Cavalry coach staying put with CPL franchise
Wheeldon was shortlisted for national men's team job after Herdman departure
Canada has a new men's soccer coach.
And it's not Tommy Wheeldon Jr., who is staying put with Cavalry FC.
That's good news for Calgary's professional footie side for its future, though the Cavalry gaffer sure would've looked good walking the sideline for the nation's senior squad.
“My ownership group did grant permission for Canada Soccer to speak to me,” said Wheeldon before Saturday's Canadian Premier League match featuring Cavalry (1W-3D-1L) against visiting York United FC (2-0-3) at ATCO Field (5 p.m., Onesoccer, Onesoccer.ca).
“I'm very humbled to have been considered part of that as a Canadian coach. It's the only job that I would ever think about leaving a wonderful place like Cavalry.”
That won't be happening any time soon after Canada Soccer made its decision Monday to hire American Jesse Marsch to replace John Herdman as the national leader.
The 50-year-old's resumé includes time coaching England's Leeds United, Germany's RB Leipzig, Austria's Red Bull Salzburg and Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls and Montreal Impact. His last job was with Leeds in the EFL Championship division, which fired him in February 2023 after a year in charge.
“Jesse Marsch is a guy with a good career, both as a player and as a coach,” Wheeldon said. “If there's anybody that will fill the shoes of what John Herdman did, it's him.
“He's emotionally intelligent. He has a clear philosophy of the way he wants to play. He's also had a little bit of time since he departed Leeds to dive deep into football and refine his ideals, and I think that always helps when going into a new job.
“I think he's passionate. He's going into some tough games here and hopefully, the country can get behind him and the team, and I wish him all the best.”
Canada Soccer CEO and general secretary Kevin Blue drew skepticism from many last month when he pointed to philanthropy as a way to help the governing body's battered bottom line.
But he did go down that path in hiring Marsch, since the move was facilitated by “major philanthropic contributions” from the owners of the three Canadian-based MLS clubs — the Vancouver Whitecaps, CF Montreal and Toronto FC — and supplemented by other private donors, according to Canada Soccer.
“Jesse is a transformational leader who will drive progress for our men's national team — and for Canadian soccer more broadly — as we enter the most important time in the domestic history of our sport,” Blue said.
Canada, which is ranked 49th worldwide in men's soccer, is co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with Mexico and the U.S.
“I wish Jesse all the best. I think he's a terrific appointment,” Wheeldon said. “And I think the country is in a good place with having a domestic league (in the CPL) and the MLS backing it.”
Wheeldon joined former assistant Mauro Biello — the interim coach after Herdman's departure and before Marsch's appointment — among a handful of candidates shortlisted for the coveted position.
It's believed Wheeldon's fellow CPL savant, Bobby Smyrniotis of Forge FC, and former France superstar and ex-montreal Impact coach Thierry Henry were also on that shortlist.
“Our ownership with the way they worded it was that, `We wouldn't be supporting the Canadian game if we wouldn't give consent for our head coach to be considered the future manager of the national team,'” added Wheeldon.
“I was extremely thankful for that. And I was extremely humbled to be considered for it but fortunate now to have a terrific job here that I can focus on moving forward.”
FREE KICKS: Cavalry heads into Saturday's home match with a week off between games. It last played Saturday in a 1-1 draw with host HFX Wanderers FC in Halifax ... York United, meanwhile, has had one more day of rest than the Cavs, having last played last Friday against visiting Valour in North York, Ont. That contest was won by the host side 3-1 to move York United into fifth spot ahead of Cavalry in the CPL standings ... Cavalry forward Ali Musse (ankle) remains out and will have more tests, says Wheeldon. Also out Saturday is Cavs midfielder Maël Henry (hamstring), while defender Tom Field (leg) and forward Toby Warschewski (foot) are in full training with the Calgary club.
He's going into some tough games here and hopefully, the country can get behind him and the team, and I wish him all the best.