What does it take to transform a national soccer team into world-class champions? How can coaches create an environment where every player reaches their full potential?
In What It Takes, Sarina Wiegman shares her journey from breaking gender barriers as a young player to leading both the Netherlands and England women’s national football teams to unprecedented success. Her philosophies and strategies have revolutionized women’s soccer at the highest level.
Keep reading for an overview of the memoir of one of the most influential figures in women’s soccer history.
Overview of What It Takes (Sarina Wiegman)
In What It Takes, Sarina Wiegman takes readers on her journey of pioneering the advancement of women’s soccer. Starting with her role in breaking gender norms as a youth player to coaching powerhouse teams in the Netherlands and England, Wiegman shares her strategies for fostering teamwork, cultivating adaptable leadership, and overcoming adversity at the highest levels of the sport.
Wiegman offers insights on tailoring her coaching approach to create psychologically safe environments where players can thrive. She advocates for championing inclusivity and diversity, empowering women in soccer from the pitch to the executive suites. Readers get a behind-the-scenes look at Wiegman’s navigation of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, learning valuable lessons along the way.
Background and Early Career
Sarina Wiegman’s journey in pioneering the advancement of women’s soccer began in an era of significant gender barriers. Her diverse experiences as both competitor and mentor in soccer—a sport predominantly governed by men—shaped her path from managing the Netherlands’ national squad to leading the English team to victory.
From her earliest years, she confronted societal norms and biases that threatened to dampen her passion for soccer. At age six, when she started playing, women’s football had yet to be acknowledged by the Royal Dutch Football Association, and girls had no opportunities to join clubs. Demonstrating the determination that would characterize her career, Wiegman cut her hair short to appear more like her male counterparts. She faced persistent criticism for participating in what was traditionally considered a male domain.
This early determination to overcome challenges foreshadowed her later dedication to promoting gender parity in soccer. These experiences significantly influenced her mentorship style, emphasizing her commitment to creating an environment where young girls can fully participate in the sport they love.
Professional Development and Transition to Coaching
Wiegman’s understanding of the game deepened through her experience in both defensive and midfield roles. Her grasp of spatial tactics, crucial for effective coaching, was particularly influenced by Louis van Gaal’s tenure with the Netherlands men’s national team. After earning her physical education degree, she advanced professionally by taking on mentorship roles at prestigious clubs while maintaining her position as a physical education teacher.
During this period, she earned the necessary credentials to instruct at Europe’s highest tier of soccer and began her tenure with the Netherlands’ national squad, eventually ascending to the role of head coach in 2017. Throughout her coaching career, she has maintained a strong emphasis on nurturing player development and promoting team cohesion.
Wiegman believes that victory arises from nurturing the distinct talents of each player while fostering an environment that encourages teamwork. She consistently underscores the significance of recognizing each player’s unique talents and potential growth areas, focusing on individuality while striving for common goals.
Coaching Philosophy
Sarina Wiegman’s approach to coaching reflects her deep understanding of both the technical and human elements of soccer. Her philosophy combines rigorous tactical knowledge with a profound appreciation for individual player development and team dynamics. Through years of experience with different teams and cultures, she has developed a comprehensive coaching methodology that emphasizes clear communication, calculated risk-taking, and the delicate balance between individual growth and team success. This multifaceted approach has proven effective across different cultural contexts and has become a hallmark of her leadership style.
Communication and Trust Building
Wiegman’s coaching methodology centers on effective communication, which she considers the cornerstone of fostering trust and achieving success. She emphasizes the necessity of maintaining transparency, dependability, and honesty in every interaction with team and staff. This includes open discussions about team selection criteria, setting clear expectations, defining boundaries, and establishing explicit performance standards. Her direct and straightforward communication style, while sometimes challenging, eliminates ambiguity in the high-performance environment. By being open and honest, she creates a space where players feel comfortable providing feedback and respectfully challenging her opinions. This approach cultivates an environment where team members can pursue personal development and gain a deeper understanding of the sport.
Player Development and Risk-Taking
Wiegman strongly advocates for substantial player development through encouraged risk-taking and learning from mistakes. She demonstrated this philosophy clearly during the friendly match with the Leeuwinnen, when she explicitly told the Lionesses that she wasn’t troubled by game mistakes. By creating an environment where errors are seen as learning opportunities, she instills confidence in her players, allowing them to express themselves freely on the pitch without fear of judgment. This supportive atmosphere enables players to extend their limits and fully tap into their capabilities, while fostering an environment among team members that promotes continuous improvement and collective learning.
