U.S. Soccer has re-signed Pia Sundhage as head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team for four more years. U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati announced the extension today. Sundhage, 48, has led the USA to a record setting 32 wins so far in 2008 (32-1-2), which includes the team’s memorable run to the Olympic title, culminating in the gold medal victory against Brazil in Beijing, China.

“Pia has demonstrated the qualities of a great leader, a great soccer tactician and she is a winner,” said Gulati. “We are extremely happy to have her on board for the next cycle of the Women’s World Cup and the Olympics and will be looking forward to seeing the Women’s National Team program grow under her direction for the next four years.”

Hired in November of 2007, Sundhage went to work immediately, preparing the team for CONCACAF Olympic qualifying and the 2008 Olympic Games. The USA won all five tournaments it participated in during 2008, taking the Four Nations Tournament in China in January, the Algarve Cup in March in Portugal, the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Mexico in April, the Peace Queen Cup in South Korea in June and the Olympic Games in August.

At the Olympics, Sundhage’s team accomplished something never before done in U.S. history as it rebounded from a loss in the first game to earn the Olympic gold medal.

Sundhage is preparing to lead the team into the final match of the year on the “Achieve Your Gold” Tour, taking on China on Dec. 17 at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.

After the tour this fall, the U.S. team will have some time off before coming together in January to start preparing for the run to 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany. Of course, 2009 will also feature the start of Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS).

The new league will also give Sundhage the chance to see far more American players in a competitive environment.

“I am looking forward to next year,” said Sundhage. “It is important to find a few new players because it changes the environment a little bit. You represent your club during the week and when you are called up, you are a National Team player, and then you go back to your club so you don’t take anything for granted. It is important to perform at your club in order to be called into the National Team.”

The U.S. Women’s National Team is No. 1 in the world and has won five world championships – two Women’s World Cups and three Olympics — and finished in the top three in all nine senior level women’s world championships staged by FIFA since the inaugural Women’s World Cup in 1991. The United States is the only team in the world to medal in every tournament.