Pia Sundhage, the coach for the U.S. women’s Olympic soccer team, smiles during a training session at the London 2012 Olympic Games at Cochrane Park in Newcastle, northern England, August 2, 2012. The U.S will play against New Zealand in their quarter final soccer match at St James’ Park, Newcastle tomorrow. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN – Tags: SPORT OLYMPICS SOCCER)
If you play soccer you’ve probably heard of Pia Sundhage. But if you’ve got a daughter, heck, if you’ve got a son, who plays soccer, then they probably know her even better than you.
Pia Sundhage was the coach of the US women’s national soccer team. They had a great run under Sundhage. World Cup finalists, gold medalists at the Olympics.
But now Sundhage is back in her native Sweden, coaching the national women’s team there.
The World caught up with Pia Sunhage during a US visit…and she talks about her tenure as the coach of the US women’s team, and her coaching style that focuses on positives, and on doubling one’s best effort.
Sundhage talks about her first team meeting with the players on the US women’s team including Abby Womback, Hope Solo et al, and why she was inspired to sing Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A Changin’.”
She also reflects on what’s ahead for her as coach of Sweden’s national women’s team and what she expects when her new team competes against the US women in international play early next year.
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