BBC Sport speaks to players and coaches to get an insight into Sarina Wiegman as she prepares to lead England into the World Cup final.
Watch live on BBC One, listen on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds and follow on the BBC Sport website & app.When England take to the pitch at Sydney's Stadium Australia on Sunday for their Women's World Cup final against Spain, it will be the Dutch coach's fourth major tournament final in a row.
Lilly, who would go on to become the most-capped player in the history of the sport with 354 appearances for the United States, has fond memories of sharing her freshman year with the Dutchwoman. "She was already a Dutch international, travelling all the time. She didn't appear in the least to be self-conscious or paranoid or afraid. She appeared wonderfully well-adjusted.
"At first she was a hard coach with a lot of rules, but during the first year she made so many changes and worked on herself," she says. "She let us find out what rules worked for us but she would make sure the frames were really clear," she said. "Inside those frames, we were totally free."After seven years at Den Haag, Wiegman became assistant coach of the Netherlands national team. To continue her development as a coach, she became one of a handful of Dutchwomen to earn the Uefa Pro Licence - the highest coaching course in the professional game.
When the season finished, Pastoor asked Wiegman to return as assistant to the under-23 team, making her the first female coach in Dutch professional men's football. That was cut short, however, when the national team required more of her time."I honestly think if she would coach at a professional men's football team in Holland, she would succeed," he says.Wiegman twice stepped up as interim head coach of the Netherlands before taking the job permanently in January 2017.
Yet despite De Haan being older and more experienced, he says Wiegman was very comfortable in the leadership role.Trying to get her to switch off during that first tournament was more difficult, though. "Not many coaches out there are open to discussions, but she was always open to having a footballing discussion with someone," she says. "I really enjoyed that because it made me a better player."
In that homely environment, the players were encouraged to share their stories and create bonds with their team-mates. "She's honest and up front and as a player I respect that," says striker Alessia Russo. "It's nice to have an honest conversation. Those were the words of England's record goalscorer Ellen White, and have been echoed by many of those who have worked with her.
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