“Why does it have to be a man?”

“Why does it have to be a man? I think our answer is always it’s the best person for the job.”, said the English Football Association Chief Mark Bullingham when asked if Sarina Wiegman – currently the head coach of the women’s football team – could be the next head coach of the men’s football team.

Wiegman has had tremendous success with the English women’s team so far. In just three years on the job, she helped the Lionesses win the European Championship and reach the final of the World Championships this year.

She previously coached the Dutch women’s team to win a European title and a World Championship final. So, she has quite a track record.

The case for appointing Wiegman

And indeed, she should be considered for the job. If not for the English team, then for the Dutch team. And I believe so for two reasons.

1. She is capable of managing any team.
2. Appointing her would inspire other women to try as well.

On her capability, I think her track record says enough about her ability to manage a team and to be a successful coach. And, like Mark Bullingham, I agree that a Football Association should appoint the best person for the job, regardless of gender, or other diversity.

More importantly, the positive impact this could have on how women perceive themselves is hard to overestimate. One of the things that I keep hearing on the podcast is that we need role models. After all, you can’t be what you can’t see.

This is why role model campaigns like that of Equals in Amsterdam and The Hague are so powerful. Suddenly, girls and women who aspire to be a football coach or work in tech see this as possible and normal. And that you can even become the CEO of the Year, like Marijke Kasius.

How to deal with arguments against appointing Wiegman?

So how do we deal with the arguments against appointing Wiegman? One of those arguments will be about the example it sets for when she fails. The point here is that never in history this argument was used as an excuse for not appointing a man. So the possibility of failure, which is always a possibility with any new coach, shouldn’t prevent us from taking the opportunity.

Another argument is that, while the appointment is a step in the right direction, it needs to come with equal pay. While that should indeed be the goal, this may take more time (let’s call it a stretched ambition). Appointing a woman would already be a giant leap towards more diversity in football (a real culture shock even).

The third argument you hear, especially in the Netherlands, is that the time needs to be right. This goes back to the first argument above as there is never a right time for any change. So we might as well do it when we have a woman available who has shown that she is capable of leading teams to success.

Not an immediate affair

That said, of course, both head coaches of the Dutch and English men’s teams still have an active contract, and so has Sarina Wiegman. But I do hope that both the Dutch and English Football Associations will have the courage to appoint Wiegman (or another capable woman) if the opportunity arises. And as a Dutchman, I hope we’ll be the first to have a woman coaching our national men to win an important prize. 

What’s your take?

As football has many fans (men and women), you probably have a view on this as well. Or maybe you have a question about it? Anyway, I’d love to hear them (but please keep it nice, people)!