Even halfway across the world, the UNC women’s soccer program is making its presence felt. As the English women’s national team defeated Germany and lifted the European Championship trophy in London Sunday, the soccer-crazed nation had four Tar Heels to thank for its first-ever men’s or women’s Euro title: forward Alessia Russo, defenders Lucy Bronze and Lotte Wubben-Moy and head coach Sarina Wiegman.

Russo, who played at Carolina from 2017 through 2019 and plays professionally for Manchester United, tied for third among all competitors with four goals in six matches during the tournament. One of Russo’s goals was perhaps the highlight of the competition: a no-look, back-heel effort which went through the goalkeeper’s legs. It helped England to a 4-0 win over Sweden in the tournament semifinals.

Bronze, one of the veteran leaders on the team, played one season as a Tar Heel in 2009 and won a national title. Since then, she has put together a successful professional career in England, France and Spain. Though she lines up as a defender, Bronze scored a goal during England’s run to the championship, which also came in the semifinal match against Sweden.

Wubben-Moy made her international debut for England in February 2021, and has since been included on the Lionesses’ roster for both the Summer Olympics in Tokyo and the European Championship. Like Russo, Wobben-Moy played in Chapel Hill from 2017 through 2019. She currently plays professionally for Arsenal.

Finally, English head coach Sarina Wiegman is also a Tar Heel, if her time in Chapel Hill was relatively short. Originally from The Hague in the Netherlands, Wiegman met UNC head coach Anson Dorrance at an international tournament in 1988. Dorrance convinced Wiegman to come and play for Carolina in 1989, where she played alongside Mia Hamm and won a national title.

Wiegman played 14 years for the Dutch national team and has since become one of the most successful coaches in women’s international soccer. The 2022 European title is Wiegman’s second in a row as coach, after leading her native Netherlands to the championship in 2015. She is the first coach ever in men’s or women’s soccer to win two European titles with two different countries.

 

Featured image via Lionesses on Twitter

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