It was only fitting that the Pia Sundhage Era of American women’s soccer ended Wednesday night with a win and a few songs. She is, after all, the quirky, lovable coach who was known to burst into song in the locker room, the team bus — and even at news conferences. Who can forget her wonderful rendition of Simon and Garfunkel’s The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy) at a news conference during the 2011 Women’s World Cup?

Last weekend, after her penultimate game as U.S. national coach, the team presented her with a guitar autographed by all the players. She proceeded to delight the Home Depot Center crowd in Carson, Calif., with a few bars from Jailhouse Rock.

Sundhage is heading home to coach the Swedish national team after compiling a 91-6-10 record in five years as U.S. coach. She led the team to its first World Cup final in 12 years and two Olympic gold medals. She also did a marvelous job of quelling locker-room strife and keeping drama to a minimum. When she took over the team in 2007, the United States had just lost in the World Cup semis to Brazil and goalkeeper Hope Solo had been sent home by then-coach Greg Ryan for making public statements criticizing his decision to start Briana Scurry over her.

Enter Sundhage, a Swedish legend as a player. Her passion for the game, positive outlook and easy-going style won the team over. She also was able to implement more technique and flair to a team that got used to relying on size, strength and work ethic. Her love of music also proved to be a plus, and she kept on singing until the end.

Before Wednesday’s final game, Sundhage told her players to lie on the locker room floor and close their eyes. She wanted to sing them some farewell tunes. She pulled out her new guitar and serenaded them with Bob Dylan’s The Times They Are A-Changin’, Paul Simon’s 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, If Not for You, by Dylan and later covered by George Harrison, and, the real tear-jerker, John Denver’s Leaving on a Jet Plane. After the game, a 6-2 win over Australia, she ran a victory lap as 20,000-plus fans cheered her on at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Denver. The players sang You Are My Sunshine to her, and she was overcome with emotion. Sundhage composed herself enough pay tribute to her team with a few lines from Tina Turner’s Simply the Best.

Sadly, the exhibition game was at 10 p.m. EDT and did not get as much media attention as it deserved. If an NFL or NBA coach had Sundhage’s personality, record and had serenaded his team upon his departure, surely that would have been featured on every evening sports newscast.

The players said they were determined to send her off with a win.

“Today is Pia’s day,” Abby Wambach said after the match. “We’ve been talking about it all day: What can we do to show her? She’s a passionate woman about this game. We knew the best thing we could do was give her a win."

Wambach said she had “no idea” what to expect when Sundhage took over five years ago.

“When a coach comes in and you don’t know who they are and they start singing songs for you, you’re like ‘what is this going to be?’ and thankfully it went well,” she said. “I’m really proud of the way this team handles this increased fame, but is still capable of shining the spotlight on the person that deserves it the most right now, and that’s Pia.”