England women’s head coach Sarina Wiegman has bolstered her coaching staff with the appointment of Janneke Bijl and Arvid Smit, confirmed by the Football Association following UEFA Women’s Euro 2025. The pair will jointly replace Arjan Veurink, who departs to manage the Netherlands’ national team.
The Dutch duo arrived on Wiegman’s coaching team ahead of the autumn internationals in 2025, having already begun work during England’s homecoming fixtures against Brazil, Australia, China and Ghana. Their appointment is intended to provide continuity and expertise as England prepares for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying campaign, which begins with matches against Ukraine and Iceland.
“They both have significant coaching experience at national-team level which will be vital to our mission of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA World Cup in Brazil,” Wiegman stated. “The bar is being raised with every tournament and we demand the very best approach if we are going to continue challenging the top teams. As well as the quality they will bring to our training sessions and match planning, I have real trust in how they work and how they can complement the rest of the technical team and our environment. I know they are excited by the challenge ahead and I am sure the players will also enjoy working with them.”
Janneke Bijl, who previously represented the Netherlands as a player, described her coaching style as player-oriented, emphasizing the importance of building strong relationships with the players. She expressed her enthusiasm for joining a “large football nation” where women’s football is experiencing rapid growth, and highlighted her prior working relationship with Wiegman in the Netherlands as a key factor in her decision.
Arvid Smit echoed Bijl’s sentiments, noting England’s status as a two-time European champion and the historical significance of the country as the birthplace of football. He also cited his previous collaboration with Wiegman as a motivating factor.
Darren Ward will continue in his role as the goalkeeping coach. Geraint Twose will transition into a modern position as England Women’s Lead Transition Coach, focusing on the development of players moving between age groups and the senior team. Kay Cossington has stepped down as Women’s Technical Director, with Gavin Step assuming the role on an interim basis, supported by Emma Coates who will balance this responsibility with her existing role at the Under-23s level.
