Pia Sundhage's Unexpected Early Exit as Switzerland Women's Football Head Coach

Pia Sundhage, the 65-year-old head coach of the Swiss women's national football team, has been dismissed from her role with immediate effect despite her contract running through the end of 2025. Sundhage, a respected figure in international football, expressed both surprise and disappointment at the decision, underscoring her unexpected departure just a month before her contract's scheduled conclusion.

Under Sundhage's leadership since 2024, Switzerland reached the quarter-finals of the recent European Championship hosted in their home country, and achieved notable victories in friendly matches against Canada and Scotland. However, the Swiss Football Association (SFV) cited a breakdown in negotiations concerning the hiring of a full-time assistant coach as a key factor behind her premature dismissal. Sundhage had made the hiring of a full-time assistant a minimum requirement and indicated she would have eagerly signed a new four-year contract had this condition been met.

SFV President Peter Knäbel acknowledged Sundhage's valuable contributions during a difficult period for Swiss women's football and highlighted that the Association is pursuing a different vision focusing on youth development and a renewed structure, which Sundhage felt had not been sufficiently discussed with her.

The SFV decided to release Sundhage early to provide her successor adequate time to prepare for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Sundhage lamented being unable to formally say goodbye to the players, noting she had recently met with the team just a week prior. Regarding her future plans, she expressed uncertainty and mentioned that she's currently learning to ride horses.

This abrupt dismissal has sparked conversations about management decisions within the Swiss Football Association and the role of coaching infrastructure in elite women's football, highlighting the challenges even high-profile international coaches face in their tenure abroad.