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What It Takes

By: Sarina Wiegman, Jeroen Visscher - contributor
Narrated by: Tor Leijten
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Summary

Winning strategies of one of football’s most successful coaches

As FIFA's most decorated female football manager and a former player, Sarina Wiegman has led both the Netherlands and England women's national teams to historic victories. She stands out as a true pioneer in the game, and her coaching philosophy has earned her a reputation as one of the most successful coaches in football history.

This personal account of Sarina's life journey begins with her early passion for football, and covers her key moments on the pitch as well as her ascension to the top of the coaching world. Join Sarina as she talks us through her rollercoaster ride of victories and challenges, the tough decisions she had to make both on and off the pitch, and the relentless pursuit of excellence that saw her rise to become an indomitable figure in the world of sports.

And, it’s not just about the game. In a world where football has become more competitive than ever, Sarina's revolutionary approach to leadership, mentorship, and performance management has garnered global attention. In What It Takes we gain invaluable insight into Sarina’s unique philosophy, as she shares how she fostered an environment that values determination, teamwork, and mutual respect. A strong advocate for women in the sport, she outlines a transformative and inclusive future for football where everyone has an equal chance to shine, irrespective of gender.

©2023 Sarina Wiegman and Jeroen Visscher (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers Limited
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Critic reviews

“Since Sarina joined, we’ve really taken our football to the next level and fully expressed ourselves on the pitch.” Millie Bright, Lionesses defender and captain

“Sarina gave me the chance to fulfil my wildest dreams. We won the Euros, and I was honoured as the best goalkeeper in the world.” Mary Earps, Lionesses goalie

“By establishing and strengthening my connections with others through my experience and skills, I can contribute significantly to the team's success. Sarina encouraged me to do just that, and it has had a positive effect.” Lucy Bronze, Lionesses defender

What listeners say about What It Takes

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  • Overall
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Inspirational

Serena’s thought process and evolution to be a role model and inspiration is incredible. A fascinating read.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Determined attitude. Cultural differences. Discipline.

The story explains clearly the elements of successful team building. It flows well and is read with passion. It flies the flag for equal opportunities.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Heart felt

A must for lovers of women’s football. Also many great coaching points and ideas. Relives the lionesses World Cup which is always a good thing!

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loved it

absolutely brilliant read and or listen i fully recommend this to all football fans worldwide, Serena is a brilliant tactician

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  • Overall
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Enjoyable listen

You don’t need to know anything about football to enjoy this. I found it very interesting and enjoyable. The only slight downside is that there are lots of passages from players/coaches/others which are clearly marked when they begin, but sometimes it’s not clear when they’ve finished and we’re back to Sarina’s narrative.

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Fantastic - read exceptionally well and brilliant book

Loved this book! Inspirational. It will really stick with me. I also loved how it was read as sometimes I find that audiobooks can be read a bit too animatedly as if they’re not realising that some sections might be better read with a softer, sadder or calmer tone. This is read very well and the players names are pronounced well too.

Defo recommend!!

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Excellently written and narrated

Inspirational and empowering work.
I would highly recommend this piece of work to all whether interested in football or not as many aspects written and spoken about can be applied to all walks of live.

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Interesting but hard to follow

I enjoyed listening to Sarina's inspirational stories but the many quotes from other people was confusing as they were read by the same person, without a change of voice/tone etc...I often didn't know when one person had finished speaking and Sarina had started again.

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Insightful and brilliant

Lovely audio book and brilliant listen. Such a lovely way to learn more out about our lionesses coach and how she became the powerful and strong woman she is today!

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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You don’t know who’s talking!

There are lots of quoted sections from different people. Whilst these are introduced, the narrator never tells you when they’ve finished and there’s no change in tone. It makes it incredibly frustrating to listen to.

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