Pia Sundhage

Club career

Sundhage started with IFK Ulricehamn as a youth player and eventually moved to Falköpings KIK in 1978. She then joined Jitex BK from 1979 to 1981. Sundhage played 1982 to 1983 with Östers IF, scoring 30 times in her first season with the club and chipping in 35 more in her second season. 1984 saw a move back to Jitex BK, while 1985 saw Sundhage split time between Stattena IF, Lazio (where she scored 17 times), and Jitex BK. She played the 1986 season with Hammarby IF, before she moved back to Jitex BK from 1979 through 1989. Sundhage finished her career with Hammarby IF DFF, playing from 1990 until she retired in 1996.

She won four Damallsvenskan championships, all with Jitex BK, as well as two additional Svenska Cupen with the club. She also won two Svenska Cupen with Hammarby IF DFF.

International career Sundhage made her first appearance for the Sweden national team as a 15-year-old in 1975, eventually amassing 146 caps and scoring 71 goals for her country. Her 71 goals gave her joint-lead with Lena Videkull for the most in the Sweden national team history, a record which has since been surpassed by both Hanna Ljungberg and Lotta Schelin.

She participated for Sweden in the 1991 (a third-place finish) and 1995 editions of the FIFA Women's World Cup and the 1996 Summer Olympics. She won, and was the top scorer, in the 1984 UEFA Women's Championship. Her image appeared on a Swedish postage stamp in 1988. In 1989 Sundhage scored the first goal in a women's match at Wembley Stadium, as Sweden beat England 2–0 in a curtain–raiser for the Rous Cup.

In 2000, Sundhage finished sixth in the voting for FIFA Women's Player of the Century.

Coaching career

Pre-United States

Sundhage got her start in coaching as a player/manager when she was with Hammarby IF from 1992 to 1994. She then took assistants jobs with Vallentuna BK (1998 to 1999) and AIK Fotboll Dam (2000) before moving across the Atlantic Ocean to become an assistant with Philadelphia Charge of the new Women's United Soccer Association in the United States. She eventually was hired on by Boston Breakers as the head coach, winning the league title and being named the 2003 WUSA Coach of the Year in the process. Once the WUSA folded however, it was back to Scandinavia to take on further coaching positions.

Her relationship with the Boston Breakers led United States women's national team captain Kristine Lilly and fellow USWNT player Kate Markgraf joining her in the Swedish Damallsvenskan when Pia coached KIF Örebro DFF from 2005 to 2006, after a brief stint with Kolbotn IL in 2004. Lilly said she "wanted to play for Pia again."

Sundhage served as an assistant to Marika Domanski-Lyfors for the China Women's national team during the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup.

United States women's national team Pia Sundhage was announced as the United States women's national team head coach on 13 November 2007. She became the seventh head coach in the U.S. team's history and the third woman. Lauren Gregg was in charge for 3 games in 2000, April Heinrichs led the squad from 2000–2004 and won the 2004 Summer Olympics, while Sundhage served as a scout for the United States during the 2004 Olympics.

United States women's national team at the 2012 Summer OlympicsWhile at the helm of the United States, Sundhage won the 2008 Algarve Cup and gold medals at both the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2012 Summer Olympics. She was on the verge of winning the 2009 Algarve Cup, but the United States lost out to Sundhage's native Sweden on penalties. However, she did win the 2010 Algarve Cup a year later, defeating World and European Champions Germany 3–2 in the final.

She coached the women's team to the final of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, where the team advanced to the final for the first time since 1999. However, they were upset by Japan, losing 3–1 on penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw. A year later, Sundhage coached the USWNT to another gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, defeating Japan 2–1 in a Women's World Cup final rematch, with Carli Lloyd scoring both goals.

