Sarina Wiegman is a Dutch football manager and former player, currently managing the England women's national team since September 2021. She began her playing career as a central midfielder before transitioning to defence. In 1989, she attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, playing for the North Carolina Tar Heels women's soccer team. After returning to the Netherlands, she joined Ter Leede, where she won the Dutch championship and the KNVB Cup while also working as a physical education teacher.
Wiegman represented the Netherlands from 1987 to 2001, earning 104 caps, although her official total stands at 99 due to matches against non-FIFA-affiliated opponents. After retiring in 2003, she started her coaching career with Ter Leede and ADO Den Haag. In 2014, she became the assistant national coach of the Dutch women's team. By 2016, she had obtained her full coaching licence and became the first woman to coach a Dutch professional football team. As head coach of the Dutch national team, she led them to victory at UEFA Women's Euro 2017 and to the final of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.
In August 2020, it was announced that Wiegman would take over as England's manager in September 2021, following Phil Neville's departure. She continued to manage the Netherlands during the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where they were eliminated in the quarter-finals. Under her leadership, the Lionesses won UEFA Women's Euro 2022, marking the first major title for an English senior team since the men's 1966 FIFA World Cup.
Wiegman is recognised as one of the top international coaches in women's football. Her coaching journey began with grassroots teams in The Hague, leading to her first club coaching role at Ter Leede, where she won the league and cup in 2007. She then moved to ADO Den Haag, where she became the third Dutch female to earn the UEFA Pro Licence in 2016 and the first woman to coach a men's professional club in the Netherlands.
Her success with the national team began in earnest in 2017 when she was appointed head coach, leading to significant achievements that elevated her profile both domestically and internationally. Wiegman's coaching philosophy emphasises determination, teamwork, and respect, making her a strong advocate for women in sport and a transformative figure in football. Contact the PepTalk team today for fee information and a speaker availability check.