TERRIGAL — England will “100 per cent” reject any offers for Sarina Wiegman as the two-time European champion prepares to lead the Lionesses into the World Cup final against Spain.
The Dutchwoman has reached her fourth successive major tournament final after winning the Euros with both the Netherlands and England in 2017 and 2022, feats which sandwiched a 2019 World Cup final defeat.
Following Vlatko Andonovski’s resignation as USA boss after the holders’ World Cup exit, Laura Harvey remains the favourite but speculation has also ramped up linking Wiegman with the role. Yet FA CEO Mark Bullingham was adamant England will do everything they can to keep her.
“We’ve seen lots of rumours, she is a special talent we know that,” he said.
“From our side, she’s contracted through to 2025. We think she’s doing a great job. We’re obviously huge supporters of her and hopefully she feels the same way. From our side she’s someone we’d like to have with us for a very long time.”
Wiegman would have won every honour available to her with the exception of the Olympics if she guides England past Spain on Sunday but the FA’s Women’s Technical Director Kay Cossington added: “I don’t think she’ll ever lose the desire to win games and tournaments.”
“We’ve always said we’d get to it after the tournament. We had good conversations after the Euros, there will be an appropriate time to do it [talk about her future].
“We’ve got a bit of time, she’s contracted until 2025 and I’m sure she’d want to have a decent holiday after this. But all I’ll say is we’re massive fans of her, we believe she’s happy and we’d like to continue working with her for a very long time.”
The 53-year-old has been the last female coach standing at the World Cup since midway through the round of 16 and the FA are determined to see more female coaches becoming involved in the game. They are also confident the bonus row which overshadowed the start of this tournament will soon be resolved.
However, while Wiegman could be honoured alongside the Euro 2022 winning squad with a statue outside Wembley, there are no plans to introduce equal pay between her and England men’s counterpart Gareth Southgate.
“I think if you look over time, I think that’s where you’ve got to get too,” Bullingham said.
“If you look at the disparity in the market and the income coming in, that’s why you’ve got a difference. We don’t talk about people’s remuneration. I would say that Sarina is, within the market she operates, well-paid.
“And if you look at the comparison in the men’s game, it’s a different market. I really want those markets to merge, over time, and I think that’s where you’ve got to go, but we’re not there yet.”
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