On 1 September 2012, Sundhage announced she was stepping down as the U.S women's head coach having expressed a desire to seek opportunities in her native Sweden. Sundhage announced she would coach the U.S. team's games on 16 and 19 September on the team's Olympic victory tour before officially resigning. "I have days where I think, 'What am I doing?' and there are other days where I'm like, 'I'm all up for this next challenge'" Sundhage said upon announcing her departing the US women's national team. She coached her last game against Australia as part the team's Olympic victory tour on 19 September, defeating them 6–2. With this final win Sundhage was able to leave the team with a 91–6–10 win–loss–tie record that included two Olympic gold medals and a second-place finish at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Sweden women's national team The Swedish Football Association announced early 2 September 2012 that Sundhage signed a four-year contract that starts on 1 December. The announcement came hours after Sundhage's match as coach of the U.S. women's team, an 8–0 win in a friendly match against Costa Rica; the first of a series organized to celebrate the winning of gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. Sundhage replaced Thomas Dennerby, who resigned after Sweden failed to reach the semifinals in 2012 Olympics. "I have long dreamed of becoming Sweden coach and now I am so happy" Sundhage said. Sundhage's first major tournament as coach of the Sweden team was the 2013 European championship, which Sweden hosted; Sweden lost 0–1 in the semi-final to Germany, which won the championship. In the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, Sweden advanced from their group after 3 consecutive draws (including a scoreless draw with eventual champions USA, but lost 4-1 to Germany in the Round of 16.

At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Sundhage's Sweden started slow, following up an opening 1-0 win over South Africa with a 1-5 loss vs the hosts (and her future employers), Brazil. However, a scoreless draw against China enabled Sweden to advance to the quarterfinals on a tiebreaker, where her team faced her former USA squad. Deploying defense-first tactics and very physical play, Sweden neutralized the top-ranked American attack, capitalized on a breakaway at 61', and held on through extra time to win in a penalty shootout. The victory marked the first instance of the USA being eliminated before reaching the medal rounds at the Olympics. Sweden would go on to a rematch with Brazil in the semifinals, which they would also win in penalties after a scoreless draw. With a 2-1 defeat to Germany in the Gold Medal match, Sweden won their first Olympic medal in women's football.

After a disappointing quarterfinal exit in the UEFA Women's Euro 2017 tournament, in August 2017, Sundhage stepped down as coach of the women's national team, a move which had been announced the previous Fall. In November 2017, the Swedish Football Association announced the appointment of Sundhage as the new Sweden women's national under-17 football team head coach. Sundhage took over her new duties on 1 January 2018.

Brazil women's national team In July 2019, Sundhage accepted an invitation from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) to become the new coach of the Brazil women's national football team, being the first none Brazilian to occupy this position. She was let go after a disappointing performance of Brazil's team at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Haitian women's national team Sundhage became coach of the Haitian women's national team on the 13th of February 2026

Personal life In January 2010, Sundhage mentioned in a Swedish TV interview that as a lesbian she has not felt any homophobia as a coach. "There has been no problem for me to be openly gay as head coach in the U.S.," said Sundhage.

Career statistics

Matches and goals scored at World Cup and Olympic tournaments

Goal Match Date Location Opponent Lineup Min Score Result Competition China 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup 1991-11-17 Panyu Start Group match 1 1991-11-19 Foshan Start 34 6–0 Group match 2 1991-11-21 Panyu Start 42 1-0 Group match 3 1991-11-24 Guangzhou Start 3 1-0 Quarter-Final 1991-11-27 Panyu Start Semi-Final 4 1991-11-29 Guangzhou Start 11 2-0 3rd Place Match Sweden 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup 1995-6-5 Helsingborg Start Group match 5 1995-6-7 Helsingborg Start 80 2-2 Group match 1995-6-9 Västerås Start Group match 1995-6-13 Helsingborg Start Quarter-Final Atlanta 1996 Women's Olympic Football Tournament 1996-7-21 Miami Start Group match 1996-7-23 Orlando Start Group match 1996-7-25 Orlando Start Group match

Matches and goals scored at European Championship tournaments Goal Match Date Location Opponent Lineup Min Score Result Competition 1984 European Championship 1 1984-3-1 Rome Start 50 2-2 Semi-Final 1st Leg 2 1984-4-1 Linköping Start 57 2-1 Semi-Final 2nd Leg 3 1984-5-27 Gothenburg Start 57 1-0 Final 1st Leg 1984-5-27 Luton Start Final 2nd Leg 1987 European Championship 1987-6-11 Moss Start Semi-Final 1987-6-14 Oslo Start Final 1989 European Championship 1989-6-28 Lüdenscheid Start Semi-Final 4 1989-6-30 Osnabrück Start 43 1-1 3rd Place Match 1995 European Championship 1995-2-26 Kristiansand Start Semi-Final 1st Leg 1995-3-5 Jönköping Start Semi-Final 2nd Leg 1995-3-26 Kaiserslautern Start Final

