John Herdman is an English professional football manager who has greatly impacted Canadian football, turning both the women's and men's national teams into World Cup contenders.
Herdman started his coaching career in New Zealand, where he was the director of football development and head coach of the women's national team from 2006 to 2011. During this time, the team qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cups in 2007 and 2011, as well as the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In 2012, he became the head coach of the Canadian women's national soccer team. Under his guidance, the team won back-to-back bronze medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, achieved a gold medal at the Pan Am Games, and finished in the top six at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
In 2018, Herdman took over as head coach of the Canadian men's national team, aiming to improve the struggling squad. In 2022, he led the team to its first FIFA World Cup qualification since 1986, achieving Canada's first-ever goal at a men’s World Cup and a top 30 FIFA ranking.
Herdman's coaching achievements have received international recognition. He is the first coach to qualify both a women’s and men’s national team for the World Cup and has coached at four FIFA World Cups, three Olympic Games, and two FIFA youth World Cups. His honors include the Jack Donohue Coach of the Year Award in 2017 and the CONCACAF Outstanding Achievement Award in 2016. His teams were named Canadian Team of the Year in 2016 and 2022.
In August 2023, Herdman resigned from the Canadian men's national team to join Toronto FC as their head coach, seeking a club environment for closer connections with staff and players. He is also an inspirational keynote speaker, sharing his leadership philosophy and strategies for success in sports and business.
