Michelle Agyemang displays true colours as she shows Sarina Wiegman how she feels
England hero Michelle Agyemang has revealed how Lionesses' manager Sarina Wiegman played a crucial role in her success during Euro 2025. The Lionesses defended the European Championship trophy after a thrilling penalty shootout victory over Spain.
Agyemang may not have been one of the penalty takers in the final, but she contributed significantly to England's triumphant campaign. Despite having only one previous appearance before the tournament, scoring on her Lionesses debut in April, the 19-year-old was named in Wiegman's squad.
The manager's bold decision paid off as Agyemang quickly established herself as England's super-sub, netting late equalisers against Sweden and Italy in the knockout rounds. The young Arsenal prospect had nothing but praise for Wiegman when asked for her thoughts on the England boss.
"I think Sarina's amazing," Agyemang told Sky News. "I only met her probably three months before the tournament and to see the faith she put me in from day one, to make my debut in April.
"To only have one appearance going into the Euros, to show that faith and that trust in me, shows how lovely she is as a woman and a coach.
"She's like a mum to the team. She respects all of us and she wants the best for us. You can see it, we all want to play for her, for the rest of the team, and to go and win the game for her because she deserves it."
Wiegman has now guided England to consecutive European Championship victories, after the team's Wembley triumph over Germany to win Euro 2022. The Lionesses' most recent silverware represents the first occasion that either the men's or women's senior team have claimed a major tournament on foreign soil.
Agyemang wasn't included in the England squad until this year, but did have the chance to watch the Lionesses closely as a ball girl during one of Wiegman's first matches in charge at Wembley in 2021. Despite her lack of experience, Agyemang claimed the Young Player of the Tournament award and has truly impressed the England boss.
"She has something special," Wiegman said following Agyemang's 96th-minute semi-final goal against Italy. "She's only 19 years old, she's very mature, she knows exactly what she has to do.
"When you talk about little things that she picks up straight away, because she's not only in the 18-yard box very dangerous but when we have to go to her as a target player, she keeps the ball really well too.
"Even when you saw her shot hit the crossbar, that was not just a shot, she was aiming for it. If she continues like this she has a very bright future."
Agyemang earned her England call-up following impressive displays on loan at Brighton in the WSL last season. Wiegman revealed that Agyemang's approach to her loan spell showed that the young striker, who now boasts three goals in five England appearances, would thrive at international level.
When asked whether Agyemang's performances had caused a selection dilemma during the tournament, the England manager explained: "She's not forcing me. She is very grateful that she gets minutes. She's ready for it. Her growth and development went so quickly.
"From not starting at Brighton and being on loan, to getting lots more minutes, showing how good she is, and coming into our team, as things go it has been pretty smooth for her and I think she feels very good about that."
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