Former Canada women’s head coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller has been appointed as the sporting director for national teams at Canada Soccer, taking on a key leadership role within the organization.
In this new position, Heiner-Moller will oversee the management of Canada Soccer’s national teams and high-performance programs, reporting directly to CEO Kevin Blue. Under his leadership, national team coaches Jesse Marsch and Casey Stoney will report to Heiner-Moller, as confirmed by a Canada Soccer spokesperson.
CEO Kevin Blue expressed enthusiasm about Heiner-Moller’s return to Canada Soccer, highlighting his extensive technical expertise and global experience as an executive and coach. Blue emphasized the importance of Heiner-Moller’s role in enhancing the sporting structure and preparing for significant developments in the organization post-World Cup.
Heiner-Moller, aged 55 and previously technical director of San Diego FC, is set to fully engage with Canada Soccer after transitioning from his role at San Diego in the summer. His appointment aligns well with Canada’s upcoming role as a co-host of the World Cup, having witnessed the opportunities that major tournaments can bring.
Before joining San Diego, Heiner-Moller held various positions at the Danish Football Association over 4 1/2 years, handling responsibilities similar to those he will undertake at Canada Soccer.
Having stepped down as Canada coach in 2020 to return to Denmark due to various reasons, Heiner-Moller succeeded John Herdman as head coach in 2018. Under his leadership, Canada qualified for the 2019 Women’s World Cup and Tokyo Olympics, achieving notable milestones in women’s soccer.
Heiner-Moller’s return to Canada is motivated by family considerations, with his wife Anja Heiner-Moller coaching the Vancouver Rise. The couple, along with their two daughters, are set to reunite in Vancouver following Kenneth’s completion of duties at San Diego. Anja, a former Danish international, previously worked as an academy coach with Vancouver Whitecaps FC and North Shore Girls Soccer Club during Kenneth’s tenure as Canada coach.