Meet the only Scot managing an international team

Herd has been in Dominica for two years now, having worked with the youth sides before in his role as a talent coach with Fifa.

He says he has “fallen in love” with the country and its people, who consider him one of them now.

Life on a beautiful Carribbean island is good, but Herd admits being “obsessed” with football means he cannot always fully enjoy the trappings that come with it.

That drive has been with him throughout his career, from when he left Scotland for Australia without a job after graduating from Abertay University and ended up coaching a team, Magic FC.

The journey has taken him to the bustling metropolis of Kuala Lumpur, where he worked with Spanish club Villareal’s Asian arm, to the high mountains of Kyrgysztan, where goats blocking the road once held up a training session for four hours.

At times, it has been tough. Missing family events and milestones has not been easy. However, the experience of working across so many football cultures has been rewarding, as have some of the other moments along the way.

That includes playing five-a-side against former Portugal striker Nuno Gomes at a Fifa event in Paraguay and – nearly – Arsene Wenger in Zurich.

“We get given the teams before and I’m like, ‘oh my God, I’m on Arsene Wenger’s team.’ I’ve taken a photo of that, I’ve sent it back home. Unbelievable.

“So we’ve got ready, gone on the field and we’re warming up and a little bit of drizzle comes through.

“And I’m looking for Arsene. I’m going, where’s Arsene gone? So we’ve gone down into the restaurant and Arsene’s just sitting there with a bottle of red wine.

“He’s like, ‘no man, the rain, it’s not for me. When I was in London, I have enough’. So we’re soaked through. He’s sitting there with a nice red wine, enjoying himself.”

Herd’s not sure where his coaching journey will take him next, but his ambition is to eventually get into the club game at as high a level as possible.

The Dundonian has already shown his willingness to adapt and learn – and take on big challenges.

“I want this on a daily basis,” he says. “I want that pressure. I want that day-to-day grind.”

For now, it’s back to wearing his many hats with Dominica in their quest for Nations League promotion.