Sarina Wiegman issues humorous apology after winning fourth FIFA Best award
If you find yourself silently growing weary of seeing Sarina Wiegman ascend the steps of yet another big footballing stage to collect the zillionth glossy award of her impeccable managerial career, fret not. The England boss sees you.
And the 54-year-old would like to offer you an apology. Yes. As the Dutch coach graced the Apollo stage and was handed another one of FIFA’s immaculate chrome ice cream cones to mark the fourth (!) time she's claimed The Best Women’s Coach title, Wiegman began her acceptance speech with an acknowledgement.
"Some of you are thinking ‘there she is again’," she told a room crammed with the game’s best and brightest. "I am so sorry for that but at the same time I am very honoured, and I feel very privileged and humbled that I am here again."
Wiegman, forever bespectacled, modest and, it seems, unrivalled as she beat Chelsea honcho Emma Hayes, who won a domestic double with Chelsea and claimed an unprecedented fourth Women’s Super League title on the bounce; and Barcelona head coach Jonatan Giraldez, whose side followed up winning a domestic treble in 2021/22 by winning a continental treble in 2022/23.
The Lionesses boss received the latest gong for her exceptional exploits in the last year, in which she followed up England’s Euro 2022 success by claiming the first-ever Women’s Finalissima, retaining the Arnold Clark Cup, beating the then-world No.1 in USA and guiding the Lionesses to a historic Women’s World Cup final.
Chelsea winners and losers from record transfer window as more changes to come
Wiegman voiced her surprise at winning the award once again, particularly given the successes of other coaches, such as Hayes and Giraldez and England’s recent disappointment of missing out on a spot at the summer’s Paris Olympics after losing the World Cup final to Spain.
Speaking to FIFA afterwards, Wiegman said “getting to the top is easier than staying at the top”, an ironic contradiction given Wiegman is the corporeal contrarian of this sentiment even with the shortfalls of the last few months.
FIFA's The Best awards honour football's biggest names (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images)Wiegman used her acceptance speech to thank not only the England players and staff but also her fellow finalists Emma Hayes and Jonatan Giraldez.
"I would like to thank everyone who has been involved with our performances with England. A big thank you to the FA for all your support, thank you to all the staff for the great achievements we have made, and most of all thank you to the players, who off the back of the Euros have performed so well in the Arnold Clark Cup, the Finalissima and then the World Cup.
"Lots of things were thrown in front of us and we did really well so I am so proud of everyone who has been involved. I would also like to thank my management, who help take a lot of work out of my hands so I can focus on the football part and also my family. Unfortunately, they are not here but they are my biggest fans and support me in every way they can.
Wiegman was named FIFA's Best Women's Coach for a fourth time (Photo by James Whitehead/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)"Emma and Jonatan: Congratulations on your big achievements. You both do great jobs in the women’s game so congratulations with all of that and thank you for the great collaboration we have with the England players that play for you [at Chelsea and Barcelona]."
Wiegman also used her time on stage to praise the work of grassroots coaches and volunteers who do not receive the same recognition as those in the more visible echelons of the game.
"Also, we are visible but there are so many coaches and teachers who are not visible like we are and they give the opportunities to young girls and boys and create an environment for them to play football and give them inspiration and motivation to be the best they can be, whatever level it may be.
"So I would like to thank those people. Keep creating these situations [for players] because we at senior level reap the benefits of that. There are a lot more good times to come, thank you so much and enjoy your evening."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
