England’s Lionesses are unbeaten under the two-year reign of manager Sarina Wiegman as they search for their first major trophy.
Since taking over from Phil Neville in 2020, the 52-year-old has steered her team to a stunning 16 wins and only two draws. The team’s last victory saw them overcome a resilient Spanish side in the quarter-final of Euro 2022, with those in white having to come from a goal down to win 2-1 after extra-time.
Wiegman now faces her toughest test since taking the job - a semi-final battle on Tuesday against top-ranked European side Sweden for a place in the final at Wembley. Here The Mirror looks at Wiegman’s impressive background and what brought her to the England dugout.
Where is England manager Sarina Wiegman from?
Wiegman hails from the Netherlands and was the first female Dutch player to reach 100 caps for the national side.
Born in The Hague in 1969, Wiegman began playing football on the streets with her twin brother. Her country had banned girls from joining boys teams but she did not let that stop her from doing what she loved.
A young six-year-old Sarina cut her hair short so she could play in her brother’s side undetected. Eventually she was able to join a women’s team, HSV Celeritas, and was later called up to the national team at the age of 16.
Two years later she joined Kruikelientjes ‘71 and won her first trophy, the Dutch Cup.
Following a stint in the US, she returned home and joined Ter Leede, a club based around 40 minutes from her home, helping them to win two league titles and a Dutch Cup during her nine years there.
With women’s football not considered a professional sport during Sarina’s career, she worked as a PE teacher while also juggling playing both domestic and international matches.
She gave up playing football to start a family with her husband, childhood sweetheart and fellow coach Marten Glotzbach, at age 33.
Wiegman had two daughters, Sacha and Lauren, within three years before returning to Ter Leede as coach and winning the double in her first season - all while continuing to teach PE.
Why did she take the job as the Lionesses manager?
Sarina Wiegman had won a major title while in charge of her own country - a feat she said she hopes to achieve with England as well.
In 2017, she became the head coach of the Dutch women’s team - known as the Orange Lionesses. That same year the Netherlands claimed the Women’s Euro title on home soil, an achievement that led to a host of awards.
She was subsequently named Best FIFA Women’s Coach and made a Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau, a civil honour for special achievements in her native country. Two years later, she guided the team to a runners-up medal at the 2019 World Cup.
Her feats on the international stage drew the FA's attention, with the organisation coming knocking 12 months after the stellar World Cup performance. They asked Wiegman if she would take over the running of the England set-up - an offer she did not blink at.
Asked why she had decided to take the job, she replied: “Why not? I only want to work at the top. I wouldn’t be happy with any less.”
England fans will be hoping it is that tough determination and focused attitude that will propel the Lionesses through to the final and then to their first tournament trophy.
