Toronto FC have hired John Herdman as their new head coach, the team announced on Monday. Herdman joins the MLS side after leading the Canada men’s national soccer team for the past five and a half years.
Herdman will replace Bob Bradley, who was ousted as Toronto FC head coach in June after managing only three wins in the first 17 games of the 2023 MLS season.
“I am keen to start this new opportunity with Toronto FC. 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,” said Herdman in a statement released by the club.
John Herdman started his coaching career in 2006, serving as a head coach for the New Zealand women’s soccer team. After five years on the job, he took over the Canada women’s soccer team and had a successful run, which included two bronze medals at the Summer Olympics, before transitioning to the men’s team in 2018.
As a head coach of the Canada men’s soccer team, Herdman led the country to an all-time high of No. 33 on FIFA rankings and the 2022 FIFA World Cup appearance. This was the first World Cup appearance for Canada in 36 years.
“I’ve had a great relationship with John over the years and have always been impressed with his ability to get the most out of his teams,” said Toronto FC President Bill Manning in a statement. “John is more than just a coach. He’s a great leader and a culture builder. We look forward to John having the same positive impact with TFC as he has had with Canada Soccer.”
