100 of the Most Influential Women in Sport: Sarina Wiegman

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  • Sarina Wiegman

    100 of the Most Influential Women in Sport >> Coaches

    Sarina Wiegman, Netherlands

    Football

    In the men’s game, the Netherlands have the revolutionary Johan Cruyff. For the precipitous recent rise of their women’s team, they have Wiegman to thank. She went from surreptitiously cutting her hair short as a child so that she could beat the ban on girls playing and line-up with her twin brother, to winning more than 100 caps as a midfielder/defender and then steadfastly push progress to the point that Leeuwinnen (Lionesses) come into this year’s World Cup as Euro 2017 champions. Wiegman’s unflinching desire has also seen her learn the ropes in the leading North American system, successfully undertake the Pro-Licence course and became the first woman to work as coach at a Dutch professional football organisation (Jong Sparta Rotterdam in October 2016). Her triumph on home soil at the Euros drew enormous crowds and has further energised Dutch passion for their female sides. UEFA statistics now state more than 100,000 women play football there. The Netherlands have much to be thankful for about Wiegman’s sterling efforts.

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  • – The Netherlands had lost four out of their last five friendlies before Wiegman took charge – six months later they won Euro 2017.

    – In 2017, Wiegman was awarded The Best FIFA Women’s Coach gong and was made a Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau.

    – During a 32-year career as player and coach, Wiegman has won 11 club and international trophies.

    Did you know…

    Wiegman became the first Netherlands footballer to reach 100 caps on April 9, 2001. Frank de Boer would hit this milestone nearly two years later.

    “Almost 30 years after I came back from America, I have finally found what I was looking for. And it is right here, in the Netherlands.” – Sarina Wiegman (Source: The Coaches Voice)

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