Biello to serve as interim coach until new general secretary is announced
Canada Soccer announced on Wednesday that it will appoint a new general secretary before naming a permanent successor to John Herdman, who stepped down as the men’s national team coach last month. Herdman will take over as the head coach of Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC on Oct. 1.
Mauro Biello, who has been the assistant head coach under Herdman since 2018, will serve as the interim coach until a new permanent coach is hired. Biello is a former Canadian international, who won four caps for his country. He also played and coached for the Montreal Impact, now known as CF Montreal, in the MLS.
Biello said he has told the board of Canada Soccer that he wants to put his name in the running for the job. He said he knows he is getting an audition at the moment and he knows what the job entails and what he will be judged on.
Canada to face Japan in friendly and compete in CONCACAF Nations League
Biello is preparing for Canada’s upcoming matches in October and November. Canada will face Japan in a friendly on Oct. 13 in Niigata, Japan. The match will serve as a preparation for the CONCACAF Nations League, which will also serve as a qualifier for the Copa America 2024.
The Copa America 2024 will be hosted by the U.S. and will feature 10 teams from South America and six teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean. The top six teams from the CONCACAF Nations League will qualify for the Copa America 2024.
Biello said the October window is an opportunity to reconnect the group, regain some of the cohesion with the team and prime them for the November window, which will be crucial for Canada’s chances of qualifying for the Copa America 2024.
DeVos to act as interim general secretary until end of year
Canada Soccer also said that its board has decided that the search for the federation’s top operational leader is currently underway and expected to be named by the end of this year. The general secretary is responsible for working with the president and the board of directors of Canada Soccer.
Jason deVos, a former Canada captain and Hall of Famer, took over as interim general secretary in April. He replaced Peter Montopoli, who left the position after more than a decade. Montopoli oversaw Canada’s successful bid to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the U.S. and Mexico.
DeVos has been involved with Canada Soccer since 2016, when he was appointed as director of development. He has been instrumental in implementing Canada Soccer’s long-term player development plan and improving coaching education across the country.
