England manager Sarina Wiegman has become the first woman to be named Dutch Coach of the Year, following recognition at the annual sports gala organised by the Netherlands’ Olympic and Paralympic committees in Arnhem on Wednesday. The award adds to a growing list of honours for the 56-year-old, underlining her influence on the modern game.
The latest recognition comes amid a remarkable run of individual success. Earlier in the week, she was named best women’s coach at the Fifa Best Awards for a fifth time, while in September she collected the women’s coach of the year prize at the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Reflecting on the achievement, Wiegman said she hoped her journey would encourage more women to pursue careers in coaching. Writing on Instagram, she urged girls and women with an interest in management to “go after your dreams”, describing coaching as a profession that brings people together and draws the best out of individuals and teams at every level.
Since taking charge of England in 2021, Wiegman has overseen a golden era for the Lionesses. She led the side to European Championship glory on home soil at Wembley in 2022 and successfully defended the title this summer in Switzerland with a penalty shootout victory over Spain. Her tenure has also included a run to the World Cup final in 2023, where England finished runners-up after defeat by Spain in Sydney.
Before her success with England, the Dutch coach guided the Netherlands to the European Championship title in 2017 during a four-year spell in charge of her home nation.
As accolades continue to follow, Wiegman has positioned her achievements as part of a broader message, emphasising representation and opportunity in a field where women remain under-represented at the highest levels of management.