Fearless Beginnings: Sarina Wiegman’s Journey to Global Fame

Sarina Wiegman’s story is one of fearless ambition and groundbreaking achievements in women’s football. Born in The Hague, Netherlands, she grew up playing football on the streets, often alongside boys. Her love for the game led her to take bold steps—like cutting her hair short to blend in while playing with her twin brother, Tom, and other neighbourhood boys. From an early age, she showed the grit and determination that would later define her career.

Sarina became a trailblazer, being the only girl on her local soccer team, and quickly made her mark with sheer talent and passion. This fearless Dutch football manager would eventually rise to become the head coach of the England women’s national team, achieving monumental success.

Her story is one of breaking women’s football barriers and setting new standards in the world of football. Let’s explore the inspiring journey of Sarina Wiegman, from her early days as a street footballer to her role as one of the most respected figures in women’s football.

Preamble:

Sarina Wiegman’s story goes far beyond her achievements as both a player and a coach in women’s football. Her biography is a rich tapestry of her life, from her early childhood, family background, and the influence of her parents to her journey with her husband, Marten Glotzbach, and her bond with her brother, Tom Wiegman. It also highlights her role as a mother to Sacha and Lauren, as well as the wider network of family members who have been part of her remarkable journey.

This biography aims to spark your interest by sharing not just the highlights of her career but the deeper, more personal moments that shaped her rise to fame. From playing football on the streets of The Hague as a fearless girl among boys to becoming one of the most respected figures in women’s football, Sarina Wiegman’s journey is a true testament to her determination and passion. Let’s dive into her inspiring story and explore how Coach Wiegman became a trailblazer in the world of football.

Sarina Wiegman Childhood Story:

For Biography starters, the coach bears the nickname – Sarina Wiegman. And her Full Names are Sarina Petronella Wiegman-Glotzbach CBE.

Wiegman was born on the 26th day of October 1969 to her Mother and Father in The Hague, Netherlands.

The former defender has a twin brother, Tom Wiegman. This defender and her siblings were born into the marital union between their Dad and Mum.

Growing-Up Years:

Sarina Wiegman’s birthplace is in The Hague, Netherlands. Yet the former player who eventually rose to the position of coach did not grow up alone.

Instead, she grew up with her twin brother, Tom Wiegman. Here is a photo of the athlete as a young woman.

This Dutch girl chose sport despite the fact that, at the time, her nation forbade girls from playing football. She was fortunate that her brother, Tom, shared that enthusiasm. Thus, Sarina was never alone or bored during her early years.

Sarina Wiegman Early Life:

The athlete’s first encounter with football came when she was six years. Back then, there was a restriction in her country forbidding females from playing football.

Sarina cut her hair short to look like a boy to play with her brother’s team. However, her parents encouraged her football journey from a tender age.

She frequently encountered opponents who made it plain they didn’t like her involvement in soccer. Also, many of her friends weren’t allowed to join her because of their disapproving parents. But she was already preparing a path for herself.

Thanks to the support of her parents, whom she describes as being “open-minded.” And the fact that she had already started playing street football with boys was a good start for her.

Sarina Wiegman Wife Husband – Marten Glotzbach:

Following our research, we gathered that the coach is married to her childhood sweetheart, Marten Glotzbach. Additionally, Marten is a coach, just like his wife, Sarina.

Although Marten Glotzbach has chosen to keep his age private, speculations have it he is of German descent. Also, he is roughly the same age as his wife, Wiegman, who was born on October 26, 1969.

About Marten Glotzbach:

According to his LinkedIn profile, Glotzbach graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and commerce in 1994. In 2006, he added Economics to his educational background. Also, he enrolled in different courses to perfect his coaching career.

Marten, Sarina’s husband, is also a sports enthusiast. Glotzbach spent the first ten years of his work at HBS as a youth coordinator and trainer.

Nonetheless, Marten has spent the preceding 22 years running football matches and teaching economics at Seabrook College in the Netherlands.

