Sarina Wiegman: England Women Head Coach and Three-Time European Champion

Anwar Ali3 weeks agoLast Updated: July 24, 2026

Sarina Wiegman is a Dutch football manager and former international midfielder who serves as head coach of the England women’s national team. She has led the Netherlands and England to major tournament finals and has won three consecutive UEFA Women’s European Championships as a coach.

Her career includes the Netherlands’ European title in 2017, England’s first major women’s trophy at Euro 2022 and England’s successful title defence at Euro 2025. She also guided the Netherlands to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup final and England to the 2023 final.

As of July 2026, Wiegman remains under contract with England until after the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. England must qualify for that tournament through the European play-offs after finishing second to Spain in their qualifying group.

Quick Information About Sarina Wiegman

Category	Details
Full name	Sarina Petronella Wiegman
Date of birth	26 October 1969
Birthplace	The Hague, Netherlands
Nationality	Dutch
Profession	Football manager and former midfielder
Current role	England Women head coach
England role began	September 2021
Current contract	Runs until after the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup
European titles as coach	Netherlands 2017; England 2022 and 2025
World Cup finals	Netherlands 2019; England 2023
International playing record	104 Netherlands appearances, including 99 recognised as official caps
Book	What It Takes: My Playbook on Life and Leadership

Early Life and Playing Career

Wiegman was born on 26 October 1969 in The Hague. The official England Football profile records her birthplace as Den Haag and describes her as a midfielder who became the first Dutch female player to reach 100 international appearances.

She played domestic football in the Netherlands for clubs including KFC ’71 and Ter Leede. She also spent time in the United States with the University of North Carolina’s Tar Heels programme, an important centre for women’s football during a period when opportunities in Europe were more limited.

UEFA’s account of her career states that she represented the Netherlands 104 times over 14 years, although 99 of those appearances are treated as official caps. The difference exists because several early matches did not receive full international status.

Her playing career gave her experience of leadership, tactical organisation and the barriers facing women in football. Those experiences later shaped a coaching career built around clearer structures and higher professional standards.

Beginning Her Coaching Career

After retiring as a player, Wiegman moved into coaching. She began with grassroots teams in The Hague before taking charge of her former club Ter Leede.

She led Ter Leede to a league and cup double in the 2006–07 season. That success earned her the opportunity to become head coach of ADO Den Haag when the professional Women’s Eredivisie was created in 2007.

Success With ADO Den Haag

At ADO Den Haag, Wiegman built one of the strongest teams in Dutch women’s football. Her side won the league and cup double in 2012 and retained the Dutch Cup the following season.

The Football Association’s official biography describes the ADO position as her first full-time coaching role. It also records that she became the third Dutch woman to earn a UEFA Pro Licence in 2016.

Later that year, she joined Sparta Rotterdam as an assistant coach. The appointment made her the first woman to work as a coach with a professional men’s club in the Netherlands.

Transforming the Netherlands Women’s Team

Wiegman joined the Netherlands national-team staff as an assistant in 2014. After two periods as caretaker coach, she became permanent head coach in January 2017.

Only months later, the Netherlands hosted UEFA Women’s Euro 2017. Wiegman led the team through a perfect tournament and defeated Denmark 4–2 in the final. It was the country’s first major title in women’s football.

UEFA’s announcement of her appointment noted her extensive international playing career and domestic coaching success. Her immediate impact as national coach showed that she could transfer those experiences to tournament football.

The 2019 World Cup Final

Wiegman then guided the Netherlands to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup final in France. The Dutch team lost 2–0 to the United States, but reaching the final confirmed that their European success had not been a one-tournament achievement.

The result also established Wiegman as one of international football’s leading tournament coaches. She had taken the Netherlands from a developing national side to European champions and World Cup finalists within two years.

Taking Charge of England Women

The Football Association announced Wiegman as England’s future head coach in 2020. She completed her Netherlands commitments, including the delayed Tokyo Olympics, before officially beginning the England role in September 2021.

Her arrival came at an important time. England had a talented squad and a growing domestic league but had not won a major senior women’s tournament. Wiegman introduced a clear playing structure, direct communication and defined responsibilities throughout the squad.

England Win UEFA Women’s Euro 2022

England hosted UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 and won all three group matches before beating Spain and Sweden in the knockout rounds. In the Wembley final, England defeated Germany 2–1 after extra time.

The victory was the Lionesses’ first major trophy. It also made Wiegman the first coach to win the Women’s European Championship with two different countries.

The official UEFA review of England’s 2022 campaign highlights how she led another host nation to the European title after previously succeeding with the Netherlands.

The Finalissima and 2023 World Cup

England added the inaugural Women’s Finalissima title in April 2023. The Lionesses drew 1–1 with Brazil at Wembley and won the penalty shootout.

