England Lionesses head coach Sarina Wiegman is set to be inducted into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame (HOF) after guiding her team to back-to-back European Championship wins. She will be joined in the HOF by the entire squad after a historic victory in Basel, where Chloe Kelly’s winning penalty in the shootout defeated Spain.
Wiegman was awarded an honorary CBE after England’s first Euros win, as a Dutch citizen, with calls for it to be upgraded to an honorary damehood. She is the most successful manager in England football history, backing up her tournament win on home soil by defending that title, in between a run to the 2023 World Cup final.
During her England tenure, she has twice won the UEFA Coach of the Year Award, and was also named the BBC’s Coach of the Year in 2022.
An honorary damehood could yet follow, having been welcomed into the National Football Museum HOF as a recognition of her success at international level.
Tim Desmond, National Football Museum CEO, said: “This squad made history – again. To win back-to-back European Championships is a phenomenal achievement, and it’s only right that we honour the team and Sarina Wiegman in our Hall of Fame.
For the latest breaking stories and headlines, sign up to our Daily Express transfer newsletter.
“Their legacy goes beyond silverware; they’ve changed perceptions, brought the nation together, inspired future generations, and set new standards for English football.”
The formal presentation will take place later this season.
Wiegman cultivated a team spirit among the Lionesses that shone through in Switzerland. They led for only four minutes in the entire knockout stages, but were determined not to be beaten and that never-say-die attitude got them over the line against a dominant Spain outfit at St. Jakob-Park.
“I feel very good,” said Wiegman last week. “I feel a little bit tired because we didn’t get that much sleep but I feel most of all, a lot of pride of the team.
“This new England, going into a new tournament and then finishing again with the cup, that’s just incredible. The bonding in this team has been incredible. I think that gave us the edge – I think we were the best-bonded team.
“Everyone was ready to play, everyone showed up and everyone has had a contribution to the team on and off the pitch. For the wider public, not everyone has been visible because of not having that many minutes or having no minutes but everyone had such a contribution to the team.”
