Herdman to make men's coaching debut in March friendly vs. New Zealand

Rudi Schuller

Herdman to make men's coaching debut in March friendly vs. New Zealand image

John Herdman's debut as the head coach of the Canadian men's national soccer team now has a date.

Canada faces New Zealand in an international friendly on March 24 to be played at Pinatar Arena in Murcia, Spain. It will mark Herdman's first ever match in charge of a men's national team.

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Formerly in charge of the women's program, the 42-year-old Englishman took over the reins of the men's side from Octavio Zambrano in a controversial changing of the guard last month. Herdman, who led Canada's women to back-to-back Olympic bronze medals in 2012 and 2016, said he will use the March contest to begin his rebuild of a program that is currently ranked 95th in the world.

“This match is a great opportunity to be face to face with members of the men’s national team program and establish the foundations and relationships that will align Canada’s men’s national team program towards a goal of consistent winning performances,” Herdman said in a statement. “Outreach to the men’s national team player pool is part of our ongoing program review and I look forward to selecting a roster and preparing a team that will take on a very strong New Zealand side.”

It was in New Zealand where Herdman cut his teeth as a coach, earning his first international job as director of football and head coach of that nation's women's side from 2006-2011. He moved directly from that post to head up Canada's women's program following the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.

"New Zealand has and always will hold a special place in my heart as it gave me my first opportunity to work in international football as well as the chance to be part of leaving a special legacy with the Whole of Football Plan,” Herdman said. “I am pleased that I will have the chance to begin this new chapter for Canada against New Zealand.”

Rudi Schuller