Sarina Wiegman is recruited by the English football club in September 2021 and leads the lion ribbons to their third consecutive large tournamentinal on Sunday, following Euro 2022 and the World Cup 2023. But the personal record of the Dutch woman is even more impressive: against Spain she is celebrating a record fifth consecutive final during a big tour.
Her incredible run on the couch started when she was a coach of the Netherlands. Sarina Wiegman led De Oranje to a house title on Euro 2017 (a 4-2 victory over Denmark), before she fails her charges in the World Cup Final 2019 against the US (a 2-0 defeat).
However, she continued her insatiable search for titles with another nation, England, who decided to make her their leading coach for a European championships at home in 2022.
A mission reaches for the serene self -assured person. After winning the first title of English women by beating Germany in the final in Wembley, England came into a moped of the world title against Spain at the 2023 World Cup.
They now have the chance to demand revenge on Sunday in a new final, this time at a different European championships.
As a result, Ella Toone told a press conference that she and her teammates are “in good hands” for a third consecutive final.
“I think we killed her almost twice in this tournament,” laughs Manchester United's midfielder.
“We certainly outdated her, but that is five tournaments in a row that Sarina has reached the final, which is simply incredible.”
Normally very calm in every situation, the Wiegman tournament was interrupted by late comeback victories for her team in the quarterfinals and then the semi-final.
“I also have a heart attack, but I don't show it,” the coach smiled during the press conference.
Bold changes before the tournament
After two heavily fought victories over Sweden and Italy, the 55-year-old coach still allowed himself to be hugged by her staff and players at the last whistle, with a non-characteristic euphoria for the coach who admits that she would like to win “games in 90 minutes”.
“You see her dancing and singing, how changed since she started,” says Keira Walsh.
However, before the start of Euro 2025, the mood was not exactly festive. Wiegman could not rely on three of her senior players, Mary Earps, Fran Kirby and Millie Bright, who had not all taken kind to be relegated in their positions prior to the competition.
The coach who had not received anything so far, but had to respond to controversy for the English media, who was increasingly skeptical about her methods. But in the end she came for it all the better.
Although the issue of the atmosphere of the group was hammered home during the press conferences, everyone eventually had to admit that this management of egos for the competition enabled the group to bind it closer.
Captain Leah Williamson admits that he “sometimes had difficult discussions” with her coach, but insists that Wiegman is a great person. “She challenges us and pushes us ahead.”
Ella Toone confirms: “She is really motivating: she brings us all together, we all listen to her, we hold every word to her. It doesn't matter what Sarina says, we listen to her because she really knows what she does.”
A record that does not pinch her
The coach, “loves winning and hatred to lose,” also praises the resilience of her players, “who are convinced that they can turn the game around and whatever happens”.
It is a way of thinking that Williamson and her teammates may have stolen from Wiegman, who can never get enough of every performance and still finds it “incredible” when England reaches the final again.
However, she cannot really explain her historical series of successes, and would rather talk about how happy she has been to work with “so many wonderful people, great players, great staff and the FA”.
Her last achievements have earned the praise from Mark Bullingham, president of the English FA.
“Her tournament record is incredible, but I also see the work she does with the players, the relationships she builds and the ties she makes during training camps are phenomenal.
“I think she is a really special coach and we are lucky to have her. Her record of reaching five finals is phenomenal. I think it will be really difficult for everyone to achieve that in the future.”
Wiegman, for her part, does not think that record or the potential first title for an English team outside the UK. At present, her goal is to win a third consecutive euros, a performance that only German Tina Theune has achieved earlier, in 1997, 2001 and 2005.
“I just do my job, work with the team. Maybe in 10 or 15 years I will think about it!”