Sarina Wiegman Children:

The coach’s marriage with her husband (Marten Glotzbach) produced two beautiful daughters, Sacha and Lauren. Although their ages have been kept private, Sarina always shares her family photos on her Instagram.

Lauren and Sacha shine on the football pitch, driven by their love for sports. Furthermore, Lauren is a force to be reckoned with in Sports Club Monster, while Sacha thrives among the promising talents of ADO Den Haag’s youth team.

Sarina Wiegman Family Background:

Football was not as popular in the Netherlands in the 1960s as it is now. There were fewer organized youth leagues and training facilities. And many young players learned the game by playing informally with friends and family.

Despite these difficulties, there were still a lot of talented football players from the Netherlands in the 1960s. Many of these players were from working-class backgrounds, which Sarina Wiegma’s family belongs to.

Also, football was considered a means of achievement and an escape from hardship. Though we did not know the occupations of the ballers’ parents, we believed they were comfortable enough to care for their children.

Family Origin:

Where does the England Women(head coach) come from? The report shows that both of her parents hail from the Netherlands. Put simply, the athlete’s nationality is Dutch. Also, the soccer player was born in The Hague, Netherlands, as the map below clearly shows.

After Rotterdam and Amsterdam, The Hague is the third-largest city in the Netherlands. The city is located in the Netherlands’ western region.

Additionally, it serves as the provincial capital of South Holland. Importantly, the town is renowned for its importance in politics and diplomacy due to numerous international institutions.

Sarina Wiegman Ethnicity:

Based on research, Sarina Wiegman’s ethnicity is Dutch. The Dutch ethnicity refers to people who are native or have ancestral ties to the Netherlands. The people share a common culture, language, and history. They are known for their liberal and tolerant attitudes.

There are roughly 17.5 million people living in the Netherlands, and the vast majority are of Dutch descent. According to research, roughly 81% of the population in the Netherlands is Dutch.

Sarina Wiegman Education:

While no documentation exists on the exact school Wiegman attended, it is confirmed that she had her six years of primary education in the Netherlands. Further research revealed that Sarina liked to multitask football and her studies.

She also played for the 1989 North Carolina Tar Heels women’s soccer team while attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. However, she played alongside players like Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly and Carla Overbeck in North Carolina.

Career Buildup:

Her love for playing football with her twin brother influenced her early life ambitions. At the early age of six, she accepted her destiny to become a professional footballer by cutting her hair short to look like a boy so she could be accepted into the boy’s team.

Knowing their daughter’s desires, Sarina Wiegman’s parents made sacrifices to ensure their girl was happy with her ambition.

They supported the former midfielders’ dream despite the fact that they banned girls from playing in the boys’ team at that time.

Interestingly, she happily played with her brother and the boys in the street before she joined her first team. Her proud parents followed their daughter to the field competitions. In fact, they treated Wiegman’s dreams like a very important project in the family.

Sarina Wiegman Biography – Football Story:

At age six, Sarina joined ESDO from Wassenaar, where she played with young neighbours. Wiegman began her playing career as a central midfielder before switching to defence. Her skills stood out, and after she joined HSV Celeritas, her first women’s squad, things moved along swiftly.

In 1987, Wiegman joined KFC ’71 and won the KNVB Cup. In 1988, she met the USWNT’s formal head coach, Anson Dorrance, and played for the North Carolina Tar Heels women’s soccer team. She claimed that playing with the Tar Heels transformed her mindset.

Wigmann joined Ter Leede in 1994, where she won one KNVB Cup and two consecutive Dutch championships in 2001 and 2003. Sarina also participated in the women’s team while playing for HSV Celeritas in The Hague.

Road to Fame Story:

When the athlete was only 16, she received her first call-up to the Netherlands senior team. The following year, Sarina made her debut against Norway after earning her first domestic honour by assisting Kruikelientjes ’71 in winning the KNVB Cup.

