Sarina Wiegman Makes History: First Manager to Reach Five Consecutive International Finals as Lionesses Secure Euro 2025 Spot.
Zurich, Switzerland – In an unparalleled achievement in international football management, Sarina Wiegman, the revered head coach of the England Lionesses, has rewritten the record books. Following a dramatic 2-1 victory over Italy in the European Championship semi-finals, Wiegman, 55, has become the first manager in history – across both men’s and women’s football – to guide a team to five consecutive international tournament finals.
This remarkable feat underscores Wiegman’s consistent brilliance and tactical prowess. Her journey to this unprecedented milestone began with her home nation, the Netherlands, whom she steered to two major finals. She then carried this winning momentum to England, leading the Lionesses to an astounding three consecutive major finals, culminating in their latest triumph at Euro 2025.
What are Sarina Wiegman’s previous international final appearances?
Wiegman’s incredible streak of final appearances started during her tenure with the Netherlands. She famously led the Dutch side to:
- UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 Final: A memorable victory against Denmark, securing her first major international trophy as a manager.
- FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 Final: A hard-fought battle where the Netherlands ultimately suffered heartbreak, losing to the formidable USA.
Upon taking the helm of the England Lionesses, Wiegman continued to demonstrate her Midas touch, guiding them to consecutive showpiece events:
- UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 Final: A historic win on home soil at Wembley, where England famously defeated Germany to lift the coveted trophy.
- FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Final: Another valiant effort that saw England fall just short, experiencing a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Spain.
Now, at Euro 2025, Wiegman has secured her fifth consecutive final appearance.
How did England secure their spot in the Euro 2025 final against Italy?
The semi-final clash against Italy was a testament to the Lionesses’ resilience and their never-say-die attitude. After falling a goal behind, England left it until the dying moments to find an equalizer. Super-sub Michelle Agyemang, seizing a crucial opportunity, unleashed a drilled effort in the sixth minute of injury time, forcing the game into extra-time.
The drama escalated further in the additional period. With mere seconds remaining, Euro 2022 hero Chloe Kelly stepped up to take a pivotal penalty. Despite her initial spot-kick being saved, Kelly reacted with lightning speed, poking home the rebound to send the Lionesses through to their third consecutive major final under Wiegman.
What did Sarina Wiegman say about her team’s performance?
Speaking after the late heroics, Wiegman praised her team’s unwavering spirit and persistence. “We’ve seen so many different England teams now and we never give up,” she stated. “We say we can win by any means. I think against Sweden [in the quarter-finals] with the penalty shootout we were a bit lucky that they missed two. I think now we are going for that goal and we take risks, but it gives us something. This team just keeps going and we never give up.”
Wiegman’s Lionesses will now face the winner of Wednesday’s semi-final clash between Germany and Spain in Sunday’s eagerly anticipated final in Switzerland. The nation, including King Charles, is now rallying behind Wiegman and her courageous squad, hoping they can clinch yet another major trophy and add to their growing legacy. The stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to Euro 2025, with England aiming to translate their historic final streak into a third piece of major silverware under their groundbreaking manager.