Dutchwoman Sarina Wiegman led the Netherlands to European Championship gold in 2017 and World Championship silver in 2019. When she then took over England, it became European Championship gold in 2022, World Championship silver in 2023 and European Championship gold in 2025.
The latest gold seems to be the most surprising for herself.
I can hardly believe it. I have a medal around my neck and we have the trophy, she says to BBC One.
It has been the most chaotic tournament on the pitch – all the challenges we have had on the pitch against our opponents. From the first match, it has been chaos. We lost the first match and then we stand there as European Champions, it's incredible. Football is chaos.
England started the European Championship with a loss to France in the so-called group of death where the Netherlands and Wales also were included. Then England won overwhelmingly over the Netherlands (5–2) and Wales (6–1).
Fingertip feeling
Sweden in the quarterfinals became a harder nut to crack. But England came back after being behind 0–2 and won after a penalty shootout.
The semifinal against Italy went to extra time, where England won after Chloe Kelly scored her own penalty kick.
During the European Championship, Wiegman has received criticism for making so few player substitutions – and also late in the matches. But with a fingertip feeling, she has put in the right players at the right time, and managed to give Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang the nickname "super substitutes".
And she chose to make Hannah Hampton the first goalkeeper for the European Championship. A genius move it turned out. Hampton has played great and contributed with three penalty saves in the quarterfinal and final.
Can be ennobled
There have been rumors that Sarina Wiegman will be awarded an honorary damehood for her efforts for English football. For the players, she is in any case worth all honor.
She is a winner and knows how to compete at the highest level. She always backs us and always believes in us, Alessia Russo has said to SVT.
An incredible coach, when someone reaches finals so often, hope flows through the squad and it's incredible, says Chloe Kelly.
