John Herdman’s departure from Canada’s national women’s soccer team to run the men’s program came as a surprise to just about everyone in the country, including his players.

John Herdman’s departure from Canada’s national women’s soccer team to run the men’s program came as a surprise to just about everyone in the country, including his players.

Herdman took the women’s program to unparalleled heights, winning back-to-back bronze medals at the Summer Olympics.

And heading towards the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France with Herdman at the helm, Canada was expected to be title contenders.

“Of course it’s shock at first, because it’s something that you’re not expecting and something that you really aren’t prepared for,” said Canadian goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe, an Edmonton product. “But I think after taking a few breaths and taking a few steps away from it, and looking at it from an objective point of view, my way of seeing these types of events is to always try to see the positives and try to see what good can come from it.”

Herdman, 42, leaves the women’s program in the best shape is has ever been. According to Labbe, he did his best to inform as many players as he could regarding his decision before the announcement was made public Monday.

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“Looking back, I’m extremely grateful, individually, for what John has done for myself as a person and a soccer player for my career,” Labbe said. “He really gave me a chance and believed in me and gave me the opportunity to really grow, and ultimately, perform my best on the world stage in one of the biggest tournaments.”

An English native, Herdman was hired in 2011 to take over from Italian Carolina Morace after Canada’s disastrous World Cup campaign that year, when they finished last in the tournament.

Herdman was quickly able to turn things around, leading the team to gold at the 2011 Pan American Games prior to earning a qualifying spot in the 2012 Olympics in London.

Considered a strong motivator, Herdman was able to get the best out of his players.

“The one thing I think about John is how much he truly cares about developing people and developing not only soccer players, but good people,” Labbe said. “You could see that he surrounds himself with the best of the best. Every single staff member is at the top of their specification with what they bring to the team, and it’s the same with the players. He finds good people and people who are willing to work for each other and put other things above themselves. I think that’s what really brought this team together.”

The Canadians were surprise bronze medalists in London, coming a controversial penalty call away from upsetting the United States in the semifinal. They then went on to defeat France in the bronze-medal game.

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Four years later, with Labbe as their starting goalkeeper, Canada won bronze again, losing to Germany in the semifinal and then defeating the host Brazil for third place.

“I think at the time we’re at now, is that he’s really given us all the tools we need to succeed,” Labbe said. “He’s really given us not just a foundation, but a really strong group of women who are ready to step forward into a new opportunity with a new coach and take advantage of the next few years and really perform on the world stage. I think he’s given us all the tools we need to be at that level.

“It’s sad to think of not having him by our side, but at the same time, I’m excited for Canada and for what he’s going to bring to the men’s team and that program.”

Herdman’s assistant, Kenneth Heiner-Moller, will take over the women’s program and lead the team towards the 2019 World Cup.

A native of Denmark, Heiner-Moller coached the Danish women’s national team from 2006 to 2013 before joining Canada’s staff.

“We know Kenneth’s background, we know he had a lot of success with Denmark and their women’s national team, they had an incredible performance at the Euro when he was coaching them,” Labbe said. “I think that’s a big positive for what we look for and at the same time, what he’s brought to our program in the past two years, he brings us offensive vision of the game, which I think is perfect for what we need at this stage.”

In the men’s program, Herdman inherits a bigger mess than he came into with the women’s team. The Canadian men qualified for their only World Cup in 1986 and have not come close since.

“From what I know from what he brought to our team and the soccer brain that he has, I have no doubt that he’s going to be able to spark a bit of a change in that team,” Labbe said. “Hopefully, it’s in a positive direction, which I fully believe he can do.”

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