John Herdman


John Herdman is an English football manager who is currently head coach of the Canada men's national soccer team.

Coaching career

Early career and Sunderland

Herdman began coaching soccer at a young age in England, while he was a student and part-time university lecturer. He was a development coach for Sunderland's youth academy until 2001, when he moved to New Zealand.

New Zealand women

Herdman was head coach for the New Zealand women's national football team from 2006 to 2011. When he arrived in New Zealand and joined the national association football programme in 2003, he initially acted as Coach Education Manager and later as Director of Football Development. Working with the national women's teams, he led the U-20 squad to the World Championship in 2006 and the later renamed U-20 World Cup in 2010. 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.

Canada women

Shortly after taking over for the Canadian women's team in 2011, 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 London Olympic Games taking place in the summer. In London, the Canadian team placed third winning a bronze medal. The team retained their bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

Canada men

On 8 January 2018, Herdman was named head coach of the Canada men's national soccer team. He "also becomes men's national director, with responsibility for all age groups from under-14s upwards".

Managerial statistics

Personal life

Herdman is originally from Consett, County Durham, England. Herdman is married to his childhood sweetheart, Claire, and has two children.