England manager Sarina Wiegman not for sale, says FA’s Mark Bullingham

ZURICH – England plan to hang on tightly to manager Sarina Wiegman, with Football Association (FA) chief executive Mark Bullingham saying she is not for sale at any price.

Wiegman, who is under contract until 2027, will coach the Lionesses at a third consecutive major tournament final on July 27, at the Women’s Euro 2025 showpiece against reigning world champions Spain.

Asked if it would be difficult to retain the 55-year-old after another successful tournament and if there was any price that would sway the FA to let her leave, Bullingham said: “No price at all.

“We are committed to her until 2027, she’s committed to us. And I know that her focus, hopefully after a success on Sunday, will shift quite quickly to 2027.”

Wiegman is the first manager in either the men’s or women’s game to feature in five successive major finals, including two with the Netherlands, and Bullingham sang her praises on July 24.

“Her record of reaching five finals is phenomenal. I don’t believe anyone’s been anywhere near that in the past,” he added. “I think this could be really hard for anyone to do in the future.”

Bullingham shared a hug with Wiegman after England squeezed through their quarter-final against Sweden, scoring two late goals and then coming out on top in a penalty shoot-out.

Asked what they shared in that moment, he laughed and said it was not “anything that can be shared here”.

But while Wiegman has been lauded for her remarkable record, she has also been lambasted for her steadfast selection approach during the tournament, with critics arguing for earlier substitutions.

“We’ve got a really special coach and I think we should all recognise that,” Bullingham said.

“The tournament record is incredible, but I also see the work she does with the players, the relationships she builds. The connection she builds in camps are phenomenal.

“And just a cool head and the way she transmits that on the pitch, she normally at least looks like the coolest person in the stadium. I feel she’s a really special coach and we’re lucky to have her.”

Joint-hosts England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales were the sole bidders for the 2035 Women’s World Cup and Bullingham also hopes the team’s success in Switzerland will create a groundswell of support.

“Our hope is that it will help inspire more positive momentum for that and support for that, amongst fans throughout the country as well,” he said.

“Hopefully, a lot more younger girls throughout the country who will be looking at 2035 and thinking, ‘What a fantastic opportunity for me’.”

England saw a boost in the number of girls taking up football after the team’s Euro 2022 victory and Bullingham, who also coaches at the grassroots level, hopes to see more girls flocking to the game.

“Our hope is that we use this tournament as another trampoline to push further for women’s and girls’ football,” he said.

“I’ve seen the impact when we do well in these tournaments and we’re definitely looking for that impact again.” REUTERS