The English Football Association (FA) doesn’t want to lose Sarina Wiegman under any circumstances. Chairman Mark Bullingham praises the coach of the English women’s team in the run-up to the European Championship final against world champion Spain.
Wiegman will be in the final of a European Championship or World Cup for the fifth time in a row on Sunday. The Dutch coach led Orange to the European title (2017) and the World Cup final (2019), after which she repeated these achievements with England in 2022 (EC) and 2023 (WC).
“I want to pay homage to Sarina. Her record is impressive,” says Bullingham in conversation with BBC Sport. “Five finals in five tournaments is phenomenal. I don’t think anyone has ever come close to this or will ever equal it.”
Bullingham says that the 55-year-old Wiegman “is not for sale at any price.” The chairman also points to the Dutch coach’s contract until the 2027 World Cup. “She is a special coach and everyone should recognize that.”
“Sarina always stays cool, reads the game very well and always has a strong bond with her players. Every staff member also feels valued by her. She has played a crucial role in creating a great working environment.”
Although Wiegman has celebrated many successes with England, her salary remains behind that of her counterpart Thomas Tuchel with the men’s team. Wiegman is said to earn around 450,000 euros per year, while Tuchel reportedly earns around 5.7 million euros per year.
“It is clear that Sarina is active in a different market,” says Bullingham about the large salary difference. “But we think both positions are equally important. In any case, we think it’s fantastic that we have signed her until 2027. She can work anywhere in the world.”
The European Championship final between defending champion England and Spain starts on Sunday at 6:00 PM. The clash in Basel, Switzerland is a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final. Spain won 1-0 then.