The Canadian Soccer Association announced on Thursday that John Herdman will be the next head coach of the women’s national team. Herdman previously coached the New Zealand women’s national team to the 2007 and 2011 World Cups as well as the 2008 Olympics.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to work in a fantastic country and with a team that has the genuine potential to be the best in the world,” Herdman said in a statement.
Herdman succeeds Carolina Morace at the helm of Canada, which disappointingly lost all three games at the 2011 World Cup. Morace spent just over two years as coach of Canada, compiling a 25-11-5 record.
Herdman’s hiring is slightly surprising considering some of the names in consideration for the job. Sources close to the situation confirmed that Canada had interest in current England manager Hope Powell and Boston Breakers head coach Tony DiCicco, although it is unclear whether the interest was mutual from either party. Herdman’s hiring suggests the interest from the CSA in DiCicco and Powell may have been one way.
Canada, currently ranked No. 8 in the world, faces the U.S. on Sept. 17 in Kansas City and Sept. 22 in Portland.
