John Herdman steps down as Canadian men's soccer coach to join Toronto FC

John Herdman has spent more than a decade successfully leading Canada at the international level.

Now the longtime soccer coach faces perhaps his most challenging task of all: restoring moribund Major League Soccer club Toronto FC to its former glory.

Herdman stepped down as head coach of Canada's national men's team and was named head coach of TFC on Monday. He will take over from interim skipper Terry Dunfield on Oct. 1.

His decision to move on from the men's team comes about a year after it made its first World Cup appearance in 36 years at the 2022 event in Qatar, and three years before Canada co-hosts the massive soccer showcase alongside the United States and Mexico.

"I am keen to start this new opportunity with Toronto FC," Herdman said in a statement. "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."

WATCH | Herdman discusses 'life-changing' World Cup:

Always game for a challenge, the 48-year-old Englishman will certainly get one in Toronto FC.

He inherits a club so far removed from its peak in 2017, when it won the MLS Cup, the Supporters' Shield and Canadian Championship, that it is almost unrecognizable.

Toronto (3-13-10) has been dreadful this MLS season. The club is winless in 13 games (0-10-3) and has just one win in its last 19 outings (1-14-4) in all competitions.

And the coaching situation has been unstable since Greg Vanney resigned after the 2020 season to join the Los Angeles Galaxy. Chris Armas, Javier Perez and, most recently, Bob Bradley have failed to recreate Vanney's success.

Bradley, a former U.S. national team coach whose son is Toronto midfielder Michael Bradley, was fired June 26 with Toronto sporting a 3-7-10 record. TFC has lost all eight games in MLS and Leagues Cup action since Dunfield took over.

"There's work to be done, and we recognize that transformational change takes time," Herdman said. "We understand what it will take to make a difference, and I am committed to getting this city and club where it belongs."

Toronto hopes to find that stability at the helm in Herdman, who comes to Major League Soccer after 13 successful years coaching Canada at the international level. He is the first manager to lead both a women's and men's team from the same country to World Cup qualification.