At the recent Ballon d'Or awards ceremony in Paris, former England men's manager Fabio Capello made an on-stage blunder while presenting the Johan Cruyff trophy for the best women's coach to Sarina Wiegman. Capello mispronounced Wiegman's first name, calling her "Sabrina".
Wiegman, the current manager of the England Lionesses, received the award for her outstanding leadership in guiding the team to their second consecutive European Championship title at the Euro 2025 in Switzerland. This win marked the first time a senior England team had lifted a major trophy abroad. Notably, it was her third consecutive Euros win as a coach. The Lionesses avenged their loss to Spain in the Women's World Cup final by overcoming them on penalties.
Despite the awkward moment, Wiegman did not acknowledge Capello's mistake during her acceptance speech. Instead, she expressed her gratitude and emphasized the growth of the women's game. "What an honour to get this award after a very special summer, and even more of an insane tournament we had at the Euros in Switzerland," she said. She thanked the players, staff, the FA, and her family for their hard work, trust, and unconditional support.
Wiegman also acknowledged the significance of the award for women's football. "The women's game has grown so far we have broken records," she stated. She also thanked Switzerland for hosting the Euros. "This is not just a personal honour. I see it as a recognition of the women's game and of our journey because we have come so far".
In other awards, England's Hannah Hampton was crowned the best women's goalkeeper in the world, winning the Yashin Trophy following her exploits in the Euros and for Chelsea. "I don't think this award is an achievement for me, it's an achievement for women's goalkeeping," she said. Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma took the men's Yashin Trophy after proving to be a key component in PSG's season.
Wiegman has confirmed her commitment to remain with the Lionesses until after the 2027 World Cup, despite a plea from Ruud Gullit to return to manage the Dutch team.
