Three is the magic number for Sarina Wiegman.
The Dutchwoman led the Netherlands to their maiden UEFA Women’s EURO in 2017, ending Germany’s near two-decade stranglehold on the title. She then took her nation to their first-ever global decider at the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™, where they were edged out by reigning champions USA.
After six memorable years in charge, Wiegman sought a new challenge, joining England, where she eyed a second straight home triumph in the continental finals.
“I’m very much looking forward to contributing my experience and expertise to this ambitious team,” she told the FA upon the announcement that she would take charge in September 2021. It took less than a year for her to come good on that promise.
At EURO 2022, England sauntered into the knockouts with three straight wins and a tournament-high 13 goals scored. Victories over Spain and Sweden took them to the showpiece, where Chloe Kelly netted an iconic extra-time winner against Germany to earn the nation a first-ever major tournament success.
“We won the cup, and it is just unbelievable,” she said at the time. “If you really want to win, really want to become better every single day, you can do it and that is what I have noticed the whole year.”
England, indeed, continued to improve. A year later and they had powered their way to a maiden Women’s World Cup decider, knocking out Nigeria, Colombia and co-hosts Australia en route. They met Spain in the Sydney showpiece but fell agonisingly short in “a very intense game”, with Olga Carmona netting the only goal of the contest.
Despite that disappointment, Wiegman was named as The Best FIFA Women’s Coach, becoming the first person to do so in back-to-back years.
“To be honest, I’m a little overwhelmed,” Wiegman told FIFA. “I’m so honoured that I’ve won this award again and I would never, ever take this for granted. I actually didn’t expect it. I’ve had a good run with the England team but lots of teams have done really well and the performances of other coaches have been so, so good.”
Back on the European stage, Wiegman claimed an unprecedented hat-trick. England became just the second nation to win consecutive EURO titles, as they claimed revenge over Spain on penalties in the Basel showpiece. She became the first coach since Tina Theune in 2001 to achieve that, and the first to do so across spells with two different sides.
“This new England, going into a new tournament and then finishing again with the cup, that’s just incredible,” Wiegman told the FA. “The bonding in this team has been incredible. I think that gave us the edge – I think we were the best bonded team. The team showed so much resilience but also belief – belief that we can turn things around and we can win by any means. That’s also the words they used. That’s what we showed over and over again.”
That latest triumph has seen Wiegman named The Best FIFA Women’s Coach for a third time while in charge of the Lionesses, and her record-extending fifth overall.
Wiegman and England will now turn their attentions to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™, with UEFA qualifying getting under way in February 2026. She’ll be hoping it’s third time’s a charm once more, as she sets her sight on reaching yet another final and clinching the prize for the very first time.
