Sarina Wiegman, one of the most decorated managers in Dutch history, is taking over the Lionesses as of September 2021 after she takes her Netherlands squad to the 2021 Olympics.

The Dutchwoman signed a four-year contract which sees her manage England during two Euros and a World Cup. 

She was the unanimous first choice for the FA and Wiegman agrees it was "a match for me and a match for the FA."

  • Taking over England 

Phil Neville will still be in charge of the Lionesses for the next year and Wiegman has stated she has no business with the squad until her time with the Netherlands has finished. 

This will be the first foreign coach to take over the Lionesses , but for Wiegman, it is simply another great coaching position.

"When I first started coaching I never thought this would be an opportunity, so I'm very happy I'm able to coach abroad.

"The England role is one of the best in the world. Ten years ago there was no opportunity to become a professional coach and look where I am right now."

She will be taking the Lionesses to back to back tournaments: 2022 Euros, 2023 World Cup and 2025 Euros. 

"This is the part of the job that makes it so exciting, playing in tournaments.

"Most people don't see what you do to get there, it's a lot of effort, a lot of hard work and a lot of choices you have to make. For the players, they have to work hard every day and that's the same for the staff.

"But when the tournament starts, you are getting these experiences and hopefully getting good results.

"England can win major tournaments."

  • Why the England role? 

"What's important is that's it's a good match, a match for me and a match for the FA.

"England is the cradle of football. They have done really well and there is a great potential in England.

"They have developed the game very much, there is a big organisation behind it and they have the professional league. It's a real challenge to make the move.

"I love the game, I have the nicest job you can think of, working with very talented players and with people who are very ambitious that is what I like very much.

"When I got in touch with Sue [Campbell] we got on the same level very quickly, and I can finish with the Dutch which was very important for me."

  • Rising quality of women's football

Phil Neville has been praised for bringing up young players such as Lauren Hemp, Leah Williamson and Georgia Stanway.

These youngsters have been taking the spotlight in the national team as well as in the FA WSL. 

"The depth in the women's game in England is great, there are so many good players and so many youngsters.

"In the future I will get more and more information about these youngsters, there is real great potential. 

"The structure, the competition, the player pathway I think it does very well."

  • Competing against the best

England fell short to the USA 2-1 in the 2019 World Cup semi-final, whereas Wiegman's Dutch side was the only team in the entire competition to not concede a goal from the USA in the first 15 minutes of the match.

Can the USA be beaten? "Yeah I think so.

"The history of the US is really great, but I think other countries can beat them, it's one game. In Europe the game is improving so much and we get closer and closer.

"I think the US knows that too and they have to improve their game also."

  • Sue Campbell's thoughts

Why Sarina Wiegman?

"She was our unanimous choice. Sarina is a people person. In her interview she made it very clear that she places great importance on building the right relationships with both her players, support team and the people involved in the game.

"For Sarina people matter, and they do to us too. Sarina is steely. She is a winner. We know she will provide honest feedback and she is going to be very happy to take those tough decisions when they have to be made.

"She's proven that she can stand toe to toe with the very best in the world technically and tactically.

"We think you're [Sarina] the perfect coach to take the baton from Phil in a years time and to continue to develop the squad towards the goal of winning a major tournament."