass
  45. "Tenacious Canada blanked by Belgium in return to men's World Cup"
    https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/worldcup/world-cup-canada-belgium-1.6661527
  46. The Sporting News
    https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/alphonso-davies-world-cup-goal-canada-croatia-first-history/eeh1fmtqtmbcn9akthdj7lvn
  47. "Canada unable to grab points at World Cup, Morocco and Croatia advance"
    https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/article/canada-unable-to-grab-points-at-world-cup-morocco-and-croatia-advance/
  48. "Despite injury Doneil Henry doing his bit off the pitch to help Canada at World Cup"
    https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/worldcup/despite-injury-doneil-henry-doing-his-bit-off-the-pitch-to-help-canada-at-world-cup-1.6667775
  49. torontofc
    https://www.torontofc.ca/news/toronto-fc-name-john-herdman-as-head-coach
  50. BBC Sport
    https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66642275
  51. Toronto FC
    https://www.torontofc.ca/news/toronto-fc-name-john-herdman-as-head-coach
  52. mlssoccer
    https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/enough-is-enough-john-herdman-begins-change-at-toronto-fc
  53. Sportsnet.ca
    https://www.sportsnet.ca/mls/article/resurgent-toronto-fc-putting-recent-dismal-past-behind-with-herdman/
  54. torontofc
    https://www.torontofc.ca/news/match-recap-toronto-fc-2-1-cf-pachuca-august-4-2024
  55. TSN
    https://www.tsn.ca/john-herdman-resigns-as-toronto-fc-head-coach-1.2211660
  56. SI
    https://www.si.com/soccer/sources-ex-canada-manager-john-herdman-being-considered-for-jamaica-job
  57. Sky Sports News
    https://www.skysports.com/football/live-blog/11095/12476234/transfer-centre-live-football-transfer-news-updates-and-rumours?postid=10561540#liveblog-body
  58. BBC Sports
    https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/c7v8v879yv0t
  59. www.diez.hn
    https://www.diez.hn/internacionales/john-herdman-concacaf-anunciada-seleccion-jamas-fue-mundial-AI28648282
  60. Team Canada - Official Olympic Team Website
    https://olympic.ca/2022/11/21/how-john-herdman-defined-a-decade-in-canadian-soccer/
  61. Thierry Henry, speaking on CBS Sports panel; linked on X, 24 March 2025.
    https://x.com/rgfray1/status/1904148801788539257
  62. "The legacy John Herdman leaves behind in Canadian soccer"
    https://theathletic.com/4801417/2023/08/28/john-herdman-canada-soccer-legacy-toronto-fc/
  63. "Living the Dream: How NSL founder Diana Matheson is determined it remain a reality"
    https://www.cbc.ca/sports/longform/features/northern-super-league-living-the-dream
  64. Sport in History
    https://doi.org/10.1080/17460263.2010.481210
  65. "2014 FIFA World Cup on CBC"
    https://www.cbc.ca/revenuegroup/2014%20FIFA%20World%20Cup%20on%20CBC.pdf
  66. Canadian Women’s National Soccer Team Coach John Herdman Joins TSN’s Coverage of the 2013 UEFA EURO WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP - Bell Media
    https://www.bellmedia.ca/the-lede/press/canadian-womens-national-soccer-team-coach-john-herdman-joins-tsns-coverage-of-the-2013-uefa-euro-womens-championship/
  67. Every Minute, Every Match: TSN Delivers Complete and Exclusive Live Coverage of UEFA EURO 2016, June 10-July 10 - Bell Media
    https://www.bellmedia.ca/the-lede/press/every-minute-every-match-tsn-delivers-complete-and-exclusive-live-coverage-of-uefa-euro-2016-june-10-july-10/
  68. "Sweet homecoming for women's soccer coach John Herdman"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20180714051002/http://www.vancouversun.com/Sweet+homecoming+women+soccer+coach+John+Herdman/7008247/story.html
  69. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/17/john-herdman-canada-womens-world-cup
  70. "John Herdman profile"
    https://canadasoccer.com/profile/?id=1471
  71. FotMob
    https://www.fotmob.com/players/325881/john-herdman
  72. "Profile - Canada Soccer"
    https://canadasoccer.com/profile/?id=1471&teamId=2068
  73. "Canada Soccer's John Herdman awarded Jack Donohue "Coach of the Year" Award - Canada Soccer"
    https://canadasoccer.com/news/canada-soccers-john-herdman-awarded-jack-donohue-coach-of-the-year-award/
  74. "Canada Soccer's Men's National Team named 2022 The Canadian Press Team of the Year - Canada Soccer"
    https://canadasoccer.com/news/canada-soccers-mens-national-team-named-2022-the-canadian-press-team-of-the-year/
  75. Oceania Football Confederation
    https://www.oceaniafootball.com/archives-13387/
  76. www.northumbria.ac.uk
    https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/news-events/news/john-herdman/
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