SARINA WIEGMAN lifted her second trophy this year after being named best Fifa women’s coach for 2022.
And England number one Mary Earps was named best female goalkeeper at a glitzy ceremony in Paris.
The win for Wiegman, shortlisted alongside Brazil boss Pia Sundhage and Lyon chief Sonia Bompastor, saw her lift the award for the third time.
Her win comes seven months after the Netherlands-born coach led the Lionesses to Euros triumph on home soil last summer.
It was the first major tournament ever won by an England Women’s national football side with her team hoping for more glory at this summer’s World Cup.
After her award win Wiegman, 53, said: “From when I could walk I have loved football.
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“It’s just incredible to be right here and to celebrate women’s football.
“Little girls have their idols and inspirations. So many people across the world have worked so hard to get the game where it is right now.
“As for last summer, the stadiums were full.
“Wembley was full and there were so many families in the stadiums celebrating football.
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“Behind me is a big team. Without great players you are nowhere.
“Last but not least, my family have seen me more on TV than at home. Thank you for supporting me.”
Under their boss the Lionesses are currently 29 games unbeaten with their most recent win seeing them retain the Arnold Clark Cup on February 22.
During the Euros the team kept four clean sheets in six games conceding just twice.
And Manchester United shot stopper Earps played in every single match.
Her efforts saw her win the Fifa best women’s goalkeeper gong for 2022 ahead of Chelsea’s Ann-Katrin Berger and Lyon’s Christiane Endler.
It comes just over a month on from Earps becoming the first goalkeeper to record 50 clean sheets in the WSL.
And the England star thanked Wiegman for helping her to pursue her “wildest dreams”.
At the ceremony, Earps, 29, said: “I feel really honoured to be holding this really heavy trophy.
“I want to say thank you to my loved ones who have picked me up off the kitchen floor to be here today, not today but in the past.
“Sarina I’ve run out of words to say thanks to you for the opportunity to chase my wildest dreams and believing in me the way you have.
“For anyone who has been in a dark place, keep going. Sometimes it’s just putting one step in front of the other.”
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Alexia Putellas was crowned best Fifa women’s player ahead of England forward Beth Mead and USA striker Alex Morgan.
And the trio were all named in Fifa’s best women’s X eleven along with Lionesses trio Lucy Bronze, Keira Walsh and Leah Williamson.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