Individual and Team Development
Wiegman believes that every player possesses a distinct combination of abilities and untapped potential. Her coaching approach extends beyond tactical instruction to nurturing overall player development. She works closely with athletes to identify specific areas for improvement, provides tailored guidance, and motivates them to embrace their individuality while contributing to team success. Through regular one-on-one meetings, she discusses personal goals and challenges, creating development plans that balance individual growth with team objectives.
Her leadership approach prioritizes the team’s collaborative spirit and cohesion, downplaying the importance of individual accolades. She firmly believes that triumph stems from a collaborative effort that values and recognizes the contribution of every team member. The book delves into the core tenets that Wiegman instilled in the women’s national teams of the Netherlands and England, emphasizing the importance of concentrating on short-term goals, cultivating a sense of togetherness within the squad, and recognizing the vital part every member contributes to the team’s exceptional performance. She frequently consults her team members for their viewpoints on various subjects, including game tactics, nurturing unity within the team, and the overall well-being of the group. This approach cultivates a strong commitment to the team’s united journey.
Leadership Journey
Wiegman’s path from leading the Netherlands national team to taking charge of the English squad demonstrates her exceptional ability to adapt and succeed in different cultural contexts while maintaining her core leadership principles. This journey, marked by significant victories and strategic challenges, showcases her skill in managing the complex responsibilities of national team coaching. From her groundbreaking success with the Dutch team to her transformation of the English squad, Wiegman’s leadership journey illustrates how effective management strategies can transcend cultural boundaries when grounded in clear vision, strong communication, and genuine understanding of team dynamics.
Netherlands National Team Success
Wiegman’s tenure with the Netherlands team demonstrated her exceptional ability to transform a national squad. Under her leadership, the Dutch team achieved their inaugural victory at the 2017 European Championship. Her tactical acumen became particularly evident in crucial matches, such as the game against Japan where her halftime adjustments led to a comeback 2-1 victory. She implemented strategic changes that responded to specific game situations while building a cohesive team culture that valued every player’s contribution. Through innovative training methods and adaptable systems, she enhanced the team’s ability to respond effectively to different opponents’ playing styles.
Transition to English Team
After her success with the Netherlands, Wiegman took on the challenge of leading the English national team, demonstrating her ability to adapt her leadership approach to a new cultural context. She immersed herself in understanding and respecting English football culture and traditions, carefully adapting her communication style to match English team dynamics. Through detailed discussions with coaching staff and players, she gained deep insight into team perspectives and existing strengths. She built trust through consistent and culturally appropriate leadership methods, taking time to understand the nuances of English football before implementing new systems.
Managing High-Pressure Situations
Wiegman’s ability to remain calm under pressure proved crucial for keeping her team focused on immediate goals. She maintained consistent routines during high-stakes tournaments while developing structured approaches to decision-making in crucial moments. Her comprehensive preparation strategies for major competitions included supporting players’ mental and emotional well-being during intense periods. She developed clear protocols for handling media pressure and external expectations, ensuring that the team could maintain focus on their performance objectives regardless of outside influences.
Building Support Systems
Wiegman recognized that successful team performance requires robust support structures. She assembled a diverse coaching staff with complementary expertise and incorporated sports psychology professionals to support mental preparation. By establishing clear roles and responsibilities within the support team, she created an efficient system that could respond quickly to team needs. Regular feedback channels allowed for continuous adjustment of support strategies, while comprehensive recovery and wellness programs helped maintain peak performance throughout demanding tournament schedules.
2023 World Cup Campaign
The 2023 Women’s World Cup campaign represented both the culmination of Wiegman’s careful preparation and a test of her team’s resilience under unprecedented pressure. This tournament challenged the England squad with extensive travel demands, intense competition, and the weight of national expectations. Through each stage of the competition, from the comprehensive preparation phase through to the final match against Spain, Wiegman’s leadership abilities and tactical acumen were put to the test, revealing both the strengths of her methodology and the areas where future growth remained possible.