International goals No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 25 July 1975 Brande Stadion, Brande, Denmark 2–0 4–0 1975 Women's Nordic Football Championship 2. 7 September 1975 Plough Lane, Wimbledon, England 1–1 3–1 Friendly 3. 8 July 1977 Mariehamns IP, Mariehamn, Finland 4–0 4–0 1977 Women's Nordic Football Championship 4. 5 July 1979 Lisleby Stadion, Fredrikstad, Norway 4–1 4–1 1979 Women's Nordic Football Championship 5. 6 July 1979 Setskog stadion, Setskog, Norway 1–0 1–0 6. 28 June 1980 Norrvalla IP, Skellefteå, Sweden 2–0 2–2 Friendly 7. 10 July 1980 Kvarnbyvallen, Mölndal, Sweden 2–0 7–0 1980 Women's Nordic Football Championship 8. 6–0 9. 7–0 10. 11 July 1980 Prästängen, Öckerö, Sweden 1–1 2–2 11. 25 April 1981 Sportpark 't Alterbarg, Zweeloo, Netherlands 1–1 1–2 Friendly 12. 23 May 1981 Stade de la Fobio, Montauban, France 1–0 6–1 13. 3–0 14. 4–0 15. 6–0 16. 17 July 1981 Urheilupuisto, Hyvinkää, Finland 1–0 2–0 1981 Women's Nordic Football Championship 17. 19 July 1981 Töölön Pallokenttä, Helsinki, Finland 2–0 2–1 18. 26 September 1981 Ryavallen, Borås, Sweden 6–0 7–0 Friendly 19. 26 May 1982 Viskavallen, Kinna, Sweden 1–1 1–1 20. 9 September 1982 Kópavogsvöllur, Kópavogur, Iceland 4–0 6–0 1984 European Competition for Women's Football qualifying 21. 10 August 1983 Rådavallen, Mellerud, Sweden 1–0 2–1 Friendly 22. 2–1 23. 24 August 1983 Brunnsvallen, Ronneby, Sweden 1–0 5–0 1984 European Competition for Women's Football qualifying 24. 2–0 25. 8 April 1984 Stadio Flaminio, Rome, Italy 2–2 3–2 1984 European Competition for Women's Football 26. 28 April 1984 Folkungavallen, Linköping, Sweden 1–0 2–1 27. 2–1 28. 12 May 1984 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden 1–0 1–0 29. 11 June 1985 Olympia, Helsingborg, Sweden 1–0 2–0 1987 European Competition for Women's Football qualifying 30. 9 October 1985 Stadsparksvallen, Jönköping, Sweden 3–0 5–0 31. 4–0 32. 7 May 1986 Krohnsminde, Bergen, Norway 3–2 3–2 Friendly 33. 11 July 1987 Minneapolis, United States United States U-19 3–0 5–1 34. 19 August 1987 Folkungavallen, Nyköping, Sweden 1–0 5–0 35. 27 April 1988 Vä IP, Kristianstad, Sweden 2–0 3–0 36. 8 June 1988 Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou, China 1–0 1–0 1988 FIFA Women's Invitation Tournament 37. 18 September 1988 Lekevi IP, Mariestad, Sweden 1–0 4–0 1989 European Competition for Women's Football qualifying 38. 4–0 39. 15 October 1988 Odense Stadium, Odense, Denmark 3–0 5–1 40. 11 March 1989 Stade Louison Bobet, Levallois-Perret, France 1–0 2–1 Friendly 41. 26 April 1989 Strandängens IP, Bromölla, Sweden 3–0 4–1 42. 23 May 1989 Wembley Stadium, London, England 1–0 2–0 43. 30 June 1989 Stadion an der Bremer Brücke, Osnabrück, Germany 1–1 2–1 1989 European Competition for Women's Football 44. 10 August 1989 Petalax IP, Petalax, Finland 2–0 2–0 Friendly 45. 13 May 1990 Stade Municipal de Melun, Melun, France 1–0 2–0 UEFA Women's Euro 1991 qualifying 46. 2–0 47. 10 June 1990 Stadion OSiR, Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland 1–0 2–0 48. 19 September 1990 Örjans Vall, Halmstad, Sweden 3–0 4–0 Friendly 49. 4–0 50. 14 October 1990 Lekevi IP, Mariestad, Sweden 4–1 4–1 UEFA Women's Euro 1991 qualifying 51. 18 November 1990 Malmö Stadion, Malmö, Sweden 1–0 1–1 52. 26 February 1991 Estádio de Troia, Tróia Peninsula, Portugal 1–0 3–0 Friendly tournament 53. 3–0 54. 28 February 1991 2–0 2–3 55. 21 August 1991 Nösnäsvallen, Stenungsund, Sweden 2–0 2–0 Friendly 56. 9 October 1991 Ryavallen, Borås, Sweden 1–0 3–1 57. 3–0 58. 23 October 1991 Nou Estadi de Palamós, Palamós, Spain 3–0 4–0 UEFA Women's Euro 1993 qualifying 59. 19 November 1991 New Plaza Stadium, Foshan, China 6–0 8–0 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup 60. 21 November 1991 Ying Tung Stadium, Guangzhou, China 1–0 2–0 61. 24 November 1991 Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou, China 1–0 1–0 62. 29 November 1991 Guangdong Provincial Stadium, Guangzhou, China 2–0 4–0 63. 9 March 1993 Municipal Stadium Georgios Katsouris Kastros, Ayia Napa, Cyprus 3–1 3–1 Friendly tournament 64. 13 May 1995 Örjans Vall, Halmstad, Sweden 4–0 4–0 Friendly 65. 7 June 1995 Olympia, Helsingborg, Sweden 2–2 3–2 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup 66. 30 August 1995 Jakobstads Centralplan, Jakobstad, Finland 1–0 3–1 Friendly 67. 30 September 1995 Hjørring Stadium, Hjørring, Denmark 2–1 2–1 UEFA Women's Euro 1997 qualifying 68. 11 March 1996 Estádio Municipal de Lagos, Lagos, Portugal 1–0 2–1 1996 Algarve Cup 69. 12 May 1996 Gutavallen, Visby, Sweden 1–0 1–1 UEFA Women's Euro 1997 qualifying 70. 2 June 1996 Estadio Guillermo Olagüe, Gandia, Spain 2–0 8–0 71. 4–0

