Women’s EURO 2022 kicks off in England today- with the Lionesses hoping to bring home the trophy on home soil.
The tournament, which begins with the hosts taking on Austria at Old Trafford at 8pm, will see 16 nations battle it out to be crowned European champions. The final is scheduled to take place on Sunday 31 July at 5pm.
The competition will be the first real test for new England women’s manager Sarina Wiegman. The 52-year-old, from the Netherlands, was appointed in August 2020 but did not take up the role until September 2021.
Read more: England vs Austria kick-off time, TV channel and live stream
Wiegman has managed the Lionesses through some World Cup qualifiers but Wednesday night will see her tournament debut in the England dugout. She has a reputation as one of the best managers in women’s football - so much will be expected of her team.
Who is Sarina Wiegman?
Wiegman was born in The Hague in 1969 and started playing football on the street at an early age. When she was six, she joined local football club ESDO, where she played against boys.
A central midfielder, who later became a defender, her playing career began in 1987 at Dutch women’s side KFC ‘71. She then went to the USA to study and to play football for the North Carolina Tar Heels before returning to the Netherlands.
In 1994, she joined Dutch women’s side Ter Leede, where she won two championships and one KNVB Cup.
On the international stage, she gained 104 caps for the Netherlands between 1987 and 2001 - scoring three times. She also captained the team.
Wiegman made her debut for the Netherlands at 17 and won her 100th cap against Denmark in 2001 - the first Dutch footballer to do so. Two days later, she was given a shield, awarded by men’s head coach Louis van Gaal.
He said: "I have a lot of respect for Sarina. For the men, everything is arranged. Here, this is much more difficult.”
Wiegman retired from football in 2003 after becoming pregnant with her second child. She is married to her coaching partner Marten Glotzbach and they have two daughters together.
Wiegman’s managerial career
After retiring, Wiegman became manager of Ter Leede in 2006. With that team, she won the Dutch championship and the KNVB Cup in 2007.
In the summer of 2007, she was appointed manager of ADO Den Haag Women before becoming Netherlands Women assistant coach in 2014, then head coach in January 2017.
She successfully led the Netherlands to a UEFA Women’s EURO victory as the host nation in 2017 and was named Best FIFA Women’s Coach in the same year, before guiding them to the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2019. She successfully propelled her home nation to third in the FIFA world rankings, cementing her reputation as one of the best international coaches in the women’s game.
Wiegman and the England job
Wiegman was chosen to succeed Phil Neville as manager of the Lionesses after being the pick of a competitive field of candidates. She took charge in September 2021 after honouring her commitment to the Netherlands FA to lead their Olympic campaign.
She signed a four-year contract to manage England’s campaigns for the UEFA Women’s EURO in 2022, the FIFA Women’s World Cup to be played in Australia and New Zealand in 2023 and the UEFA Women’s EURO in 2025.
Wiegman, on her appointment, said: "England is the cradle of football and the major developments in women’s football globally over recent years have been led by the FA. I’m very much looking forward to contributing my experience and expertise to this ambitious team.”
The FA’s director of women’s football, Sue Campbell, added: “Sarina was our number one choice. She's the perfect cultural fit for us, which is crucially important in building a winning team.
“Her technical expertise, leadership skills and winning mentality is hugely impressive. I am confident that together with our incredible support staff and ambitious, talented playing squad she can help us achieve the international success we are striving for.”
