Sarina Wiegman: England’s Yearning for Football Triumph ‘Resembles a Trauma’

Wiegman, proud to serve as England’s manager, recalls being denied the chance to play.

Sarina Wiegman, England’s head coach, depicts the nation’s longing for a football tournament victory as resembling a ‘trauma’.

Over half a century of tournaments concluded with disappointment, regret, and sorrow.

England’s women’s team, the Lionesses, won their first significant championship last summer, just a year following a Euro disappointment for Gareth Southgate’s men’s team against Italy.

Wiegman shared with Natalie Pirks of Sport News Center, “The deep-seated societal desire to win a tournament was almost traumatic. The pride and intensity following the victory have been incredibly overwhelming.”

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A staggering 50 million viewers watched the Lionesses defeat Germany, the eight-time champions, at Wembley. The viewership for the final game tripled the 15 million who watched the 2017 final.

Wiegman now guides the Lionesses into the upcoming World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, with increased expectations and scrutiny on the team.

“The anticipations are sky-high, and we indeed harbor a dream,” she acknowledged. “Tournaments are unpredictable. Several strong countries are favorites, and I believe we are among them.”

In April, England’s impressive 30-game unbeaten streak ended with a loss to Australia, sparking an unfamiliar sensation of defeat within the team.

“When you continually win, or keep winning despite fatigue, it’s acceptable,” Wiegman stated. “But now we truly felt the sting of defeat. It’s never pleasant to lose. Perhaps we needed this experience to progress and learn. Each game offers lessons, but this defeat provided a high-level learning experience.”

Her past as a PE teacher ‘proved beneficial’.

Wiegman’s Dutch team fell to the United States in the 2019 World Cup final.

As a child in The Hague, Wiegman was introduced to football, playing with her twin brother as there were no girls-only teams. In 1986, she received her first call-up for the Netherlands at the age of 16, and later became the first Dutch woman to reach 100 national appearances.

As coaching in women’s football wasn’t feasible then, Wiegman opted for a career as a PE teacher.

“Having been a PE teacher has benefited me, since it involved continuous instruction about methods and language used to assist children and football players,” she explained. “It provided substantial knowledge about teaching, organizational skills, team management, and group handling, which contributed significantly to my coaching abilities.”

In 2007, with the advent of the Women’s Eredivisie, she took up her first full-time coaching role at ADO Den Haag. Wiegman declined the initial offer for a semi-professional role, but later accepted a full-time position.

After a seven-year tenure at Den Haag, Wiegman became the assistant coach and later the head coach of the Netherlands national team. She took up the England post in 2021 after guiding her homeland to Euro success and a place in the 2019 World Cup final.

“I believe it’s important to remember our roots, understand our current situation, and have a vision for the future,” said Wiegman. “At the same time, we should never lose sight of our past and appreciate the development over time.”

“While it’s now commonplace for me to work here and at Wembley, for many it’s a dream to be here. I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity and take nothing for granted. But, this is my job now and I just focus on doing it well.”

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