NEEDHAM, Mass. (Aug. 29, 2002) - Boston Breakers President and General Manager Joe Cummings has named Pia Sundhage as the team's new head coach. Sundhage has been the assistant coach for the Philadelphia Charge since the inaugural season. "Pia (Sundhage) has played and coached at the highest levels. She will bring experience and intensity to Boston," said Cummings. "This is just the first step in helping the Breakers reach the playoffs." Sundhage, 43, is considered one of the world's all-time great female soccer players. She was sixth in the voting for the FIFA Woman Player of the Century. Sundhage, who played her first international match at age 15, retired from competition in 1996 and earned 146 caps playing for the Swedish National Team. In her 21-year career, Sundhage had 71 goals. In the 1991 Women's World Cup, Sundhage helped Sweden to a third place finish with her impressive four goal, two assist tournament totals. She was a key in Sweden's quest to reach the quarterfinal of the 1995 WWC and qualifying for the 1996 Summer Olympics. In 1984, Sundhage's penalty kick helped Sweden capture the European Championships. While still playing, Sundhage began coaching. Her first team was the Swedish Under-16 Girls National Team and she led them to two Nordic Cup titles in her six-year reign. In 1996 after her retirement she was named the head coach of the Under-20 and Under-18 National Team. She led the team to a gold medal in the 1999 European Championships and the bronze in the 1998 and 2000 competition.