Sampson has already become the first England boss since Sir Alf Ramsey to reach two major tournament semi-finals following the men’s triumph at the 1966 World Cup and reaching the last four of the 1968 European Championship.
And the 34-year-old Welshman has revolutionised a Lionesses team that were at rock bottom after Euro 2013, where they crashed out at the group stage.
Having replaced authoritarian former boss Hope Powell after that tournament, he has been a breath of fresh air to the players, by empowering them and “treating them like adults”, according to one.
He is more approachable too. Having appeared on an old episode of the BBC gameshow Pointless, the kit man recently showed it to the team during a quiz night, and they ended up laughing at Sampson as he struggled with the questions. “I didn’t really understand the concept,” he says sheepishly.
Yet although he had previously achieved success for Women’s Super League club Bristol Academy, players were still questioning his inexperience at the start of his reign.
Despite his knack for chopping and changing the side, the bronze medal at the 2015 World Cup soon won doubters over, and he addressed long-standing psychology and fitness concerns.
Sampson is unconventional at times, choosing to name his squad three months early and his barbs towards opposition teams – accusing Spain of “dark arts” and the French manager of being “wet behind the ears” – have raised eyebrows.
He has risked his reputation, but so far he has shown that his judgement and decision-making are worthy of top-level international football.