Sarina Wiegman: England Women’s manager has unfinished business and a determination to win the World Cup
Nothing – for now – could tempt Sarina Wiegman away from the England job.
Few managerial roles could rival leading the Lionesses.
Especially when, for Wiegman, there is unfinished business and a determination to win the World Cup.
And now she has signed up to stay with England until 2027. There is another shot at glory after coming so close last year – losing to Spain in the World Cup final.
“I think this team can still grow, we can improve,” Wiegman told Sky News in the Wembley dressing room. “And I see so much potential in this team and in England.
“So I’m excited about that and now we have a little more time to continue that.”
There is a bigger mission for Wiegman and her team – growing women’s football from the schools to the elite level.
And the progress they drive is growing audiences and the cash coming into the game.
The aspiration is for pay parity with the men’s game, but that is seen very much as a journey.
‘There’s growth in everything’
“I feel very much valued,” she said. “And since I came in we’ve got all the facilities that we need to perform at the highest level.
“We have so much support and there’s growth in everything, also growth in salary. And I’m just really happy with the situation I’m in right now.”
There is seemingly an acceptance that the men’s England job occupied by Gareth Southgate remains higher paid for now.
Naturally, Wiegman does not discuss the pay rise with her new contract or Southgate’s terms.
But she is undoubtedly the world’s number one coach after collecting the FIFA best women’s coach of the year award for a fourth time on Monday night.
Asked about closing the gender pay gap, Wiegman replied: “We go in the right direction and we need to keep moving forward.”
Wiegman’s players are stars of global sport
Moving forward for now into European Championship qualifying and the defence of the trophy won at Wembley in 2022.
“The competition for the squad selections is so high and the players who have been around for a longer time, they have to stay at the top of their game,” Wiegman said.
“Some players have come in lately and they’re doing well, too.
“And I think some youngsters are knocking on the door, too, so that’s exciting. And it’s very competitive too.”
Her players are now stars not just of women’s football but global sport with goalkeeper Mary Earps a multiple award winner.
“It’s absolutely incredible and things have changed,” Wiegman said. “Sometimes I just think back to how it was when I was a young kid and how now there’s such an improvement and so good.
“So every little girl now and boy they have people that inspire them and they see Mary, or a player or a coach, that they can also become. So that’s just really good. What you see, you can be.”
And you will be seeing Wiegman in the England dugout for years to come. The manager who the Football Association sees as a “born winner”.