Storied soccer coach Pia Sundhage hired to lead Switzerland women's team as Euro 2025 host
Pia Sundhage, new head coach of the Swiss women's soccer national team, speaks during a press conference in Bern, Switzerland, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. Credit: AP/Peter Klaunzer
BERN, Switzerland — Storied coach Pia Sundhage was hired Tuesday to lead the Switzerland women’s soccer team that is hosting the 2025 European Championship.
Sundhage was a standout forward playing for Sweden and then a two-time Olympic champion coaching the United States. She took the U.S., Sweden and Brazil to various editions of the Women’s World Cup. Her U.S. team lost the 2011 final to Japan.
Sundhage was voted the best women's coach in the 2012 FIFA awards after the U.S. retained its Olympic title in London.
She coached Sweden when it hosted Euro 2013 and lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Germany.
“It’s a privilege to be able to coach a team under such pressure. I love that,” Sundhage said in a statement published by the Swiss soccer federation, which gave her a contract through next year.
The 63-year-old Swede takes over a Swiss team which went to the round of 16 at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, losing 5-1 to title-winner Spain. Sundhage’s Brazil did not advance from a group led by France and Jamaica.
“The appointment of Pia Sundhage is a new milestone for Swiss women’s soccer,” federation president Dominique Blanc said.
Pia Sundhage, new head coach of the Swiss women's soccer national team, speaks beside Dominique Blanc, President of the Swiss football federation SFV, during a press conference in Bern, Switzerland, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. Credit: AP/Peter Klaunzer
Euro 2025 is played in eight Swiss cities from July 2-27 next year. England won the previous edition as the home team in 2022.
