Guillermo Stábile led Argentina to seven different international finals at the World Cup and Copa América, winning six times in the Copa; Hassan Shehata and Charles Gyamfi led Egypt and Ghana respectively to three AFCON titles; Choi Kang-hee, Anghel Iordănescu, Kim Ho, Merimovich, Chamwit Polcheewin, and Park Seong-hwa all won two Asian Cup finals; and of course Vittorio Pozzo, winner of two World Cups with Italy in 1934 and 1938.
But no international coach has ever reached five consecutive finals, irrespective of gender, until Sarina Wiegman did on Sunday 27th July with England at this year's Euros:
2017 Euros with the Netherlands
2019 World Cup with the Netherlands
2022 Euros with England
2023 World Cup with England
2025 Euros with England
The initial list above is not to denigrate Wiegman's accomplishments, but to highlight that what would be classed as a great achievement does not happen often, and that Wiegman stands alone in a field of men in what she has done.
Before becoming the most successful coach in the women’s game, Wiegman was a PE teacher who once had to disguise herself as a boy just to play football.
But how has she done it?
Aside from being tactically astute and unafraid to change things mid-game should a different approach be needed (which I will not go into the intricacies of, as that would probably bore the pants off most), Wiegman has always fostered a communicative and clear gameplay so that every player is clear on their roles. Additionally, when she builds a team, she really does build a team that remains strong and is open to collaboration.
This is Player Unity 101; it seems an overly easy thing to say, and yet so many coaches fail to get their squad to bond on a level she does. It invokes a sense of belonging and, irrespective of the roles being asked to play, everyone feels they are an equal part. She tends to always start with 'her XI' but has no fear in turning to her bench to mix it up, even if some think her timing is occasionally off.
She hired a Head of Women's Performance Psychology to make sure that even when things go wrong despite sticking to the plan, they are not afraid to try different things. Dr Kate Hays was appointed into the England set-up in 2021 after seven years in a similar role with the English Institute of Sport. Naturally, this approach has been done before throughout football, but the implementation of it within the Women's England camp is the perfect dictionary definition.
And so it was that she led her Lionesses out to face Spain in the Euro 2025 Final – a repeat of the World Cup 2023 Final, a game England lost 0–1. Spain are no pushovers.
In fact, Spain entered this competition as favourites with a 1 in 4 chance of winning the thing; the spine of their team hails from Barcelona FC and as such they have an inherent understanding of each other that cannot be bought.
Their intricate short passing and off-the-ball movements to find spaces in between the lines (defence, midfield, attack) was troubling England, who were set up with a high line – further up the pitch waiting for a (very rare) mistake from the Spanish.
It was a typical England performance of grit and determination in the face of technically gifted opposition. Had England been the best or one of the best teams? Not even close, but sometimes you don't need to be to reach the final, you just need to keep fighting. Case in point, they lost their opening match vs France, and their final three games all went to extra time.
As said, the match went into extra time after two great goals in regulation time from both sides, and then to be decided by penalties. And penalties have not been Euro 2025's strong point with around 40% of them missed.
And it didn't start off well, with Beth Mead being told to retake the (scored) first penalty as she slipped as she hit it; the resulting retake was saved. However, penalties require that aforementioned grit and determination, and England shone through and triumphed 3–1 with the spot kicks.
It wasn't until after the crowd at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland, lost their minds that we discovered Lucy Bronze, who did not go off until the 106' due to an injury, had been playing the entire tournament with a broken leg. As said, grit and determination.
And to further that grit and determination, Jess Carter, who had had to endure abhorrent racist abuse and was pulled from the semi-final, had a lot to say during this game with 2 blocks, 8 clearances, 2 interceptions, and 3 ball recoveries.
So what now of Sarina Wiegman? The English FA have told the world she is not available for any price, no matter who they are, and I suspect that even extends to the men's game in the same organisation – not that I am sure that would be met by all and sundry as a 'good thing' (please see: Neanderthal knuckle-dragger fan views and opinions).
Wiegman, the greatest ever England coach, three-time straight Euro winner, and someone who knows exactly what it takes to get the very best out of each individual.
One side note is that it is estimated that £800m/€914m/US$1.07b was spent on food and drink during the three-week tournament in the UK, and 13 million pints were drunk during the final alone. The English sure do love an excuse to party.
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