Canada Soccer Coach John Herdman Son Jay Herdman Plays For Whitecaps FC
John Herdman is the current head coach of the Canada National football team. He will also manage the nation in the Fifa World Cup 2022.
Herdman successfully guided the national men’s and women’s teams to qualify for a World Cup on March 27, 2022, the nation’s first World Cup appearance in 36 years. He is the first manager to achieve the thing after so much patience.
In England, Herdman started teaching football at a young age while still a student and a part-time lecturer at Northumbria University. Up to his relocation to New Zealand in 2001, he served as a development coach for Sunderland’s youth academy.
Herdman coached the New Zealand women’s team between 2006 to 2011. In addition to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, he led the team to the FIFA Women’s World Cups in 2007 and 2011. Shortly after, he signed up to manage the Canadian women’s team.
Under Herdman, the Canadian women’s national soccer team won a gold medal finish at the 2011 Pan American Games in Mexico. He led the team to one of the two qualifying slots for the summer Olympics in London. Also, he guided them through the CONCACAF Olympics.
Quick Facts About John Herdman
| Name | John Herdman |
| Age | 47 |
| Birthday | July 19, 1975 |
| Wife | Claire Herdman |
| Children | Jay and Lilly-May Herdman |
| Parents | Norman and Margeret Herdman |
| Net Worth | USD 5 million approx. |
John Herdman’s Son Jay Herdman Plays For The Whitecaps FC
Jay Herdman is the son of Canada men’s national team coach John Herdman. He plays football as an attacking midfielder.
The 18-year-old has signed with the Canadian outfit Vancouver Whitecaps 2 of the MLS Next Pro. He was born in New Zealand on August 14, 2004, and has represented Canada and New Zealand at the youth level.
Jay is qualified to represent New Zealand because he was born there when his father was a Football South development officer.
Jay Herdman, who was selected to represent New Zealand at the OFC Under-19 Championship this month, is attempting to become the second member of his family to earn a spot in a football World Cup.
Herdman’s son has stated that he intends to join his father in Qatar, but first, he must qualify for his own World Cup with the Junior All Whites. After that, however, he is in the line to represent New Zealand in the OFC Under-19 Championship in Tahiti.
John Herdman Son Jay Herdman Career On MLS Next Pro
As a youth, Jay played for Hibiscus Coast and Surrey United, SC. He joined the academy of Vancouver Whitecaps FC in 2017.
Herdman ultimately signed a contract with the Whitecaps FC 2 in March of this year. He faced Houston Dynamo 2 in his first game as a professional player. As of November 2022, the midfielder has played 18 official matches and netted two MLS Next Pro goals.
According to the MLSNextpro website, he has a total pass accuracy of 77.3 percent, which is impressive for an attacking midfielder.
Similarly, his international appearances have been with both Canada and New Zealand. He has played one official match with the Canadian U-20 and has netted three goals in his six caps with the New Zealand U20.
In the 23-man New Zealand squad, which Wellington Phoenix first-team defender Finn Surman would lead, he was the only player with an international base. Earlier this year, he was also chosen for a Canada under-20 training camp, which fell in line with a few unofficial friendlies versus Costa Rica.
Although he claims his heart is set on representing his place of birth, he is also eligible to play for England thanks to his parents.
Jay has said: “I’m a real Kiwi at heart, so it’s good to be back and represent the country. I don’t think I’m Canadian. My parents are British, but it’s New Zealand for me.”
He continued: “Canada was a good experience, and it was good to try it out. I know a lot of boys on the team, but I’ve said since I was young that I want to play for New Zealand. The guys here have been great too. As soon as I got here they said I’m one of the team now so it’s been super easy.”
Speaking of his body stats, Jay stands 5 feet 10 inches tall, i.e., 1.77 meters.
Who Is John Herdman’s Wife? Meet Jay Herdman Mom
John Herdman is married to his wife, Claire Herdman. Since being recruited from a coaching position in New Zealand in 2011, he has resided in Vancouver with Claire and children Jay and Lilly.
According to Herdman, his daughter is currently 11 years old. He has often spoken of his daughter in the media.
Herdman has said, as quoted on BBC, “I have an 11-year-old daughter obsessed with what Alphonso Davies is doing on Tik-Tok. She has never had an interest in soccer throughout her time in Canada.”
Herdman also has a brother named Martin, who lives in Gateshead.
