Jill Roord is a Dutch professional footballer who has played for FC Twente, Arsenal, Wolfsburg, and Manchester City, among others. She is a key player in the Dutch women's national team.

Pien Sanders is a Dutch field hockey player, a player for Den Bosch and part of the national team that won Olympic gold in 2024.

When did Jill and Pien officially announce their relationship?

In May 2025, Jill and Pien publicly confirmed their relationship via social media. Since then, they regularly share photos together.

What sporting success did Jill and Pien achieve in 2024?

Jill Roord was part of the Dutch women's football team that was preparing for the European Championship 2025. Pien Sanders won Olympic gold with the Dutch hockey team during the 2024 Games.

Why are Jill Roord and Pien Sanders so popular on social media?

Fans are excited about their relationship because they form an inspiring couple as two successful, open-hearted top athletes. The media and social platforms like TikTok are reacting en masse to their relationship, further increasing visibility.

Dating

Soccer player Jill Roord and hockey player Pien Sanders are the new sports couple

By Maartje Beks | #!31Sun, 13 Jul 2025 05:00:43 +0200+02:004331#31Sun, 13 Jul 2025 05:00:43 +0200+02:00-5Europe\/Amsterdam3131Europe\/Amsterdam202531 13am31am-31Sun, 13 Jul 2025 05:00:43 +0200+02:005Europe\/Amsterdam3131Europe\/Amsterdam2025312025Sun, 13 Jul 2025 05:00:43 +0200005007amSunday=9#!31Sun, 13 Jul 2025 05:00:43 +0200+02:00Europe\/Amsterdam7#07-13-2025#!31Sun, 13 Jul 2025 05:00:43 +0200+02:004331#\/31Sun, 13 Jul 2025 05:00:43 +0200+02:00-5Europe\/Amsterdam3131Europe\/Amsterdam202531#!31Sun, 13 Jul 2025 05:00:43 +0200+02:00Europe\/Amsterdam7#

After the men reached the semi-finals of the European Championship in 2024, it is now the turn of the women to try to grab that title this summer. All eyes are therefore on the Orange Lionesses, and especially on Jill Roord. But that is not only about football. Together with hockey player Pien Sanders, she forms the new sports couple of the Netherlands; and we, just like all of TikTok, want to know everything about it.

Who is Jill Roord? Here’s what you need to know about the Orange football star

Jill clearly did not inherit her football talents from a stranger; she is the daughter of former professional footballer René Roord. He played for many years for FC Twente and came from Jong Oranje, but had to stop at the age of 23 due to an injury. Fortunately, he passed on his talent to his daughter. After starting at the amateur club Quick’20, Jill followed in her father's footsteps at the age of 16 with a professional debut at FC Twente. Here, she quickly grew into one of the big names, and five years later she made the move abroad. From that moment on, she hopped back and forth between Germany and England. At Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Wolfsburg, and Manchester City, Jill competed with the European elite and managed to win quite a few prizes. In the meantime, she also became a regular player for the Orange Lionesses, with whom she became European Champion in 2017. 2024 was a tough year full of injuries, and then it was time for Jill to make a change. She returned to the Netherlands, to her old club in Twente, and found a new love.

Who is Pien Sanders? Everything about the Orange hockey player

Pien also started her sport, hockey, at a young age. Through clubs in Udenhout, Berkel-Enschot, and Tilburg, she made it to the highest level in the Netherlands. Since 2010, she has been a player for Den Bosch. In 2017, she made her debut for the Orange hockey women, a year in which the ladies immediately grabbed the European title. It was the first of many prizes, with perhaps the most beautiful being the gold at the Olympic Games 2024. For ten years, Pien was in a relationship with top hockey player Thijs van Dam, who plays for the Dutch men's team; the two had not kept it a secret that they had often thought about getting married. However, after a golden summer at the Olympics last year, their relationship came to an end.

How Jill and Pien became the sports couple of the Netherlands

Not only did Pien's relationship come to an end, but Jill also ended her relationship with Spanish FC Barcelona player Jana Fernández. A few months later, the two were spotted together for the first time, and this news immediately made it to the gossip channels. Something they were not particularly happy about. “We were almost embarrassed to be on such a gossip channel because you really don’t want to be on there.” Fortunately, it was no longer a secret for friends and family, and they could laugh about it later. It wasn't until May that they officially announced their relationship to the public, and since then they have also regularly shared photos together. The couple now lives together in Amsterdam. Jill is now a regular supporter at the hockey matches, and Pien sits in the stands of the football stadiums; including at the European Championship. Before that, the hockey player did receive a crash course on what to expect from this tournament. Maybe Pien will be ‘our’ lucky charm; Jill mentioned in an interview that she will definitely run harder because of the luck in love.

The internet is obsessed with Jill Roord and Pien Sanders

That Jill and Pien are the new sports couple of the Netherlands is evident from the reactions on social media. On TikTok and Instagram, everyone is obsessed with the relationship, which the athletes did not really expect. “Apparently, our relationship is very interesting, and people are enjoying it because the news reports keep coming,” said Pien. The parents of the couple have also noticed the hype. At Jill's home, they are somewhat used to media attention, but for the Sanders family, according to René Roord, it is quite different. “We recently spoke with Pien's parents, who had to get used to it. I honestly don’t care much; I see it occasionally and that’s it.” Meanwhile, the ladies feel the same way and are mainly just very happy together; and that is of course the most important thing. We are fans.

Image: @jillroord