From CONCACAF

OTTAWA — Canada Soccer announced Monday evening that John Herdman has been put in charge of its men’s program and will be national team head coach, replacing Octavio Zambrano, who was in the post for 10 months.

Herdman shifts from his position as head coach of the Canada women’s national team, which he has led since August 2011.

“It’s a great honor to join the men’s national team program and I want to thank Canada Soccer for this opportunity to grow and develop the sport in this country through a one country, one system approach,” said Herdman. “In taking on the roles of men’s program director and men’s national team head coach, I am keen to put a lasting mark on a program full of potential with as we work towards th ultimate goal of representing Canada on the world’s biggest stage at the FIFA World Cup.”

In his new role, Herdman will be responsible for all of the Canada men’s national teams from the U-14 to the senior squad. As he did with Canada Soccer’s women’s program, Herdman is expected to align the age-groups and — with key stakeholders — standardize consistent tactical approaches, while refining youth programming.

With the Canada women, Herdman coached 108 games (62W-14D-32L), guiding the side to the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup quarterfinals, bronze medal finishes in the 2012 and 2016 Women’s Olympic Football Tournaments, a gold medal at the 2011 Pan American Games and a runner-up spots in the 2012 and 2016 editions of the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship.

Herdman was previously head coach of the New Zealand women’s national team from 2006-11.

IMAGE:
After successfully guiding the Canada women’s national team for more than six years, John Herdman (pictured) will attempt to do the same with the men’s side. (Photo: FIFA via Getty Images)