New Indonesia national team coach John Herdman shares his journey in an exclusive interview, starting coaching at age 17 and achieving success in qualifying Canada for the 2022 World Cup. He describes himself as having an obsessive personality that drives total commitment. His main inspirations come from his ex-soldier grandfather and Sir Bobby Robson.
John Herdman, the new coach of Indonesia's national team, reveals the start of his coaching career at age 17 in an interview on the Timnas Indonesia YouTube channel. He earned his first qualification at age 18 and UEFA license at age 20. "I started my coaching at age 17. I got my first qualification at age 18. My UEFA license at age 20, so I have an obsessive personality when I commit to something I want to do it totally," Herdman said.
This obsessive personality is both a strength and weakness but has driven him to explore various football cultures. "It's a strength and weakness, and I believe that commitment and passion for coaching has taken me from England to New Zealand, to Canada, and now Indonesia, to experience different cultures," he added.
Herdman's journey began with New Zealand's women's national team, qualifying them for the Women's World Cup 2007 and 2011, and the Beijing 2008 Olympics. He then coached Canada's women's team, securing bronze medals at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics, gold at the 2011 Pan American Games, and leading as hosts for the 2015 Women's World Cup.
In early 2018, Herdman switched to Canada's men's national team, bolstered by players like Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David. Under his leadership, Canada qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, ending a 36-year wait since their 1986 debut in Mexico.
Herdman's inspirations include his grandfather, an ex-soldier and professional boxer known for discipline. "I think in life you have many inspirations. My grandfather was a big inspiration. He was a professional boxer and also an ex-soldier. He was very disciplined and a great man," he said. Additionally, Sir Bobby Robson, who coached Newcastle United for five years and achieved third place in the 2002/2003 English League with 69 points, was a key figure. "As a starting point, you look at your family. Then in life, as you grow and meet different people, watching Sir Bobby Robson at Newcastle United, a fellow North England man from a working-class background, who could travel to many different countries," Herdman explained. Robson managed 255 matches at the club.