Wiegman was 20 years old when she agreed to spend a season playing for the University of North Carolina abroad. During that time, individuals who knew her recall her complaining about women’s football in the Netherlands. Also, it hadn’t received the same respect as it had in the United States.

After a year away, she returned home and completed her training to become a PE instructor. At the time, the women’s game was still far from professionally organized. She remained in this job for the remainder of her playing career.

She often played at ADO Den Haag with the male teams of her neighbourhood squad before deciding to join Ter Leede. It is a club headquartered in Saanheim, around 40 minutes from her home in The Hague.

Sarina Wiegman Bio – Rise to Fame Story:

The superstar stayed in Ter Leede for nine years, helping them win two league titles and the Dutch Cup. Also, the player earned 104 caps for her country. Jeanet van der Laan, one of her teammates at Ter Leeds and now a Dutch politician, remembers Sarina’s ability to lead.

Jeanet said Sarina was the captain and very confident about her qualities. She also remembered her concern for her fellow players who, like her, weren’t allowed to receive a professional salary as footballers.

Sarina continued playing for Ter Leede and still kept her job as a PE teacher until she was 33. She also led the charge in her nation in the struggle for equal rights for women football players. She declined ADO Den Haag’s offer to head the new Dutch women’s league.

They wanted her to do it part-time and keep her job as a PE teacher, but she refused until they offered her a full-time position.

Sarina Wiegman Coaching Career:

Wiegman was introduced as Ter Leede’s manager in a press release on January 24, 2006. In 2007, Sarina and the team won the KNVB Cup and the Dutch championship. During the summer of 2007, Sarina Wiegman became ADO Den Haag’s women’s team manager.

She guided ADO to the Eredivisie championship and KNVB Cup in 2012. The team triumphed once more in the KNVB Cup in 2013. On August 1, 2014, Wiegman resigned from ADO to work as the Netherlands women’s national football team’s assistant coach.

Also, the former defender received her UEFA Pro coaching licence and became a temporary assistant of Ole Tobiasen at Jong Sparta Rotterdam.

Additionally, she became the first female coach at a Dutch professional football organisation.

Sarina Wiegman as Netherlands Head coach:

The KNVB fired Van der Laan on December 23, 2016, and they named Wiegman as the Netherlands Women’s head coach in his place. They installed her as head coach on a permanent basis on 13 January 2017.

The Netherlands won all their games at the 2017 UEFA Women’s Euro, including the championship game against Denmark, which they won 4-2 overall. After Rinus Michels in the men’s UEFA Euro 1988, Wiegman became the second Dutch coach to lead the national team to a significant victory.

Wiegman guided the Netherlands to the tournament’s championship after they qualified for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Due to Wiegman’s achievements in Dutch football, the Dutch Football Organization, KNVB, placed her in their statue garden on July 9, 2019.

Sarina Wiegman as England Women’s Head Coach:

In August 2020, the Football Association of England declared that Wiegman had committed to a four-year deal with them. In September 2021, she succeeded Phil Neville as head coach of the England women’s national football team.

After being appointed, Sarina Wiegman became the first non-British permanent manager of the Lionesses. In her first game, Wiegman defeated North Macedonia 8-0. During her second game, against Latvia, she set a new record by winning 20-0.

The Lionesses were crowned Team of the Year by SpOTY in 2022. Also, Sarina, their exceptional manager, claims the prestigious Manager of the Year title at SPOTY 2022.

England kept up their winning streak throughout World Cup qualifying, winning all ten games and outscoring their opponents. At the Arnold Clark Cup, the Lionesses won their first medal under Wiegman’s tenure.

Wiegman led England to victory in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 Final in July 2022. Her squad includes Leah Williamson, Man City’s Lauren Hemp, Arsenal’s Beth Mead, Ellen White, Ella Toone, ex-Chelsea’s Fran Kirby, etc. Moreover, they appointed her an Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

She won the UEFA Women’s Coach of the Year Award. In February 2023, England retained their title at the 2023 Arnold Clark Cup and won the 2023 Women’s Finalissima.

