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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 only 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.
Herdman began coaching football at a young age in England, while he was a student and part-time university lecturer at Northumbria University. He was a development coach for Sunderland's youth academy until 2001, when he moved to New Zealand.
Herdman arrived in New Zealand and joined the national association football programme in 2003, initially acting as Coach Education Manager and later as the Director of Football Development. Herdman was head coach for the New Zealand women's national football team from 2006 to 2011. Working with the national women's teams, he led the U-20 squad to the World Championship in 2006, the federation's first-ever youth tournament result, and the later renamed U-20 World Cup in 2010, securing its first-ever youth World Cup victory. He also guided the senior squad to the FIFA Women's World Cups in 2007 and 2011 as well as the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. For his contributions, he was recognized as New Zealand Football Coach of the Year (2006, 2008) and New Zealand Football Team of the Year (2008).
During his time in New Zealand, Herdman played amateur football for NRFL Division 2 club Hibiscus Coast.
Herdman took over for the Canada women's national soccer team in 2011 from Carolina Morace after Canada finished last in their 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup group. The Canada women's team were in disarray. Some veteran players were contemplating early retirements until Herdman arrived. Shortly after, he led them to a gold medal finish at the 2011 Pan American Games in Mexico. He guided the team through the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament in Vancouver, Canada, securing one of two qualifying spots for the 2012 Olympic Games in London that summer.[dead link]
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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 only 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.
Herdman began coaching football at a young age in England, while he was a student and part-time university lecturer at Northumbria University. He was a development coach for Sunderland's youth academy until 2001, when he moved to New Zealand.
Herdman arrived in New Zealand and joined the national association football programme in 2003, initially acting as Coach Education Manager and later as the Director of Football Development. Herdman was head coach for the New Zealand women's national football team from 2006 to 2011. Working with the national women's teams, he led the U-20 squad to the World Championship in 2006, the federation's first-ever youth tournament result, and the later renamed U-20 World Cup in 2010, securing its first-ever youth World Cup victory. He also guided the senior squad to the FIFA Women's World Cups in 2007 and 2011 as well as the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. For his contributions, he was recognized as New Zealand Football Coach of the Year (2006, 2008) and New Zealand Football Team of the Year (2008).
During his time in New Zealand, Herdman played amateur football for NRFL Division 2 club Hibiscus Coast.
Herdman took over for the Canada women's national soccer team in 2011 from Carolina Morace after Canada finished last in their 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup group. The Canada women's team were in disarray. Some veteran players were contemplating early retirements until Herdman arrived. Shortly after, he led them to a gold medal finish at the 2011 Pan American Games in Mexico. He guided the team through the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament in Vancouver, Canada, securing one of two qualifying spots for the 2012 Olympic Games in London that summer.[dead link]
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