Sarina Wiegman says she has “no plans” to leave her role as England manager, despite the USWNT head coach position becoming vacant.
The four-year deal that Wiegman signed upon her appointment runs until 2025 and the Dutch manager — who is preparing for Sunday’s World Cup final — emphasised that she remains contracted to the Lionesses.
Vlatko Andonovski resigned as U.S. head coach on Thursday following a last-16 World Cup exit but Wiegman says she is not concerning herself with speculation surrounding the role.
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“I have a contract until 2025,” Wiegman said. “I’m really enjoying my job and I have the impression that the people (the FA) still like me working on the job and I have no plans to change that.”
When asked about being linked to the U.S. job, she replied: “I’m staying out of it. I’ve heard it (from the press officer) but no, I’m with England and I’m really happy with England, and I have a contract until 2025.”
Wiegman took charge of England in September 2021 and guided the team to the Euro 2022 title the following summer, securing the Lionesses’ maiden major trophy.
The 53-year-old will be involved in her fourth consecutive major tournament final on Sunday when England face Spain, having led the Netherlands to victory at Euro 2017 and second place at the 2019 World Cup.
Wiegman and the Football Association (FA) held conversations about her contract after the European Championship last summer but in October she publicly denied reports that she had signed a new deal. The contract Wiegman signed when she first took the role is set to expire after Euro 2025.
When asked about Wiegman’s future on Thursday, Mark Bullingham, chief executive of the FA, reiterated that she was contracted until 2025.
“We’ve seen lots of rumours and she is a special talent,” Bullingham said. “From our side, she’s obviously contracted until 2025. We think she’s doing a great job. We’re obviously huge supporters of her and hopefully she feels the same way. She’s someone we’d like to have with us for a very long time.
“We’ve always said we’d get to it (contract discussions) after a tournament. We’ve had good conversations after the Euros; there will be an appropriate time to do it. We’ve got a bit of time because she’s contracted to 2025 and she’ll obviously want to have a decent holiday after this. We’re massive fans of her.”
When asked whether the FA would reject any approach by the U.S. for Wiegman, Bullingham said: “Yup, 100 per cent.”
England face Spain in the World Cup final at Stadium Australia on Sunday.
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(Photo: Mark Metcalfe –FIFA via Getty Images)
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