September 23, (THEWILL) — Sarina Wiegman received the Johan Cruyff trophy for best women’s coach at the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony held at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on Monday evening.
Former England manager Fabio Capello presented the award to the Lionesses boss, while Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique collected the men’s coaching prize via video link due to his team’s match against Marseille.
The Dutch coach earned the recognition following England’s second consecutive European Championship triumph in Switzerland this summer, marking her third Euros title in succession.
The Lionesses defeated Spain on penalties to claim victory in the tournament final, cementing Wiegman’s reputation in international women’s football.
During her acceptance speech, Wiegman called for football to remain an inclusive environment and urged the sport to combat discrimination.
She thanked her players, staff, the Football Association, and her family for their support, stating that without them she would not have been standing on the stage receiving the honour.
Wiegman described the award being named after her compatriot Johan Cruyff made it particularly meaningful, noting his belief in sport’s power and providing opportunities for children to participate and belong.
She referenced England’s celebration with rapper Burna Boy, suggesting they should continue dancing if the opportunity arose again.
Former Netherlands star Ruud Gullit joined Wiegman on stage and requested she return to manage the Dutch national team.
In an awkward exchange, Wiegman informed Gullit that she intended to remain with England, where her contract extends until after the 2027 World Cup.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
