Sundhage Hired to Coach US Women

Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007 | 8:21 a.m.

Former Swedish star Pia Sundhage was hired Tuesday to lead the U.S. women's soccer team through the 2008 Olympics, as American officials turn to a foreign coach for the first time.

Sundhage, an assistant for China during this year's World Cup, is familiar with many of the U.S. players after coaching in WUSA during the league's three years of existence.

The 47-year-old Sundhage replaces Greg Ryan, whose contract was not renewed after the Americans finished third at the World Cup. His departure followed a contentious decision to switch goalies before the U.S. team's lopsided semifinal loss.

Ryan was 45-1-9, with the lone loss resulting in the Americans failing to win his only major tournament. That reflects the talent - and the expectations - Sundhage inherits.

Sundhage (pronounced Soond-hahg-eh) takes over the team immediately. Her first games will come during the Four Nations tournament in China in January.

"Pia is a highly accomplished player and coach with the vision to guide our women's national team into this next phase," U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati said. "She brings a fresh perspective and a tremendous amount of experience to the job. She knows the international game and has a great track record of not only winning, but getting the most out of players and teams."

Sundhage coached U.S. captain Kristine Lilly on the Boston Breakers in 2003. Sundhage earned WUSA coach of the year honors after leading the Breakers to their first playoff appearance.

The longtime Swedish captain played in 146 international games and scored 71 goals. Sundhage took part in the 1991 and 1995 World Cups and 1996 Olympics.

In 2000, she finished sixth in the voting for FIFA Women's Player of the Century. Her image appeared on Swedish postage stamps in the mid-1980s.

Sundhage becomes the sixth head coach in the U.S. team's history and the second woman. April Heinrichs led the squad from 2000-05 and won the 2004 Olympics.

Sundhage served as a scout for the United States during those Olympics. She was an assistant for WUSA's Philadelphia Charge in 2001 and 2002 before taking over the Breakers.

Three previous U.S. coaches were born outside the country - Mike Ryan (Ireland), Anson Dorrance (India) and Greg Ryan (Germany) - but they were all schooled in American soccer.