Exactly two years ago today the Lionesses became European Champions under head coach, Sarina Wiegman. Winning the tournament for the first time on home soil was an incredible achievement that started a new era for women’s football.
With Wiegman at the helm, England have seen success after success. So, let’s take a closer look at the manager and her journey to St George’s Park. During childhood she faced several challenges as a female who wanted to participate in football, but her determination and resilience landed her a remarkable career in the sport.
Her childhood:
Growing up in the Netherlands meant Wiegman was confronted with many challenges in sports. At the time, girls’ football was something people dismissed so opportunities were almost non-existent. However, Wiegman found a way to play the game she loved.
In an interview with the BBC, she expressed how girls ‘weren’t allowed to play’ football so she played ‘illegally’. Having a twin brother, Wiegman had short hair and was often mistaken for a boy; she took advantage of this and joined a local boys football team. Looking back, she recognises that ‘it wasn’t normal then and now it’s just normal’ for football to be treated as a sport for both sexes.
Aged 20, the Dutchwoman moved to the USA and represented the University of North Carolina for football. Despite her initial reluctance to move abroad, she knows this changed her life. Her mindset and understanding completely changed. This was a pivotal season in her life, kickstarting her determination and resilience needed to become a female role model in sports. When she returned home, she trained as a PE teacher, which she continued alongside her playing career.
With one-hundred-and-four appearances for the Netherlands, Wiegman played a key role in the national side’s midfield; she even wore the armband on several occasions. Whilst she had an eye for talent and coaching aspiring athletes, she also had an impact as a footballer herself. In fact, she was the first Dutchwoman to reach a century of caps for the Netherlands. Therefore, her talents not only lie with coaching football, but also playing.
Football in the Netherlands – her impact:
As a Dutch international, Wiegman was welcomed as the head coach of her national team in 2016. Two years earlier, she first joined the nation as an assistant coach. Her impact on the team was unmatched, which made her the perfect choice to lead the country to their next major tournament.
Only six months into managing the team, the Netherlands were playing an outstanding game. When she first took on her role, the nation were in poor form, being defeated four times in just five friendly fixtures. However, Wiegman instilled a drive and passion into her players that completely transformed their mentality and performance.
The following year, Sarina’s impact on the team became globally recognised. In the UEFA Women’s EUROs 2017, the Netherlands were far from the favourites to win the competition. Although the team included several renowned players: Vivianne Miedema, Lieke Martens and Daniëlle van de Donk, to name a few, other nations were expected to defeat the host nation. Yet, they took the women’s footballing world by surprise, winning the tournament on home soil. This was a proud moment for the country, inspired by Wiegman’s tactics and strong leadership. Her ability to transform a nation with low expectations and spirits to become the champions of Europe proves her resilience and influence from the sidelines.
However, she not only won the EUROs with the Netherlands, but was a driving force in the development of youth football for her country. In 2007, she started to push for more professionalism in the women’s football leagues. Although teams stated they operated on a ‘professional’ basis, Wiegman was unconvinced. In her words, professionalism is defined as ‘training every day, having better facilities, have a good programme, being able to choose football’; this was certainly not happening throughout the Netherlands. Almost twenty years later, these expectations are being reached, and in some cases surpassed, thanks to Wiegman’s persistence and endless campaigning for equal opportunities and standards in football.
A new challenge:
Following a successful period in charge of her home nation, Wiegman was ready for a new challenge. In September 2021, the Dutch manager accepted the role of head coach of England Women’s national football team. The Lionesses were a nation full of promise and potential, but they seeked the right candidate to unleash their talents: there was no better fit than Sarina Wiegman.
Having one European title to her name was simply not enough. Wiegman was determined to be even more successful as she took on her new role in England. She did just that. England were crowned European Champions in 2022, driven by the adept tactics and inbuilt perseverance Wiegman possesses. However, winning the EUROs on home soil was not simply about wearing a medal around her neck, but creating a legacy for young girls to recognise and aspire to achieve.
Grassroots football changed in England after the summer of 2022. Female participation in youth sports increased by over fifty percent, and opportunities are well-established and encouraged. These positive changes are rewarding for the Lionesses and their coach, who believe there should be constant developments to create an accepting and equal atmosphere in sports. Wiegman spoke of the impact the EUROs win had on English youth football, and especially the huge changes she has witnessed since the event. She was delighted to see that ‘now young girls have perspective; young girls can play football and young girls can wear shirts’ with their favourite female footballers’ names on the back.
But the Lionesses did not stop after one major tournament win. In 2023, the UEFA Women’s World Cup took place in Australia. Wiegman led her team to the final once again. Despite suffering a narrow defeat to Spain in the final round of the competition, the Lionesses inspired the nation once again. Sarina Wiegman has created a group of resilient female role models, who inspire the next generation of young girls worldwide; these girls now dream of following in their footsteps and one day making history as footballers. Throughout her managerial career she has played a pivotal role in leading by example and campaigning for positive change, with equality and enjoyment at the heart of her work.