Five days later, she lost as England manager for the first time. Also, England is among the country qualified for the Women’s World Cup. It would be exciting to see whom Sarina would select in her 2023 England Women’s World Cup squad. The rest of our Biography, as they say, is now history.

Personal Life:

Sarina Wiegman, an extroverted soul exuding optimism, enthusiasm, and a playful sense of humour, discovers her perfect match in Marten.

With his equally open-minded and vibrant nature, he complements her passionate and expressive nature, creating a perfect partnership.

In addition, as a Scorpio lady, she is Resourceful, Determined, brave, passionate, and Magnetic. Players like Kadeisha Buchanan and Marie-Antoinette Katoto share Scorpio Zodiac as the coach. Away from the pitch, the talented coach spends time with her family.

Lifestyle:

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance in addition to managing a football team is essential for overall well-being, and Sarina Wiegman likely values this in her own life. Alongside her demanding career in football, she likely ensures she spends quality time with her husband, Marten Glotzbach, and their children, Lauren and Sacha.

Whether it’s connecting with family and friends or making time for her personal interests and self-care, Sarina likely strives to balance her professional and personal life to stay grounded and maintain her health and happiness.

Sarina Wiegman’s dynamic lifestyle takes her on frequent travels, overseeing matches, tournaments, and training camps. In addition to her coaching commitments, she also finds time to embark on personal vacations, creating cherished moments with her loved ones.

Wiegman’s life is a testament to substance over superficiality. She resists the urge to showcase extravagant possessions or indulge in self-satisfied discussions about her wealth.

Instead, she lives an authentic existence, allowing her actions and achievements to speak louder than material displays.

Sarina Wiegman Family Life:

Family life is a cherished and integral part of many people’s journeys. It provides a nurturing and supportive foundation for personal growth and happiness.

In addition, It is within the family unit that deep connections, shared experiences, and lifelong bonds are formed.

Each family is unique, from parents and siblings to extended relatives, with its traditions, values, and dynamics. With that said, let’s talk about Sarina Wiegman’s family.

Sarina Wiegman Father:

The super coach has kept her father’s identity a secret. As a result, we did not know anything about him. Nevertheless, our research shows he supported and encouraged his daughter’s passion for football.

Also, he fostered an environment where she could thrive on and off the field. Mr Wiegman also provided guidance for his daughter as she navigates her journey as a female footballer.

Sarina Wiegman Mother:

Alongside her husband, Sarina Wiegman’s Mother was her daughter’s biggest cheerleader. Also, she helped Sarina to strike a healthy balance between her football commitments and other aspects of her life. Such as academics, social engagements, and personal well-being.

Sarina Wiegman Siblings:

Siblings are the best team you could ever be part of, always celebrating victories together. Also, Growing up with a sibling is like having a built-in playmate, a partner in crime, and a lifelong companion. In this section, we will talk about Sarina and her siblings. Without delay, let’s begin.

Sarina Wiegman’s Brother:

Based on research, Wiegman has a twin brother called Tom Wiegman. After our in-depth research, we could not find much information on him except that they celebrate birthdays together. Tom was born on 26 October 1969 in The Hague, Netherlands.

He is not just a twin to his sister; they share things and practically started their career in football together. Though we don’t know if he pursued his football career, our research shows Sarina cut her hair to join Tom’s team during their early career in Haag.

Sarina Wiegman’s Sister:

We don’t have much information about the manager’s sister. Unfortunately, she passed on last year (2022). Sarina’s sister died a month before the Euro Tournament 2022. The coach only had a week off to grieve with her family before returning to the training ground.

When Sarina returned to her job, she disclosed that the Lionesses showed her support. They had requested permission to wear a black mourning armband for their first friendly game in honour of her tragic loss.

