John Herdman, a not-so-popular face in the football coaching world, is currently making headlines in football, thanks to his unanticipated move to the Asian soccer arena. Coaches climb the ladder of fame through tactics and innovation, but that is not the case for Herdman, who tends to believe more in transformation than tactics on the pitch. The Indonesia Football Team coach is a veteran in managing national sides, having begun his journey on the sidelines with the New Zealand women's team.
He is not a typical journeyman, at least his 12-year career in the Oceanic country reveals so. Herdman is actually a pioneer of the revival of the Canada football team. He not only ended their 36-year absence from the FIFA World Cup, but also lifted the country's fragmented women's team from chaos. John Herdman tactics and their successful transition have made him one of the rarest coaches to have won big with both men's and women's teams.
And now, the Maverick, who doesn't believe in tactical supremacy and inflicts shared ideology by connecting the missing dots in any dressing rooms, has taken over the sidelines of the Indonesia National Football Team, a side that has everything but consistency to light up Asian football. Managing Team Garuda will be a challenging task for sure, but John Herdman, with his pioneering Philosophy, is a man who has proved to have thrived on challenges, for what we have seen him doing for years with Les Rouges, having pushed the country's men's and women's teams to coveted tournaments like the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics. And now, at Sportsdunia, we bring to you a detailed analysis of John Herdman formation and his style of play.
John Herdman Bio
John Herdman was born in Consett, England, in 1975. He doesn't boast a great playing career as a footballer, but that didn't stop him from making a mark in coaching. Having started to manage students at Northumbria University, he experienced the essence of coaching before joining the Sunderland youth academy.
Quickly, he moved to New Zealand to run the country's women's side. In his five-year stint, he was immensely successful in bringing out the unfulfilled potential of that setup. FIFA World Cup qualifications, Beijing Olympic results and Oceania Champions, he achieved a tremendous feat before taking charge at Canada Women's Football Team in 2011.
Olympic medals, Pan American Games victory and other glorious silverwares - he had some glittering titles under his belt. And then came his turn to throw a big punch in men's football as the manager of Les Rouges. John Herdman single-handedly changed the face of Canada's football and led them to their first FIFA World Cup appearance in 36 years in 2022.
Field
Info
Full Name
John Herdman
Date of Birth
19th July, 1975
Current Team
Indonesia national football team
Major Achievements
Olympic Bronze Medal (Canada Women – 2012, 2016), FIFA World Cup Qualification (Canada Men 2022), CONCACAF Nations League Runner-up
Clubs Managed
New Zealand women's national team, Canada women's national soccer team, Canada men's national soccer team, Indonesia national football team (current)
Coaching Philosophy
Fast paced & transition-based football
John Herdman Bio
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John Herdman's Tactics & Style of Play
John Herdman is not a go-to tactician like the likes of top-class managers in the world, like Pep Guardiola or Jose Mourinho; he is more of a team man, who believes in his players and their strength. John Herdman style of play doesn't follow any rigid system when it comes to tactics.
When he was in Canada, he used a setup that resembled the Italian approach - 3-4-3 formation, which was the John Herdman formation. His idea, briefly stated, was simple - cover the back and hit the opponents with transitional play, typical low block football tactics. His system is aggressive and direct, not some possession-based game orchestrated by quality players. Triggering the attacking instincts of his wing-backs, Herdman has a knack for sending his full-backs higher up in the pitch, flooding the wings while not sacrificing the defensive solidity.
John Herdman Tactics Comparison & Evolution
Tactical evolution of John Herdman style of play is quite interesting, given the Englishman's reliance on slow transition instead of quick changes. When he was at the helm of Canada's Women's Football Team, he opted for what most coaches do - a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 setup. He knew he had an experienced squad that could keep the ball moving, resulting in a possession-heavy ball game and a compact backline.
Fast forward to his time with the boys of Canada, he shrugged off his old and known-to-all system and introduced a brand-new style. In the 2021-22 season, he adapted a fluid setup with either 3-4-3 or 3-5-2. The most major evolution in his tactical approach was his side's vertical attacking style, leaving a go-through-middle process. With players like Alphonso Davies, John Herdman weaponised the wings, incorporating the idea of athleticism and speed. And Jonathan David was his kill switch, who was at the receiving end of almost every cross flying into the box, begging to be tapped in or headed home.
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John Herdman Trophies and Achievements as a Manager
John Herdman is an underrated manager, but his collection of trophies tells a different story. His biggest achievement so far, according to many, is turning Canada into a battle-hungry team that can take on any team in the world on any given day.
Competitions
Achievements
Year/Season
Olympic Games (Women)
Bronze Medal
2012, 2016
FIFA Women’s World Cup
4th Place
2011
CONCACAF Women’s Championship
Winners
2010
CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifiers
Winners
2012, 2016
FIFA World Cup (Men)
Qualified
2022
CONCACAF Nations League
Runners-up
2022/23
How Does John Herdman's Indonesia Football Team Lineup Look Like?
A diverse talent pool in the Indonesian Football Team will definitely pose a big challenge to John Herdman's tactics and his selection of playing XI. The country is full of potential but inconsistent, leading to a failure in the 2026 World Cup qualification and the ousting of Patrick Kluivert from his managerial role.
His backline will be crowded with the presence of the likes of Jay Idzes and Calvin Verdonk. Sandy Walsh is expected to lead the charge of the wing-back roles, the most important positions in John Herdman formation. Seasoned midfielder Thom Haye will control the tempo of the middle while Ragnar Oratmangoen and Ole Romney will do the English coach's dirty work in attack.
John Herdman's line-up for the Indonesia Football Team (3-4-3): Emil Audero; Calvin Verdonk, Jay Idzes, Kevin Diks, Sandy Walsh; Thom Haye, Marc Klok; Ragnar Oratmangoen, Ole Romeny, Yakob Sayuri
