Serial winner Sarina Wiegman eyes the biggest prize of all with England
England head coach Sarina Wiegman (second from right) and players on the pitch at Stadium Australia in Sydney ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain (Zac Goodwin/PA).
It says something about England manager Sarina Wiegman that even her own players have to remind themselves that their boss is a mere mortal.
One of the most memorable moments of this World Cup came when, on the eve of the Lionesses’ final group stage match against China, midfielder Georgia Stanway relayed an anecdote about meeting members of Wiegman’s family in Australia that concluded with the quip, “Sometimes you don’t realise your head coach is actually human.”
It would be easy to look at the 53-year-old’s incredible record and insist she must be some kind of superhero from Planet Football who six years ago arrived on Earth with the mission of conquering as many major competitions as possible, beginning when she steered the Netherlands – her actual place of origin – to the Euro 2017 title.
England head coach Sarina Wiegman and players on the Stadium Australia pitch on the eve of the World Cup final (Zac Goodwin/PA).
The reality is far more interesting – and relatable. In 2007, the part-time coach and PE teacher was offered a semi-professional role leading ADO Den Hag in the newly-formed Eredivisie Vrouwen, a risky move she resolutely replied she would only make if it was upgraded to a full-time gig.
“I never talk about my husband (Marten Glotzbach) that much but then it was about my family,” she told the PA news agency.
“I quit my job. We didn’t earn a lot of money by being a professional coach, but I really wanted to do the job. And he said, ‘this is your passion. Go for your passion, and we’ll be alright with the two daughters.’
“And that was
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