TORONTO — No stranger to the Olympics with two bronze medals on his coaching resume, John Herdman will have a new role this summer with the Paris Games.
Proud father.
Herdman’s 19-year-old son Jay is on New Zealand’s Olympic soccer roster.
“I’m excited for him,” said Herdman Sr. “He’s reached a dream.”
Jay was born in New Zealand while his father was working for New Zealand Football before leaving in 2011 to coach the Canadian women’s team. Herdman, who switched to the Canadian men’s program in 2018, quit Canada Soccer last August to take over Toronto FC.
Herdman recalled his son being with him at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing when he was coaching the New Zealand women.
“We’ve got all the photos of running around with his Kiwi badges and his New Zealand shirt with Herdman (No.) 10 on the back,” he said.
On Thursday, Herdman gifted his son — “as a little good luck thing” — a greenstone given to him by a Maori elder during his time in New Zealand.
Greenstone — or pounamu in Maori — is highly valued in Maori culture.
Jay captains the Whitecaps FC 2, Vancouver’s entry in the MLS Next Pro league. A midfielder, he entered the Whitecaps academy as a 13-year-old in 2017 and has represented New Zealand 14 times at youth level including at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
“His dad was rubbish at football,” John Herdman said with a laugh. “It’s a proud moment. He’s a good kid, a really good kid. He deserves it.”
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MANNING MEMORIES: Toronto FC coach John Herdman and GM Jason Hernandez both paid tribute to departed team president Bill Manning.
Manning, who was named TFC president in October 2015 and later added the title of Argos president when the Canadian Football League franchise was acquired by MLSE in January 2018, was let go by MLSE on Thursday with the MLS side mired in a nine-game winless run with six straight losses.
“I think everyone was sad to hear the news’ said Herdman. “For those that have worked with Bill, they know how much he’s put into the club, what he’s contributed to the legacy. To be part of winning a treble (MLS Cup, Canadian Championship and Supporters Shield in 2017) which no other team in MLS has done is pretty remarkable.
“Everyone wishes him well for the future. But his presence will be missed. If anyone knows him, he’s a kind, very caring man and cares about his people. A lot of people care for him and they’ll be there for him in the next few days, I’m sure.”
Hernandez, who moved from the playing field to the front office on Manning’s watch, called his departure a “difficult, emotional” time.
“When Bill walks away from the organization he has a lot of people who have a lot of positive things to say about him because he was a very kind man and did right by a lot of people,” he said. “And so I’m indebted to him because I think he afforded me the opportunity to try to revitalize a club that I love.
“And in difficult circumstances he could have looked in many places but he chose me. And I’m really grateful to him for that, Certainly no one’s happy with the decision but we understand we are in the business of results and we’re in the business of change. So it’s just where we are.”
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LUKA LEARNINGS: Toronto goalkeeper Luka Gavran has shown superior shot-stopping abilities in deputizing for starter Sean Johnson. But the 24-year-old has also had some tough lessons on the job.
On Wednesday, Forge FC attacker Beni Badibanga spotted the six-foot-six Gavran off his line and scored with a shot from inside his own half in the CPL champion’s 2-1 win in the first leg of the Canadian Championship semifinal.
And on June 29, Gavran was caught napping in the 97th minute by Atlanta forward Jamal Thiaré, who came from behind to pilfer the ball as the ‘keeper was about to boot it forward. Thiaré then knocked the ball into the open goal for a 2-1 Atlanta win.
“He’s getting caught with some things that don’t happen very often in the career,” said Toronto coach John Herdman.
“Luka’s learning,” he added. “He’s a young goalkeeper. He’s had way more good games for TFC that he’s had poor games. And again, even in that (Forge) game, he made some wonderful saves.”
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 12, 2024.
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
