How England mastermind Wiegman has adapted since 2022

How has England manager Sarina Wiegman changed to ensure that she achieves success? Her record at major tournaments is almost impeccable.

Wiegman continues, “My approach is the same; I just worry a little less,” she adds.

The Lionesses manager, who led the Netherlands and England to victories on home soil in 2017 and 2022, has undergone some changes.

Wiegman has spent four years working for the Football Association and has grown fond of England, its obsessed with football, and even its roast dinners.

She has had to adjust to changing media regulations, increased expectations, and challenging situations off the pitch. Not everything has been simple.

“In the beginning, I wanted to solve everything, but sometimes you just have to let things solve themselves,” Wiegman said.

It’s always difficult to compare it to your family, I promise. It’s perfectly normal to occasionally have a conflict or discussion. You must express your feelings.

We all know that our goal is to achieve the best possible level. We have the conversation and move on because we both know we need each other.

I’ve also grown a little older, with more football-related experience, life, England, and team experience.

Wiegman insists that she always strives to be as honest and open as possible and that her “values won’t change.”

Her approach has occasionally been questioned, and it is frequently referred to as “direct,” especially in light of recent international retirements by Mary Earps and Fran Kirby and Millie Bright’s withdrawal from Euro 2025.

I believe it’s crucial to have clarity when speaking with players. particularly now, “says Wiegman, at] the tournament.

There are also times in friendliers when you don’t want clarity so they can compete for attention. As much information as I can, I make sure to provide players with as much as possible.

“The players refer to it as direct, but I believe you should not confuse that with bluntness. I hope not to be blunt, but I am. I’m attempting to provide context and be honest.

Wiegman acknowledges that her directness is a little bit influenced by her native Netherlands, and she has learned to “interpret” how situations are handled by English people.

She claims that she “hates rules,” but she expects her players to follow her advice, stating that the only requirement was to keep jewelry safe.

Wiegman responded, “I don’t do that! I don’t introduce a seating plan at dinner!” When I was a teacher in a school, I used to do those things, but it’s now so intense.

The players need to find some time away from training sessions and meetings where they can just sit with who they want to sit with because they travel so much.

If the situation is the same and a player has that much more space and relaxation, the team benefits.

I detest regulations in fact. Everyone is aware that we are here to perform and perform at our absolute best. You can make the right decisions if you make the right choices.

If there isn’t an agreement, I’m going to say, “OK, I think this is how we’re going to do it,” and I try to get principles or agreements [established] first.

The manager still has to make difficult decisions, despite Wiegman’s obvious comfort with her current position and the players’ knowledge of how things work.

Although Wiegman claims that she has a different side to her that makes the job challenging, her directness is a personality trait that is frequently raised.

“I am actually very caring, and that’s frequently not very helpful in this job,” I thought. She said, “I want to take care of people, but I also have a job where I have to make difficult decisions.”

As a former player and perhaps as a mother, I try not to put myself in their shoes and think, “Oh, they must feel horrible,” because I have to let that out for a moment.