Euro 2025 sets new record for female coaches
But while women's soccer is one of the better sports for female representation, male coaches still have a slight edge in terms of numbers with nine of the 16 teams at Euro 2025 coached by men and seven by women.
The 43.75% of female coaches is a seismic leap from Euro 2013, where just 18.75% of teams were coached by women. That figure had nearly doubled by 2017 and held steady at 37.5% in 2022.
"It's clear progress is being made — slowly but surely," the Female Coaching Network, a global community for female coaches, said. "Of course, there's still a long road ahead. Change takes time."
Lack of success has not been a factor.
Between 2000 and the 2023 Women's World Cup, all but one of the major women's soccer tournaments — the Women's World Cup, Women's Euros and the Olympics — were won by female-coached teams. The sole exception was the 2011 Women's World Cup, where Norio Sasaki coached Japan to the title.
Wiegman was the last woman standing in 2023 in Australia, where England reached its first World Cup final, losing to Spain, which was managed by Jorge Vilda.
Sundhage is by far the most experienced coach at Euro 2025, having been head coach of the United States and Sweden for five years each, Brazil for four years and now Switzerland. She guided the Americans to gold at both the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
Wilkinson, who is coaching Wales in its major tournament debut, Elisabet Gunnarsdottir (Belgium), Nina Patalon (Poland), and Gemma Grainger (Norway) are the four women making their managerial debuts in a major senior tournament.
Women represented about 13% of all coaches at last year's Paris Olympics, which was virtually unchanged from the Tokyo Games.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Japan Times
9 hours ago
- Japan Times
Carrying red wreath, Liverpool players join family for Diego Jota's funeral
Carrying a red floral wreath bearing his shirt number, Diogo Jota's Liverpool teammates joined relatives and residents in a small Portuguese town on Saturday for the funeral of the soccer star, who died alongside his brother in a car crash on Thursday. Club captain Virgil Van Dijk, goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher and manager Arne Slot were among the Liverpool teammates past and present who attended the service in Gondomar for the striker and his brother, Andre Silva. The English Premier League stars carried two floral tributes in the club's red color into the chapel, each in the shape of a shirt. The one carried by Van Dijk had Jota's number 20 written in white flowers. The other bore the number 30, which was worn by Jota's brother, who played for FC Penafiel in Portugal's second division. Dressed in black and with their heads bowed, the teammates entered the church in silence. The only sound was the applause from the crowd outside. Rute Cardoso, who married her childhood sweetheart Jota only weeks before the fatal crash, arrived with relatives. Hundreds of residents of Gondomar, a small town in northern Portugal where Jota grew up, gathered outside. The private service was presided over by the Bishop of Porto, Manuel Linda. In an emotional homily addressed to Jota's parents, his wife and their three young children, Linda said "solidarity in love is always stronger than death." Teammates from the Portugal national squad including Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes, who both play in the English Premier League, also attended the service. "Jota will always be in our hearts. He will always be present at every breakfast, lunch, dinner, at all our national team get-togethers, at our PlayStation games, at our card games," Silva told Portuguese broadcaster TVI. Jota's death at the age of 28 sent shock waves through the world of soccer and beyond, with messages of condolences pouring in from national leaders as well as across the sport. Fans continued to lay flowers and other tributes to the striker on Saturday outside Liverpool's Anfield stadium. The brothers were believed to have been driving to a ferry in Spain to travel to Britain when their Lamborghini veered off the road and burst into flames after midnight on Thursday. Police said they suspected a tire had burst.
Japan Times
12 hours ago
- Japan Times
Euro 2025 sets new record for female coaches
From tournament stalwarts Pia Sundhage and Sarina Wiegman to international debutant Rhian Wilkinson, the 2025 Women's European Championship, which kicked off on Wednesday in Switzerland, marks an historic high for female coaches. But while women's soccer is one of the better sports for female representation, male coaches still have a slight edge in terms of numbers with nine of the 16 teams at Euro 2025 coached by men and seven by women. The 43.75% of female coaches is a seismic leap from Euro 2013, where just 18.75% of teams were coached by women. That figure had nearly doubled by 2017 and held steady at 37.5% in 2022. "It's clear progress is being made — slowly but surely," the Female Coaching Network, a global community for female coaches, said. "Of course, there's still a long road ahead. Change takes time." Lack of success has not been a factor. Between 2000 and the 2023 Women's World Cup, all but one of the major women's soccer tournaments — the Women's World Cup, Women's Euros and the Olympics — were won by female-coached teams. The sole exception was the 2011 Women's World Cup, where Norio Sasaki coached Japan to the title. Wiegman was the last woman standing in 2023 in Australia, where England reached its first World Cup final, losing to Spain, which was managed by Jorge Vilda. Sundhage is by far the most experienced coach at Euro 2025, having been head coach of the United States and Sweden for five years each, Brazil for four years and now Switzerland. She guided the Americans to gold at both the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. Wilkinson, who is coaching Wales in its major tournament debut, Elisabet Gunnarsdottir (Belgium), Nina Patalon (Poland), and Gemma Grainger (Norway) are the four women making their managerial debuts in a major senior tournament. Women represented about 13% of all coaches at last year's Paris Olympics, which was virtually unchanged from the Tokyo Games.
Japan Times
2 days ago
- Japan Times
Max Verstappen sidesteps questions about future ahead of British GP
Max Verstappen refused to be drawn on questions about discussions with Mercedes and exit clauses in his Red Bull contract when he spoke to reporters on Thursday ahead of this weekend's British Grand Prix. Facing a succession of questions about his future, following reports in Italy that he had agreed to join Mercedes next year, the Dutchman was polite, but evasive in his answers, stressing that for him it would be ideal to complete his career with one team — Red Bull. "I am happy where I am," he said. "There are always rumors, but only one who decides, and that is me and the team. I control my own destiny, and I am happy and in control of where I'm at." Sky Sport Italia on Wednesday reported that he had agreed to join Mercedes, sparking speculation that he was set to replace archrival George Russell, but the Briton earlier stated he was confident of keeping his seat. Russell said he expected to confirm his new contract with Mercedes — the team believed to be best prepared for the regulation changes next year — within a few weeks. "I've nothing to add to last week," Verstappen said. "Of course, other people write stuff and that's great, but it's not me ... Happy with my team? In life, you can always see other things and think, as they say, the grass is greener on the other side. "But I think it is best to stay calm and up to now we have had success except for some time this season and this can happen, and you have to accept it. "I know what I have and what we can do and that's fine, but, to be honest, I have nothing to add to last week. I am focused on the team and to improve." Asked if he felt he needed to be in the fastest car to win races and titles, Verstappen said it is "difficult in F1 to be in the fastest car ... Who would know that two years ago who will be fastest? "I don't focus much on it, I just try to improve my own situation and where we want to be next year. If you chase the fastest car now it may not be the fastest car next year. Sometimes you can luck in and then win four, or five or six titles ..." The 27-year-old shared that being a one-team man was an interesting prospect for him, while stating that he had never been tempted to leave Austrian constructor Red Bull. "I'm gonna say no," he said when asked if he had ever felt tempted to take a seat elsewhere in the paddock. "I don't want more headlines. It would be ideal to finish my career at Red Bull with one team. That would be something amazing, and I am still trying to achieve that. "We are fighting for podiums now and that's not too bad!" Reports suggested Verstappen's contract contained exit clauses that could be activated if he is not in the top three in the drivers' championship at the end of July. But the four-time world champion bluntly refused to reveal any details about his deal with Red Bull. "To be honest, I am not speaking about my contract. It's easier like that," he said.
