John Herdman has departed his role as Canada men’s national team head coach to take the same position at Toronto FC.
Herdman spent more than a decade with Canada Soccer, first as women’s national team head coach and then coaching the men, leading both teams to major achievements along the way.
“John Herdman is the most successful head coach in the history of Canada Soccer,” said Canada Soccer president Charmaine Crooks in a federation release.
“From leading the women’s national team to back-to-back Olympic bronze medals, paving the way for their gold medal in 2020, and to leading the men’s national team back to the FIFA World Cup, John’s contribution to the game in Canada is unmatched.”
Herdman will stay in Canada and transition to the club game, where he’ll take over a TFC side that has the worst record in MLS. The club fired Bob Bradley as head coach in June and has been coached by Terry Dunfield on an interim basis since then.
Herdman will stay with Canada Soccer to help with the transition to a new coach before taking over Toronto FC on October 1.
“I am keen to start this new opportunity with Toronto FC,” Herdman said in a TFC release. “Personally, it’s the right time for me to step into a new challenge in my career, and the structure of a club environment is a context I’ve aspired to operate in. Having access to connect and collaborate with the staff and players daily allows for a different depth of development and connection, both on and off the pitch.”
Herdman clashes with Canada Soccer
Herdman had been with Canada Soccer since 2011 and took the men’s national team to its first World Cup since 1986 last year, so moving to a new opportunity makes sense at this stage of his career.
Still, his departure at this stage is notable — and it’s not a good sign for Canada Soccer.
Herdman has opted to skip the opportunity to coach Canada in a World Cup on home soil in 2026, and his words following June’s Nations League final defeat to the United States are likely a big reason he’s chosen to leave.
The 48-year-old did not hold back on criticizing his own federation amid a funding crisis, saying: “We brought a World Cup to our country and we’re not serious about winning it.”
Canada’s men’s and women’s national teams have been in open conflict with their federation, with the women moving to strike during February’s SheBelieves Cup over cuts to funding.
In June, Canada Soccer’s interim general secretary Jason deVos admitted the federation was nearing bankruptcy, and may not have the financial ability to schedule fall friendlies for either of its senior national teams.
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