Lionesses to lose ‘unsung hero' and what it means for Sarina Wiegman
England assistant coach Arjan Veurink will leave his role following this summer's European Women's Championship to take charge of the Netherlands.
The 38-year-old has worked with Sarina Weigman since 2017, when they led their native Dutch team to European Championship glory. They then guided the Netherlands to the final of the 2019 World Cup, before recreating that success with England, where he has been described as an 'unsung hero'.
The Dutch football association, KNVB, has confirmed that Veurink will take charge of his first international matches as head coach of the women's team in October 2025, beginning a contract that runs until 2029.
'This is not only an incredible challenge and an exciting new adventure, but it also feels like a logical next step in my career,' Veurink said. 'I have never hidden my ambition to one day take on the lead role with the Dutch national team. After over eight years of experience at the highest level as Sarina Wiegman's right-hand man, first with the Netherlands and now in England, I feel ready to stand on my own.'
Veurink has had profound influence on the Lionesses dressing room and was an essential part of the success in their Euros victory on home soil in 2022 and their journey to the 2023 World Cup final.
Known for his meticulous training insight and video analysis, he has become instrumental behind the scenes of the England camp.
'Arjan is the unsung hero of the entire team,' Chelsea and England defender Lucy Bronze said in 2023. 'He can do everything. Everyone talks about Sarina and what she's like, but Arjan is the man behind it all.'
That same year, he was described as a 'tactical genius' by Lioness and Manchester City defender Alex Greenwood.
England are in the same pool as the Netherlands at this summer's Euros. The Football Association said in a statement: 'Veurink continues to be a highly valued and respected member of Sarina Wiegman's team, with his complete focus remaining on the Lionesses' current Uefa Women's Nations League campaign and this summer's tournament in Switzerland.'
The Lionesses are not just losing their assistant manager, they are losing their 'tactical genius' who players have described as the mastermind behind much of their success over the last three years.
Veurink has been Sarina Wiegman's right-hand man and replacing him will be difficult. The two have been a partnership for eight years, with Veurink having worked under Wiegman when they won the Euros with the Netherlands in 2017. Veurink, who is 'obsessed' with data, plans England's training sessions and even writes software for video clips. Lucy Bronze previously described him as the Lionesses' unsung hero.
'All the girls say he can do everything from coaching to managing. He's super intelligent,' Bronze added in 2023. 'He is one of my favourite coaches that I've ever worked with.'
It was Veurink who told Wiegman to switch to a 3-5-2 formation at the World Cup, which helped them reach the final. His departure will leave a big hole and it remains to be seen how England will go about replacing him.
He had been contracted until 2027, which is when Wiegman's current deal expires. It will be intriguing to see whether the Lionesses' manager will look for a coach already within the FA set-up or if she has another Netherlands-born option in mind.
Despite the fact England have to play the Netherlands in their group at the European Championship this summer, Veurink and Wiegman are experienced enough not to let this news affect their preparation. But the impact of Veurink's departure will be felt after the Euros.
Perhaps the biggest concern is if, assuming both England and the Netherlands qualify for the 2027 World Cup, there will be an opposition manager who knows all of their secrets. That is some way in the distance but Wiegman and her team will have to come up with new ways of working.
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