Later that year, Wiegman took England to the FIFA Women’s World Cup final for the first time. England defeated Australia 3–1 in the semi-final before losing 1–0 to Spain in Sydney.

FIFA described Wiegman as the first coach to lead two different nations to a Women’s World Cup final. She had achieved the feat with the Netherlands in 2019 and England in 2023.

The defeat did not change the scale of England’s progress. They had become European champions and World Cup finalists within Wiegman’s first two major tournaments in charge.

England Retain the European Championship in 2025

England’s defence of the European title in Switzerland was more difficult than their 2022 campaign. They lost their opening group match to France before recovering with victories over the Netherlands and Wales.

The knockout phase required several late comebacks. England defeated Sweden on penalties in the quarter-final and beat Italy after extra time in the semi-final. The final against Spain ended 1–1 before England won the shootout 3–1.

The Football Association confirmed England’s victory over Spain and Wiegman’s second European title with the Lionesses. UEFA’s official tournament record also shows England’s route from the group stage to the final.

A Record Third Consecutive European Title

Euro 2025 gave Wiegman a third consecutive European Championship as head coach: the Netherlands in 2017, England in 2022 and England again in 2025.

The official England profile identifies her as the first coach to win three consecutive UEFA Women’s Euro tournaments. It also records that the 2025 victory made England the first senior national team from the country to win a major tournament on foreign soil.

By reaching the final, Wiegman had also guided teams to five consecutive major tournament finals: Euro 2017, the 2019 World Cup, Euro 2022, the 2023 World Cup and Euro 2025.

Contract With England Until 2027

In January 2024, Wiegman signed a contract extension to remain England head coach until after the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The official contract announcement said the agreement covered Euro 2025, the 2025–26 Nations League and the campaign for the 2027 World Cup.

The extension gave the national team long-term stability before another series of major tournaments. It also reflected the FA’s confidence in a coach who had already delivered England’s first major women’s title and a World Cup final.

England’s Position in July 2026

England began their 2027 World Cup qualifying group with five victories from six matches. However, a 4–0 defeat away to Spain allowed the world champions to take first place and the automatic qualification position.

England responded by beating Ukraine 3–0 in Liverpool, but finished second and entered the European play-offs. The Football Association confirmed that England will face Greece over two legs in October 2026.

The first leg is scheduled for 9 October in Greece, with the return match in England on 13 October. If England advance, they will face Slovakia or Ukraine in a second play-off round for a place at the World Cup in Brazil.

This means England are European champions but are not yet qualified for the 2027 World Cup as of July 2026. The play-off campaign is the next major test of Wiegman’s tenure.

Sarina Wiegman’s Coaching Approach

Wiegman’s teams are associated with organisation, role clarity and calm decision-making. Her public manner is measured, but her work depends on direct communication and firm standards.

Clear Roles

Players generally know what is expected of them in and out of possession. This clarity allows teams to make decisions quickly during high-pressure matches.

Tactical Adaptability

Wiegman has changed formations and personnel when injuries or opponents required a different approach. England’s runs at the 2023 World Cup and Euro 2025 showed that her teams can win through different structures rather than one fixed system.

Squad Culture

Her approach also places importance on behaviour and relationships within the group. Players are expected to support one another while accepting competition for places and difficult selection decisions.

A FIFA interview published in 2026 highlighted praise from England captain Leah Williamson for Wiegman’s loyalty, focus and clarity. Those qualities help explain why her teams have repeatedly performed well in knockout football.

Honours and Recognition

Wiegman has received major football awards for her work with the Netherlands and England. FIFA has named her The Best FIFA Women’s Coach five times, while she has also received UEFA coaching awards and the BBC Sports Personality Coach Award.

In the 2026 New Year Overseas and International Honours list, she was appointed an honorary Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to association football.

The UK government announcement recognised her contribution as head coach of the England women’s national team. Because Wiegman is a Dutch citizen, the damehood is honorary.

What It Takes

Wiegman’s book, What It Takes: My Playbook on Life and Leadership, was published by HarperCollins. It covers her development as a player and coach, the decisions involved in managing elite teams and her approach to leadership and inclusion.

The publisher information reproduced by Google Books identifies Jeroen Visscher as a contributor and describes the book as an account of Wiegman’s football journey and management philosophy.

Sarina Wiegman’s Place in Football History

Wiegman’s record is unusual because it combines success with two countries. She helped the Netherlands win their first European title and reach their first World Cup final. She then led England to two European titles and their first Women’s World Cup final.

Her influence extends beyond trophies. She has worked during a period when women’s football moved towards greater professional support, larger audiences and higher expectations. Her own career—from playing in an amateur system to leading major international teams—reflects that wider development.

As of July 2026, her England project is still active. The next objective is qualification for the 2027 World Cup through the European play-offs. Whatever happens in that campaign, her three consecutive European titles and five successive major finals have already secured her position among the most successful coaches in international football.

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