The BBC has chosen Sarina Wiegman as its Sports Coach of the Year. Following the European championship win at Wembley last summer, the national coach of the English women’s football team was presented with the honour. At the same time, she received the honour in the Netherlands.
Wiegman dictated to the FA women’s squad in her capacity as national coach. The national team she oversaw went 26 games without losing as they prepared for the European Championship in their home nation, and optimism for unprecedented success built. Additionally, the Orange Lionesses had to lose to their former instructor (5-1).
The English women never have won a tournament, but during Wiegman’s reign, confidence in the football-obsessed nation increased. The players frequently lauded their new coach, and as the competition went on, England continued to make a strong impression. Wiegman, in the meantime, persevered with her work with stoicism.
At a sold-out Wembley, Wiegman eventually captured the European championship. With Orange, she had prior success in her own nation. It gave women’s football in the nation a tremendous boost. She was named BBC Sports Personality Coach of the Year for this reason, according to the English. The search for The Lionesses’ loot continued. The entire team was selected as Team of the Year, while star player Beth Mead was named a BBC Sports Personality.
Interestingly, NOC*NSF had a different opinion. Wiegman was also nominated in the Netherlands for the honourable position, but short track coach Jeroen Otter ultimately prevailed.
Previous BBC Sports Coach of the Year winners
| Year | Nationality | Winner | Sport | Coach of |
| 1999 | SCO | Alex Ferguson | Football | Manchester United |
| 2000 | GER | Jürgen Gröbler | Rowing | British Olympic team |
| 2001 | SWE | Sven-Göran Eriksson | Football | England |
| 2002 | FRA | Arsène Wenger (1/2) | Football | Arsenal |
| 2003 | ENG | Clive Woodward | Rugby Union | England |
| 2004 | FRA | Arsène Wenger (2/2) | Football | Arsenal |
| 2005 | POR | José Mourinho | Football | Chelsea |
| 2006 | AUS | Daniel Anderson | Rugby league | St Helens R.F.C. |
| 2007 | ITA | Enzo Calzaghe | Boxing | Joe Calzaghe |
| 2008 | WAL | David Brailsford (1/2) | Cycling | Olympic team |
| 2009 | ITA | Fabio Capello | Football | England |
| 2010 | SCO | Colin Montgomerie | Golf | Europe European Ryder Cup team |
| 2011 | ZIM | Andy Flower | Cricket | England cricket team |
| 2012 | WAL | David Brailsford (2/2) | Cycling | Olympic team/Team Sky |
| 2013 | NZL | Warren Gatland | Rugby Union | British & Irish Lions |
| 2014 | IRL | Paul McGinley | Golf | European Ryder Cup team |
| 2015 | NIR | Michael O’Neill | Football | Northern Ireland national football team |
| 2016 | ITA | Claudio Ranieri | Football | Leicester City F.C. |
| 2017 | SWE/ NIR/ WAL | Benke Blomkvist, Stephen Maguire & Christian Malcolm | Athletics | UK Athletics sprint relay teams |
| 2018 | ENG | Gareth Southgate (1/2) | Football | England |
| 2019 | ENG | John Blackie | Athletics | Dina Asher-Smith |
| 2020 | GER | Jürgen Klopp | Football | Liverpool F.C. |
| 2021 | ENG | Gareth Southgate (2/2) | Football | England |
