Barcelona assistant Navarro replaces Sundhage as Switzerland women’s coach

By Canadian Press on November 4, 2025.

BERN, Switzerland (AP) — Long-time Barcelona assistant coach Rafel Navarro was hired to coach the Switzerland women’s team on Tuesday and replace Pia Sundhage.

Navarro signed a contract into the summer of 2029, the Swiss Football Association said, taking in the next Women’s World Cup and European Championship.

His appointment was announced hours after Switzerland was drawn in an initial World Cup qualifying group with Northern Ireland, Turkey and Malta. The Swiss will be favored to advance to playoff rounds where the team can qualify for the 2027 finals tournament in Brazil.

Barcelona’s women’s team won three Champions League titles and the Spanish league six times during Navarro’s six years on the coaching staff.

The 39-year-old Catalan was asked to install a “playing philosophy based on technique, creativity, and collective intelligence,” the Swiss FA said, praising his work as an educator of coaches.

Sundhage’s contract was not renewed despite a successful Euro 2025 where a hugely popular young host team reached the quarterfinals for the first time.

The 65-year-old Sundhage previously led the United States to two Olympic titles and the 2011 World Cup final, her native Sweden to 2016 Olympic silver medals, and Brazil to be champion of South America in 2022.

The Swiss FA noted Navarro’s priority to develop modern training methods, in-game intelligence and a clear vision on how to play at all age levels.

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The Associated Press