Immediately after England Won the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final, Sarina Wiegman leaned down to kiss a small band on her wrist.

Opening up about her action, she said, “This little armband belonged to my sister, whom we lost during their preparation camps.

Wiegman said she was not only her sibling but also her closest friend. She claimed her sister would have been there, supporting her as she always does.

Also, she believed her late sister would have been immensely proud of me, just as she is of her.

Untold Facts:

In the concluding section of Sarina Wiegman’s Biography, we’ll unveil intriguing insights about her life. So, without taking another moment of your time, let’s begin.

Sarina Wiegman’s Salary:

Sarina Wiegman, the England women’s football team manager, reportedly makes over £4 million as a salary.

Following the Lionesses’ historic victory against Germany in the Women’s Euro 2022 Cup, the coach is said to have received almost half of her £400,000 salary as a bonus.

Sarina Wiegman’s Network:

The formal Den Haag coach, a prominent figure in football, has a net worth estimated between £1 million and £5 million.

Her successful career began at KFC 71 in 1987. Wiegman represented the Netherlands as their captain, earning an impressive 104 caps.

She later ventured into management, leading notable clubs like Ter Leede, Den Haag, and the Dutch national team before taking charge of the England women’s team. Basically, all her wealth comes mainly from her wages and bonuses.

Sarina Wiegman Religion:

The Dutch coach and lioness manager has not left any clue regarding her affiliation with any religious group. However, our odds on Sarina Wiegman’s religion is Christianity – because she celebrates Christmas with her family, and 43.8% of the Dutch population are Christians.

EndNote:

Sarina Wiegman was born on the 26th day of October 1969 to Dutch parents. The athlete’s birthplace is in The Hague, Netherlands. Wiegman spent her childhood with her parents and twin brother, Tom Wiegman, in her home country, the Netherlands.

During this research, we found that the formal soccer defender holds Dutch nationality and ethnicity. She is married to a fellow coach, Marten Glotzbach, and they have two daughters (Sacha and Lauren).

The athlete joined ESDO from Wassenaar at age six and quickly progressed to HSV Celeritas, KFC ’71, North Carolina Tar Heels, Ter Leede, and HSV Celeritas. She also participated in the women’s team while playing for HSV Celeritas in The Hague.

The youngster received her first call-up to the Netherlands senior team at 16, making her debut against Norway. After her school abroad, she returned home and became a PE instructor. Also, she played football alongside her teaching career.

Sarina Wiegman Career and Awards:

The amazing coach was appointed Ter Leede’s manager in 2006 and won the KNVB Cup and the Dutch championship. In 2007, she became ADO Den Haag’s women’s team manager, guiding them to the Eredivisie championship and KNVB Cup.

Sarina became the Netherlands women’s national football team’s assistant coach in 2014. In addition, she became the first female coach at a Dutch professional football organisation. Moreover, she led the Netherlands to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup final in 2017.

Coach Wiegman became the first non-British permanent manager of the England women’s national football team. In September 2021, she led them to victory in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 Final. That same year, they awarded Sarina Wiegman, Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Wiegman received the UEFA Women’s Coach of the Year Award while leading the England women’s football team in 2022.

Also, she led her team to retain their title at the 2023 Arnold Clark Cup. Finally, she and her team won the 2023 Women’s Finalissima, a feat which was followed by Lionesses injuries ahead of the 2023 FIFA World Cup.

Appreciation Note:

We appreciate you reading the story of Sarina Wiegman. We are committed to providing objectivity and accuracy with our dependable reporting on Football Managers.

Aside from Sarina Wiegman’s Bio, we have many excellent articles available for your pleasure to read. In fact, you’ll be interested in reading about Erik ten Hag as well as Simone Inzaghi.

If you spot any mistakes in the England women’s coach memoir, let us know in the comments. Share your thoughts about the head coach’s career and the excellent piece we prepared about her in the comments section below.