Sarina Wiegman to replace Phil Neville as England Women head coach in September 2021
Sarina Wiegman will succeed Phil Neville as the head coach of England Women, the Football Association have confirmed.
Wiegman will take charge on a four-year deal from September 2021, overseeing England's campaigns for the home Uefa Women’s EURO in 2022, the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup and the Uefa Women’s Euros in 2025.
The former midfielder is currently the head coach of the Netherlands Women, and will honour her commitment to the Dutch FA by leading the side's Olympic campaign next summer.
Meanwhile, current England women head coach Phil Neville will continue to lead the team until his contract expires in July 2021.
The FA will also now continue discussions with the home nations regarding the postponed Tokyo Olympic Games, alongside the 2024 Games, and will announce a new Team GB head coach in due course.
Sarina Wiegman said: “I’m delighted and honoured to join England Women next year. England is the cradle of football and the major developments in women’s football globally over recent years have been led by The FA.
"I’m very much looking forward to contributing my experience and expertise to this ambitious team.
“The ride with the ‘Oranje Lionesses’ has been amazing so far, but we haven’t reached our final destination yet. There are two more goals: qualifying for the UEFA Women's EURO in 2022 and challenging at the Olympics next summer.
"That would be a fitting completion for me of everything we've strived to achieve in women’s football in my home country.
“I am extremely excited by the prospect of leading England Women in the future, but for now I am one hundred percent focused on Oranje. I will do my utmost to add another chapter to their remarkable journey before making my next step.”
Wiegman takes the job with a glittering CV, having led the Netherlands to Uefa Women’s Euro glory in 2017, also named Best Fifa Women’s Coach in the same year.
The 50-year-old also took the Netherland's to the Fifa Women’s World Cup final in 2019.
In addition, Wiegman was made captain during her 104 appearances for the Netherlands as a player and has also managed club side ADO Den Haag before becoming Netherlands assistant coach in 2014.
On Wiegman's appointment, FA chief executive Mark Bullingham added: "We are thrilled to have secured Sarina to lead the Lionesses until 2025. She was the outstanding candidate from a very strong field.
"Having won a home EURO in 2017 and leading the Netherlands to the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup last year, she is a proven winner and we are confidentshe can take England to the next level, giving us the best possible opportunity of achieving our ambition to win a major tournament.“