Preparation and Challenges
The 2023 Women’s World Cup presented Wiegman and her team with unprecedented challenges, including extensive travel requirements and significant time zone adjustments. In response, the coaching staff developed a comprehensive program titled ‘Beat the Jet Lag,’ which incorporated tailored workout routines, nutritional plans, and specialized eyewear to regulate sleep cycles. This thorough approach demonstrated Wiegman’s understanding of the essential physical and mental requirements necessary for optimal performance during a major tournament.
Throughout the tournament, Wiegman faced various challenges that tested her tactical acumen and leadership abilities. She maintained her characteristic calm under pressure, implementing crucial tactical changes when needed. Her strategic adjustments proved particularly effective in critical matches, showing her ability to read game situations and respond appropriately.
Tournament Progress
The Lionesses displayed exceptional adaptability and steadfast commitment throughout the tournament, maintaining composure under intense pressure. Wiegman’s tactical decisions often proved decisive, particularly in close matches where strategic substitutions or formation changes turned the tide in England’s favor. The team’s progress through each round demonstrated their growing confidence and the effectiveness of their preparation.
Final Match and Aftermath
Despite their outstanding display during the entire tournament, the Lionesses were ultimately defeated in the championship match against Spain. Wiegman’s response to this setback exemplified her leadership style—she promptly acknowledged the team’s united effort, highlighted the challenges they had overcome, and maintained her belief that their journey towards triumph was only beginning. The squad’s self-examination centered on its growth and the valuable insights gained during the tournament.
The journey through the tournament reflected life’s own path, where the process holds as much importance as the final destination. Throughout the competition, the team consistently exhibited exceptional adaptability, steadfast commitment, and a calm demeanor in the face of intense pressure, even though the ultimate outcome didn’t align with their original goals. Every triumph or challenge added to the team’s shared experience, underscoring the importance of embracing both success and setback.
Legacy and Impact
Sarina Wiegman’s influence on women’s soccer extends far beyond her win-loss record or tactical innovations. Her career represents a transformative force in the sport, breaking down gender barriers, establishing new standards for coaching excellence, and creating pathways for future generations of women in football. Through her dual focus on achieving immediate success while building sustainable structures for the future, Wiegman has helped reshape the landscape of women’s soccer, influencing everything from grassroots development to institutional policy-making. Her impact serves as both inspiration and practical blueprint for advancing women’s participation and leadership in sports.
Advancing Women’s Soccer
Wiegman’s unwavering dedication to the development of every team member’s abilities has been a pivotal element in her string of successes. As a mentor, she consistently sought new perspectives, challenged traditional thinking, and embraced novel methods in various aspects of team preparation. Her meticulous approach is evident in her thorough examination of various strategic situations, her openness to innovative coaching methods, and her dedication to preserving the psychological health of her team.
Her commitment to advancing the status of women’s soccer extends far beyond the boundaries of the sport itself. The 2023 World Cup, she believes, significantly enhanced the international stature of women’s soccer, marking a crucial step toward establishing greater parity in athletics. Her drive and achievements have inspired not just players and mentors but also executives in football institutions to invest in and enhance infrastructure, thereby raising the global stature of women’s football.
Creating Inclusive Environments
Wiegman firmly believes that a team’s resilience is enhanced by its diversity. Throughout her coaching career, she has consistently worked to create an environment that embraces diverse perspectives, cultural heritages, and individual backgrounds, cultivating a culture that highly regards diversity and inclusion. She acknowledges the historical scarcity of female representation in the football industry and serves as a fervent advocate for expanding women’s involvement across multiple facets of soccer, including participation as players, roles in coaching, and significant positions within the governance and administration of soccer entities and clubs.
Building Future Leadership
Wiegman’s dedication to forging paths for women’s involvement in football encompasses all aspects of the sport. Her commitment to creating a welcoming atmosphere requires more than just talk; she demonstrates this through initiating significant changes. Her role as a mentor to emerging female athletes and her unwavering encouragement of their participation in sports continues to shape the future of women’s soccer.
She fosters a team environment where open communication and collaborative problem-solving are paramount, ensuring every individual feels appreciated and possesses essential support. By building safe spaces where everyone feels comfortable voicing their concerns, she creates opportunities to address issues of inclusivity and make positive changes both within the team and beyond. Wiegman underscores that success in creating an inclusive culture requires unwavering commitment and continuous efforts, courageously confronting challenging truths and scrutinizing conventional norms.
