Report: Canadian men’s coach John Herdman lead candidate for Toronto FC job
Posted August 21, 2023 6:18 pm.
Last Updated August 21, 2023 6:19 pm.
Canadian national men’s soccer team coach John Herdman is considered the top candidate to become head coach of Toronto FC, The Athletic’s Joshua Kloke and Tom Bogert report.
John Herdman should now be considered the frontrunner for the Toronto FC head coaching job.
New details at @TheAthleticSCCR with @tombogert #TFCLive https://t.co/ubZ6rFqcvE
— Joshua Kloke (@joshuakloke) August 21, 2023
Herdman guided Canada to the World Cup for the first time since 1986 last year, but a dispute between the players and Canada Soccer has led to nasty infighting and organizational problems since the spot was booked last March.
Canada went 0-3 at the Qatar World Cup.
If Herdman takes the TFC job, he’d be leaving a gig with a team that has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup as a co-host with the United States and Mexico.
The Athletic says Herdman’s representatives contacted TFC to express interest in the role.
Herdman blasted Canada Soccer after the team lost the Nations League final to the United States, saying Canada is “not serious” about winning the World Cup.
TFC fired head coach Bob Bradley in late June, naming Terry Dunfield interim coach.
According to the report, others in contention for the Toronto job include Mark Warburton of Queen’s Park Rangers, D.C. United assistant Carl Robinson and Bobby Smyrniotis of CPL club Forge FC.
Toronto is on a 10-match winless streak in MLS play and sits second-last in the Eastern Conference standings.
Herdman was the coach of the Canadian women’s team before taking the men’s job in 2018. He guided the women’s team to two bronze medals at the Olympics.