Managerial statistics All competitive league games (league and domestic cup) and international matches (including friendlies) are included.

Honours Player Jitex BK Damallsvenskan: 1979, 1981, 1984, 1989 Svenska Cupen: 1981, 1984

Hammarby IF DFF Svenska Cupen: 1994, 1995

Sweden FIFA Women's World Cup: third place 1991 UEFA European Women's Championship: 1984; runner-up 1987, 1995; third place 1989 European Competition for Women's Football: third place 1979 (non-official competition) Women's Nordic Football Championship: 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981; runner-up 1982 Algarve Cup: 1995 Cyprus Tournament: 1990, 1992 North America Cup: 1987

Individual European Competition for Women's Football top scorer: 1984 European Competition for Women's Football best player: 1984 Damallsvenskan top scorer: 1982, 1983 Women's Nordic Football Championship top scorer

Managerial United States Women Olympic Gold Medal: 2008, 2012 FIFA Women's World Cup: runner-up 2011 Four Nations Tournament: 2008, 2011 Algarve Cup: 2008, 2010, 2011

Sweden Women Olympic Silver Medal: 2016

Brazil Women Torneio Internacional de Futebol Feminino: 2021 Copa América Femenina: 2022

Individual FIFA World Women's Coach of the year: 2012; finalist 2010, 2011, 2013 Best FIFA Women's Coach: finalist 2016 2003 WUSA Coach of the Year

Awards Sundhage was awarded the Illis quorum in the eighth size by the Swedish government in 2021.